Industrial fisheries impact on Western Greece
The Areas of Organized Aquaculture Development (ΠΟΑΥ) are zones of exclusive activity of fish farms and other types of aquaculture. They occupy vast sea and land areas. The industrial fisheries impact on Western Greece are significant both in the marine environment and the inhabitants’ quality of life. Independent journalist Francesco De Augustinis explores the impact of the Area of Industrial Development of Aquaculture planned for Aetolia-Akarnania and documents the conditions faced by the inhabitands of the surrounding areas in a video.
A few facts for the Greek industrial fisheries
Greece is planning to significantly increase production in the upcoming years. The Country is already the main European producer of farm sea bass and sea bream (150k tons in 2019). 83 per cent of Greek production is destined for export, especially to Italy, Spain, France and Portugal. 33 per cent of Greek fish farms are concentrated in Peloponnese, West Greece and Ionian region.
Aetolia-Akarnania, Western Greece
Fish cages will occupy 100 hectares and another 100 hectares will be used for other activities. Giannis Triantaphyllakis, Mayor of Xiromero, believes that this will affect the whole area, their towns, tourism and the sea. Vasilis Soulas, journalist (Mytikaspress), says: “There are beaches around the area and at a short distance the islands Kalamos and Kastos. It will be a disaster for the area”.
Inhabitants of the islands and villages protest against the fish farms and any further expansion project. They are against it, as they believe that fish farms have caused a huge ecological disaster in the sea and fish. In the past ten years they have watched their sea become poor. The industrial fisheries impact on Western Greece also extended to poseidonia meadows which are now absent or very deteriorated.
An expedition from the Institute of Marine Conservation “Archipelagos” studied the quality of the water and the seabed around the fish farms. The conclusions were the same.
Posidonia meadows
The importance of the poseidonia meadows is enormous. Among other things, they stabilize the seabed with their roots, produce large amounts of organic matter, release oxygen into the water, act as a habitat and refuge for marine organisms, especially for spawn, and protect beaches from erosion caused by waves.
We say no to the development of industrial fisheries at Poros!
The example of industrial fisheries impact on Western Greece reinforces our opposition to industrial-scale fish farms in Poros. But the prevention of such a plan requires the participation of all of us. Let’s state our position with a signature here.
We have a right to self-determination!
