GREECE

1. INTRODUCTION

Greece has no long standing tradition of aquaculture beyond the conventional exploitation of lagoon fishes. There are a number of rivers and lakes suitable for aquaculture (90 000 ha of lakes, dams, rivers and freshwater sources), a very long coastline that is suitable for cage culture (15 000 km coastline with numerous bays) and some location where lagoon culture would be feasible( 40 000 ha of coastal lagoons).

Lagoon aquaculture has had a long history in Greece while the intensive culture of trout goes back only a few decades. The private sector dominates the aquacultural scene and the Government is encouraging small farmers to organize cooperatives (Report of the UNDP/FAO evaluation mission).

The Government of Greece, assisted by UNDP and FAO, is engaged in the project of Development of Marine and Inland Aquaculture in Greece whose main objective is the preparation of a National Plan for Aquaculture Development, to increase the availability of farmed fish and reduce reliance on imported fish. fish products and fish feed (FI :DP/GRE/85/002).

2. CURRENT STAGE OF AQUACULTUE

2.1 Lagoon production

Lagoon production presently remains extensive in traditional fishery system.

The 40 000 ha of coastal lagoons produce 5–6 000 t of fish per year (MEDRAP - FD/85/08).

Semi-intensive cultivation in lagoons is at present in the early stages of development in Greece.

All Greek lagoons are the properly of the state and under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture. The provincial governments can lease out part of all of the lagoons to cooperatives or private investors. Priority is given to extensive and semi-intensive exploitation cooperatives whereas for inshore intensive culture equal access for all interested parties is envisaged.

2.2 Intensive sea bass/bream aquaculture

The intensive production of sea bream and sea bas was zero in 1984 and about 5–6 t in 1985 (50% each). in 1986, 22 t of seabream and 10 to of seabass were produced (ADCP/REP/87/29).

The following table shows all the existing hatcheries or hatchery plans in Greece (source: FI.DP/GRE/85/002 Field Document 7):

LIST OF OPERATIONAL AND PLANNED MARNE HATCHERIES

BA: Sea bass
BR: Sea bream
M.A.: Ministry of Agriculture
PIM: Integrated Plans for Mediterranean
M.N.E.: Ministry of National Economy, Law 1262

2.3 Trout farming

By far the most important cultured fish in Greece is the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Estimates of the total number of trout farms in Greece ranged from [15 (Agricultural Development Bank) to in excess of 200 (paseges and the Ministry of Agriculture).

Most of the trout farms are very small and some operate only intermittently. Almost all Greek trout production is of “portion-sized” fish, but the portion size of 300–350 g in Greece is a little larger than that in most other European Countries.

Official estimates of total production from Greek rainbow trout farms during 1986 varied from about 1 800 t (Agricultural Development Bank) to 2 500 t (Joannina Trout Farming Cooperatives), but all authorities were agreed that output is now fairly static from year to year (FI:OP/GRS/85/002 Field Document 4).

2.4 Carp farming

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) has been important in Greek freshwater fisheries for many years but true farming of the species in artificial ponds and hatcheries is a recent development.

Reliable official figures on production of common carp in Greece are difficult to obtain, because of the country's output comes from small-scale capture fisheries. The best guess for 1986 lies between 2 and 3 000 t. Of the total production, only about 100 t could be said to be farmed, i.e. produced in artificial, managed ponds. According to the Agricultural Development Bank, there are already 22 carp farms in Greece, but most of these are very small and some operate only intermittently. Recently, three “new” carp species have been introduced to Greece; these species are part of a group of fishes known as the Chinese major carps (FI:DP/GRE/85/002. Field Document 4).

2.5 Other freshwater fish rearing

Two small freshwater fish farms in Greece are producing tilapias. Recently experimental culture has been carried out on coho salmon (imported from Canada) in freshwater with poor growth results (FI:DP/GRE/85/002 Field Document 4).

Eel production depends on the direct collection and purchase of wild elvers.

2.6 Shellfish cultivation

True cultivation of shellfish in Greece has only begun in the last five years and is at present only concerned with one species, the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis. All other species, and much of mussel production, are still only fished from wild stock.

The situation is likely to change for two species, namely the European flat oyster, Ostrea edulis, and the clam, Venerupis/Tapes decussatus; the first because of the decline in catches and the second for its high commercial value. Interest in crustacean (penaeid shrimp) culture is at a similar level.

A commercial proposal has been made to establish a penaeid hatchery on the island of Skyros and the Ministry of Agriculture are considering a shrimp hatchery in their plans for state marine hatcheries.

