Turkey has accused Greece of imposing illegal restrictions on fishing activities in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean beyond its territorial waters.
In a statement uploaded on the website of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Ankara said that maps published on the website of the Greek Fisheries Control Directorate depict fishing bans in areas where, according to Ankara, Greece “does not have jurisdiction,” arguing that such actions run “contrary to international law.”
The Turkish ministry described the maps as “invalid,” stating they “draw imaginary maritime borders” between the two countries in regions where “no defined boundaries exist,” while also “violating Turkish maritime jurisdiction.”
“The illegal restrictions imposed by Greece on fishing activities beyond its 6 nautical mile territorial waters, in areas where it has no jurisdiction and in international waters, are also invalid for Turkey,” the ministry noted.
“Turkey will not accept any unilateral and illegal action that targets the lawful activities of Turkish fishermen,” the statement emphasizes, adding that Ankara bases its position on international law and “historical rights.”
The Turkish ministry reiterated its support for a “sincere and comprehensive approach” to resolving disputes, grounded in international law, equality, and good neighborliness, referencing the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good Neighborliness of December 7, 2023.
So far, no response to the Turkish claims by the Greek Foreign Ministry has been uploaded on the website of the ministry in Athens.
As far as I can see the relevant law would be the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Greece is a signatory to that treaty but Turkey is not. It’s funny how Turkey uses the fact that they are not a signatory to justify when they want to do something that would contravene that treaty but invoke the international law when they want to accuse Greece of some “illegal” action.