The coastal region of the Gouves Township, particularly Kokkini Hani – Gournes – Gouves, has areas that are lightly inhabited, with many possibilities for growth and development, and a chance for the residents of the region to profit.

A particular advantage area is the former American Base, with the Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, as well as the Aquarium, covering part of it. The municipality could have been working closely with these institutions, developing a common action with a developmental prospect, while taking advantage of available funding programmes.

Indicatively, while I’m outlining a new proposal, in actuality it is just a more extensively detailed old proposal, which was making the rounds in the area. Specifically, it’s the creation of a subterranean park that could be studied and be developed by the Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, which has experience in related studies in other municipalities. Such an endeavour could lead to:

-- Creation of beaches for year-round swimming

-- Development of fish life

-- Alternative forms of tourism, like diving

-- Development of marine flora

-- Development of alternative forms of energy, like stable, mobile or even navigable systems of wave-energy

For all of the above, however, protecting the marine environment is essential, and this is where Gouves falls short.  

On occasion we observe an intensified appearance of foam, or bubbles, on the surface of the sea in the areas of Kokkini Hani-Gournes-Gouves. This means that there are large quantities of surfactants, which are compounds mainly found in sewages with a high content of detergents, which are being channelled into the sea.