Mussel cultivation is expanding rapidly, especially around Thermaikos Gulf (FI:DR/GRE/85/002. Field Document 6).

Total molluscan production was estimated by Arrundale to be 6 000 t in 1986. C. Askew estimated (FI:Dp/GRE/85/002 Field Document 6) that this would have consisted approximately as follows:

3. PROGRAMME

The Greek government realized the necessity of increasing the production of fish through aquaculture, especially by developing marine rearings and by improving the existing productions of lagoonal and freshwater fish (trout and carp). In the National Development five-year plan it is intended to increase aquaculture production by 10% per year.

Other Governmental objectives are measures for the distribution of fish products and to encourage the entry of national industry into aquaculture field (e.g. for the manufacture of fish cages, of fish feed, etc.), the control of water quality and the promotion of mariculture products.

Pilot projects with associated infrastructure developments are in progress at Messolanghi and Kyparissi in order to stimulate interest and expertise (Report of the UNDP/FAO evaluation mission).

4. PRODUCTION

Globally in 1981 the fisheries production was 120 000 t (MEDRAP - TR/85/13) of which 89 000 t were fresh Mediterranean fish, 18 500 t were frozen fish and 12 500 t were lagoon and inland water production (including aquaculture).

Fish production in Greece in 1956 was 138 126 t. Extensive and intensive aquaculture production in 1986 was:

4.1 Employment

Thirty thousand people are employed in the fisheries sector (MEDRAP - TR/85/13).

The total number of employees in the intensive production unit in 1986 was 312 people while in the extensive production unit (lagoon, lake and river) 2 747 people were employed (FI:DP/GRE/85/002 Field Document 9).

It should be noted that employment is predominantly of part-time nature, with fishing and fishing cultivation combined with other seasonal and part-time activities, except in marine fish farming and a very small proportion of trout farming.

5. MARKETING

In terms of fish trade balance Greece shows a negative figure (see Figure I).

The fish consumption demand is 15.8 kg/per caput/year; importation was 45 000 t in 1981 and 66 614 t in 1984.

The consumers demand in Greece is mainly directed towards the most expensive species (sea bass, sea bream, sole) whole production is limited in Greece.

5.1 Export

A third of exported fish is eel (Italy absorbs 55%). Seventy percent of exported molluscs and crustaceans are flat oysters (Spain absorbs 88%) (MEDRAP - TR/85/13).

6. INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

The Ministry of Agriculture, through its Fisheries Service, has the principal role in aquaculture development and control. It is responsible for the administration of the relevant legislation and for the promotion and planning of new development.

The Fisheries Service also administers state and FEOGA assistance schemes and operates an extension service through its regional offices. Out of a total complement of 150, 30 officials are based in central offices in Athens, the rest in regional offices. Currently 15 officers have specifically aquaculture responsabilities. Fisheries officers are predominantly biology graduates.

The Minister of National Economy is responsible for the administration of regional development schemes and operates a national grant scheme which is separate from that operated by the Minister of Agriculture. Under this scheme, aquaculture in any area of Greece is placed in the highest assistance category.

The Ministry of Industry, Energy and Technology is involved in aquaculture development through funding of research and development institutes and programmes.

The Minister of Education funds university programmes and the Messolonghi training facilities.

The Agricultural Bank of Greece which is state-owned, is the principal source of credit for projects and has shareholdings in a wide range of public and semi-public agencies, such as development companies and technical assistance organizations. It has a fishery section in its central office in Athens.

In preparation for future development in aquaculture, the Bank has trained 50 employees for technical assessment and 25 for financial assessment.

The cooperative sector has a dominant role in prime production in Greece. There are some 7 000 cooperatives with approximately 1 million members, accounting for between 80% and 90% of all agricultural producers. In fisheries, however, cooperative involvement is low with membership levels accounting for only 3%.

PASEGES (Panhellenic Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives) performs coordinating and representative functions. It is attempting to increase its involvement in fisheries and aquaculture and lobbies the Government on behalf of the industry.

Cooperatives play an important role in lagoon fisheries and in the introduction of improved marketing system and facilities.

7. TRAINING

The Universities of the Aegean, Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras and Crete all have biology departments and run both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

The University of Thessaloniki has drafted a proposal for a course in aquaculture to be included as an optional subject in its undergraduate course. The University of Crete, through its recently created Institute of Marine Biology, plans a major involvement in aquaculture.

