Thessaloniki and the wider Thermaic Gulf region are seeking to revitalise Greece's shellfish farming sector, a key export industry, amid growing environmental and regulatory challenges. The issue was the focus of a conference organised by the Decentralised Administration of Macedonia-Thrace, which brought together local authorities, scientists, and shellfish farmers to discuss the future of the sector.
Officials highlighted the strategic importance of shellfish aquaculture to the Greek economy, noting that more than 80% of production is exported to international markets. Dimitris Galamatis, secretary of the Decentralised Administration, stressed the need for clear regulatory rules to safeguard product quality and producers.
Central to this effort is the long-awaited approval of an organised aquaculture development zone in the Thermaic Gulf. The proposal for the zone was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Energy last November, a move Galamatis described as a major step forward after decades of delays. "This inertia had existed for about 20 years," he said, adding that once the plan is approved, authorities will "accelerate the procedures as much as possible".
The plan includes licensing 49 new floating farming units in the coastal areas of Chalastra, Kymina and Angelochori, a development he called "essentially the springboard to move into a new era for shellfish farming in the region". Authorities have already mapped all floating installations in the Thermaic Gulf and plan to dismantle illegal structures and old submerged stakes occupying around 120 stremmas of sea space, Galamatis said.
At the national level, Antonis Filippis, secretary general for Agricultural Policy and International Relations at the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, emphasised the role of aquaculture within Europe's "blue economy". "There is significant room for growth in the sector, we need to win new markets," Filippis said, noting that Greece's aquaculture development plan for 2021-2030 aims to increase production by 5% by the end of the decade. However, he warned of major challenges posed by climate change and rising sea temperatures.
Regional and local officials also warned that shellfish farming in the Thermaic Gulf faces structural challenges despite being a dynamic sector with strong expertise among producers. They highlighted the need for clearer spatial planning, product traceability and support measures, particularly after severe losses in 2024 linked to extreme water temperatures.
Authorities and industry representatives stressed that many mussel farmers are struggling to survive without compensation, with some leaving the sector altogether, and called for financial support and insurance mechanisms similar to those adopted in other European countries. At the same time, they argued that approving the planned aquaculture spatial framework could improve the organisation of sea space, infrastructure and product competitiveness while helping the sector adapt to climate change.
By Areti Tassoula - adapted from Greek by Vassia Barba
