MONITORING OF THE QUALITY OF THE WATERS OF THE NORTHERN AEGEAN REGION

The monitoring of bathing water quality is carried out in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2006/7/EC, which has been incorporated into Greek legislation through Joint Ministerial Decision No 8600/416/Ε103/2009 (Government Gazette, Series II, No 356/26-2-2009). The aim of the monitoring is to protect the marine environment and the public health of bathers. The swimming coasts monitored are those that gather a significant number of bathers as well as coasts that are of particular interest in all respects (developmental, aesthetic, tourist, etc.). On the coasts monitored, sampling and analyses are carried out to monitor microbiological quality, in accordance with the requirements of the Joint Ministerial Decision and visual observations for the assessment of the physico-chemical quality of bathing water. The North Aegean Water Directorate implements the programme for monitoring the bathing water of the islands of the North Aegean Region, which is co-financed by national funds and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), under the NSRF 2014-2020 — Operational Programme “North Aegean” 2014-2020, for the years 2016-2022.