Other postgraduate raining is provided in Athens by the Centre for the Promotion of Productivity.

The Department of Applied Hydrobiology of the Agricultural University College of Athens runs an 18 month optional course in aquaculture as part of its graduate course in agriculture.

The main centre for technical training is at the Messolonghi Technical College where a 3-year course is provided to approximately 120 students each year.

Short courses have been provided by PASEGES and the Organization for the Employment of Unemployed Workers.

Both training of specialists and researchers in specialist areas, such as marine hatchery technology and fish pathology, is conducted through foreign visits and the contracting of foreign experts (FI:DP/GRE/85/002 Field Document 9).

RECOMMENDATION

The following recommendations have been formulated by N.J. MacPherson in his report “Aquaculture Development Planning in Greece” (FI:DP/GRE/85/002 - Field documents).

Recommendations

That the current extnsion service should be changed to make it broader and more capable of giving practical support in the field.

That training provision should be revised to reflect actual demand from the industry and to increase the amount of practical content.

That semi-intensive methods should be given a higher priority and be more fully exploited.

That an information service should be created to cater for the needs of producers.

That the role of the cooperative sector should be strengthened to help solve current marketing problems with freshwater species and future marketing and production problems with mussels and marine fish.

That a capacity for applied research should be established.

That the involvement of regional government in planning, strategy and support services should be reinforced.

That policies for government support and assistance should distinguish between the market-related problems of trout, carp and mussels and the production-related problems of other species.

That levels of direct taxation on production should be significantly reduced.

That grant assistance should be available for initial operation costs for intensive production projects.

That, where new intensive systems are to be introduced, technical and management support should be provided from external sources for the initial phases.

That information on pollution effects from aquaculture be produced and widely disseminated.

That legislation and licence acquisition be improved by the introduction of zoning of sea areas.

That the current allocation of licences should avoid the monopolisation of sea areas by individuals or firms.

That public hatcheries should be run on commercial lines and freed from central civil service control.

REFERENCES

Report of the UNDP/FAO evaluation mission. July 1986

MEDRAP - FD/85/08. National Aquaculture Development Project - Document proposal. November 1985.

ADCP/REP/87/29. The market for the prime Mediterranean species - sea bass, sea bream, mullet and eel and their links with investment.

MEDRAP - TD/86/06 - Seminar. Socio-economic aspects of aquaculture development in the Mediterranean countries. Djerba (Tunisia) 14–24 November 1985.

MEDRAP - TR/85/13 - Coastal lagoon management in Greece: social, economic and legal aspects. October 1985.

FI:DP/GRE/85/002 Field Document 4. October 1987. Freshwater fish culture in Greece.

FI:DP/GRE/85/002 Field Document 6. November 1987. Shellfish cultivation in Greece.

FI:DP/GRE/85/002 Field Document 7. November 1987. Marine Fish Hatcheries in Greece.

FI:DP/GRE/85/002 Field Document 9. November 1987. Aquaculture Development Planning in Greece.

OTHER MEDRAP REPORTS ON GREECE

FD/84/06 - Review of and Proposals for two aquaculture projects in Greece, Messolonghi and Kyparissi. August 1984.

Contents: Analysis of the situation of marine aquaculture in Greece. Review of Messolonghi and Kyparissi project.

TR/84/03. General remarks on the mission carried out in Greece. August 1984.

Contents: Analysis of the Kyparissi projects and propositions for a work plan. General remarks on the visit to Messolonghi.

FD/84/02 - Kyparissi project. August 1984.

Contents: study of an integrated aquaculture project at Kyparissi.

TR/85/03 - Report on mission to Greece. March 1985.

Contents: collection of data for a detailed preliminary roject at Kyparissi.

TR/85/02 - Report on mission to Greece. March 1985.

Contents: Proposition for the construction of a unit for fry rearing (sea bass, sea bream and mullet).

TR/85/04 - Report on the shellfish culture development. Possibilities at Kyparissi. June 1985.

Proposition of a work programme for shellfish culture in Kyparissi.

FD/85/03 - Kyparissi project. Review on the T.A.I. report: the hatchery. July 1985.

FD/85/04 - Kyparissi project. Proposition for the final project.

Contents: Final project for the hatchery. July 1985.

TR/86/03 - Aquaculture development in Greece. Travel report. May 1986.

Contents: Examination of two projects in the areas of Pylos and Messolonghi. Evaluation of technical and constructive aspects of management and productive aspects. Evaluation of productive potential of Tripolis area.