We are sea-folk. The sea constitutes an integral part of Greece, a part of who we are. Every crucial moment in our history has, without a doubt, been connected to it. So, trying to conceive Hellenism without taking into account the aspect of the sea is unthinkable, since it has been decisive in shaping its identity. The timber kaikia, whose presence adorns any small or big port, bear a testament to our close relationship with the sea.
In 1993, in an effort to halt overfishing, the EU introduced and implemented legislation 6.1.10.. The European guideline aims to definitely cease any fishing activities by subsidizing coastal fishing on one hand, while funding kaikia owners who retire their fishing boats in order to be destroyed on the other. Since the day the legislation was implemented, over 13.000 timber kaikia have been wrecked. Their destruction is a great loss to our country, both on a historical and on a cultural level.
This paper’s research field is traditional Greek kaikia. We are making an attempt to detect and pinpoint all these elements that compose the truth of their existence. By telling tales of the sea, we seek to call to mind their cultural value, strengthening the demand for their preservation and protection. The gradual extinction of the kaikia from sea and ports, undeniably forms a big stain on the image and the history of seaside communities, as well as on the identity of our country.
