A unique environmental initiative in Stalos, Chania, in collaboration with Finland’s largest tour operator, Aurinkomatkat.
The mission of All For Blue reaches far beyond Greece’s borders, consistently carrying the message of ocean conservation and marine ecosystem protection to people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds.
On October 12, 2026, our organization had the honor of being selected by Aurinkomatkat—a subsidiary of Finnair and the largest tour operator in Finland—to organize a targeted environmental action in the region of Chania.
A Day Rich in Symbolism and Substance
More than 60 participants—including local tour operators and tourism executives, and Finnish tourists of all ages—gathered on Stalos Beach. Right after heavy autumn rain, under a magical rainbow and beside the protected Sea Daffodils (Pancratium maritimum), the All For Blue team conducted an educational seminar on the fragile marine ecosystem and the vital ecological role of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows.
Immediately following the seminar, participants put on their gloves, equipped themselves with collection bags, and began cleaning up the coastline.
Cleanup Data & Findings
At the conclusion of the action, all collected debris was weighed and recorded in detail:
- Total weight removed: 123 kg
- Cigarette butts: 250
- Plastic caps: 196
- Straws: 68
Beyond the numbers, however, the true purpose of this action was reflected in the eyes and hands of the children. The most powerful image of the day was seeing them tirelessly and enthusiastically searching the sand for every tiny piece of plastic. They weren’t just participating in a standard cleanup; they were taking their first meaningful steps toward understanding our shared individual and collective responsibility toward nature.
Parents and children proved in practice that visitors to our country don’t just come to enjoy the Greek sun and sea—they are also eager to contribute actively to protecting them. Through their example, they passed on a vital life lesson to the next generation: we must respect and protect the environment so that it continues to grant us beauty and life. The children picking up litter on a beach today are the environmentally conscious citizens who will safeguard our oceans tomorrow.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Aurinkomatkat for their trust and outstanding collaboration in promoting sustainable tourism and to ERT journalist Eftychia Pentaraki for her media coverage of the event and her interview with All For Blue founder, Katerina Topouzoglou.
“After 8 years of active participation in All For Blue’s initiatives, moments like these fill me with strength and hope for the future of our oceans.”
Spyros Priovolos
Accredited Journalist by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy
