Two-Days Study Visit to Greece - Marine Fish Farming

The study visit is a bilateral initiative in the frame of the “Business Innovation Greece” Programme, financed by EEA Grants for the financial period 2014-2021. The visit will be organised in close collaboration with HAPO (the Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Organisation).

Norwegian companies are invited to explore the Greek market. The aim is to provide market insights into the Greek aquaculture industry, particularly in the farming of sea bass and sea bream, and to meet stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities related to digitalisation and efficiency.

The first day will include a workshop with presentations of challenges and needs in the Greek marine fish farming industry, and the Norwegian participants will have the opportunity to present their technologies, solutions and expertise. Together with the networking among the participants this will be a good opportunity to establish meaningful partnerships for future collaboration.

Since “seeing is believing”, the second day will consist of a site visit to one of the bigger marine fish farms in Greece.

Focus Area:

Farming of fish in floating cages in marine water (not in ponds, fresh water etc.) and operation of land-based establishments (hatcheries, packaging stations etc.) will be the focus for this study visit.

1. Innovative equipment
2. Alternative fish feeds
3. Automation and digitisation of production
4. Fish welfare
5. Monitoring (environmental, biomass estimation etc.)

Key for industry development in Greece is enhancing competitiveness by reducing production costs through technological innovations like automated feeding systems, biomass measurement tools, and real-time monitoring systems. Processing technologies, automation, AI, and robotics are crucial for reducing waste and maintaining product quality.

The following equipment/solutions are also of interest:

Equipment for traditional cage farming at sea, Submerged technology, Land-based (RAS, hybrid flow-through technology), Offshore technology (management of cages (anchorage, cleaning, harvesting etc.) in deeper and less shelter waters but still not many miles away from the coast (would describe it as semi-offshore), Process/well boats, slaughterhouse process equipment etc

Who should join:

Norwegian companies, representing suppliers of solutions, technologies and expertise that can match the defined needs (mentioned above) are the main target group for this visit. This is an open invitation to the target group - register your interest!

Tentative Agenda:

Day 1 – Tuesday 18 March 2025

The Workshop will be held in Athens city center (venue tbd)

Morning Session

Presentations from HAPO and representatives from marine fish farms in Greece

• Introduction to the Greek aquaculture sector
• Main challenges and needs for Greek fish farming companies and hatcheries
• Overview of aquaculture equipment market in Greece

Presentation from the Ministry of Rural Development and Food (TBC)

• Available financing schemes and instruments for investment projects in aquaculture

Presentation on business culture and how to do business in Greece (TBC)

• Greek business culture (do’s and don’ts) and legal as well as customary aspects of implementing projects in Greece

Presentations from the Norwegian participants

• Technologies, solutions and expertise relevant for marine fish farming in Greece

Joint lunch

Afternoon Session

• Networking and matchmaking meetings

Day 2 – Wednesday 19 March 2025:

Visit to one marine fish farm (Avramar), approx. 3 hours drive from Athens.

Fee and logistics:

There is no participation fee.
Costs related to renting of meeting room, coffee breaks, lunch both days, as well as transport from Athens to/from the fish farm on Day 2 will be covered by the bilateral funds from the mentioned Programme.

Participants will need to organise their own travel to/from Athens, as well as accommodation in Athens, and cover these costs. Participants should arrive in Athens in the evening of 17 March and can expect to return to Athens in the evening of 19 March. (Further guidance will be provided.)

Some facts and figures about fish farming in Greece:

Greece is the largest producer of sea bream and sea bass in the EU-27 and the second largest internationally. National strategies aim to increase production by 5% annually until 2030. In 2023, Greece had 881 aquaculture farms, including 82% in marine waters, 10% in inland waters, and 8% in brackish waters. Additionally, there are 24 fish hatcheries supporting these farms.

The Greek aquaculture industry is a significant sector, creating 12,000 jobs and contributing to both local economies and international markets. In 2023 total aquaculture production estimated to 153,852 tonnes with a value of €774.78 million marking an increase of 1.6% in terms of volume and a decrease of 3.5% in terms of sales value.

Fish farming is present in 10 of the 13 regions of Greece, with Western Greece, Central Greece, Peloponnese, and Attica being the most prominent. The main export markets are Italy, Spain, and France.

Despite recent challenges like the energy crisis and inflation, the industry continues to focus on sustainability and environmental performance, collaborating with research institutions to ensure high standards in fish welfare and marine ecosystem protection. Integration of ESG principles and innovative solutions to reduce carbon footprints and foster a circular economy is needed. A robust spatial planning framework is essential for continued growth in exports and for attracting new investments.

(Source: HAPO, Annual Report 2024)