The deterioration of marine ecosystems, the degradation of tourism and fisheries and the general environmental impact of the expansion of fish farms in Aitoloakarnania, underlines with its intervention at the meeting of the Regional Council of Western Greece, the Institute of Marine Conservation, “Archipelagos”.
Here is the press release:
Regarding the the planned increase (by 70%) in fish production in the West Coast of Aitoloakarnania, in the recent meeting of the Regional Council of Western Greece, the possible revocation of an earlier positive opinion of the Region was discussed. The Archipelagos Institute, as scientific advisor to the Municipality of Xeromeros, participated by presenting important data regarding the environmental impacts that will be caused if this extension is carried out.
The wider area of Astakos - Echinades - Kastos - Kalamos, already for more than 30 years, produces 18-20% of total national fish production and has already caused severe damage to marine ecosystems, tourism and fisheries.
The western coast of Aitoloakarnania is another area where the outdated fish farming model is applied, according to which the facilities are located close to the coast, in areas with low water traffic, with a view to low investment and maintenance costs. The result of this model is the severe damage to coastal ecosystems, significant degradation of tourism and fisheries, and the production of fish of poor quality and commercial value.
This failed model, which has been applied for decades, has finally destroyed the viability of Greek fish farming. The big companies in the sector have been going from bankruptcy to bankruptcy, surviving first with subsidies, then with the stock market, then under bank supervision and debt write-offs, and most recently the financial game of transferring ownership from one foreign fund to another.
All that is happening in the era of “green” and “blue” development, is of course at the expense of the natural environment, at the expense of small and medium-sized fish farming enterprises struggling to survive, but also at the expense of local communities.
The planned increase in fish production of 70% under the Area of Organised Development of Aquaculture (O.O.A.Y.) of the Ehinades Islands and Aitoloakarnania, has provoked intense mobilisation, but also the legitimate concern of local communities and authorities, who see their place being transformed from an area of international environmental importance and unique beauty to an industrial zone that will exclude any other activity or use by the inhabitants themselves.
It is the position of Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation that fish farms should be relocated to the open sea, and/or to areas with good water circulation, and the carrying capacity should be compatible with the actual capacity of each site and not calculated on the basis of economic models, as is customary in Greece.
This approach, as a truly sustainable - environmentally and economically - fish farming model has been applied for decades in many regions of the EU.
A good example is Cyprus where:
- the units are installed 1.5+ km from the coast (and not near the coast, as is common in Greece)
- have minimal fish mortality (in contrast to Greek intensive farming units where mortality rates reach 40%)
- are certified for the non-use of antibiotics (in contrast to the extensive use of antibiotics in the majority of facilities in Greece)
- their products are sought-after in major international markets (unlike their Greek fish counterparts which are sold below cost by the big companies)
Most important of all, we must realise before it is too late that we cannot continue to go on destroying our comparative advantages, creating a vicious circle of crises.
For the Institute of Marine Conservation «Archipelagos»
Anastasia Miliou
For more information on the subject of fish farming see below:
https://archipelago.gr/epiptosis-ton-ydatokalliergion-sta-paraktia-nera-sti-synedriasi-tis-epitropis-prostasias-perivallontos-tis-voulis/
