2.1 The stated long-term development objective1 of the current project is to establish an aquaculture sector in Greece which will contribute, along with the traditional fisheries sector, to the national goal of food security.
A target of 20 000 tonnes of fish and shellfish by the year 2000 has been set and it is foreseen that this production will help to replace the current high levels of imports of fish and fish products, thereby preserving foreign exchange, and that it will be based on a viable economic sector providing employment in remote rural areas of the country.
The need for a national plan and for the expansion of Greece's capacity to develop and manage aquaculture efficiently have been identified as critical. More specifically, the increase in national capacity is judged to be dependent on the creation of two national centres which will provide technological, technical, training and extension services throughout the country.
2.2 Implied in these objectives are both production and social aims. That is, aquaculture is seen as being capable of adding to gross national product as well as helping to reduce the socio-economic problems of remote rural areas within the country. It has to be borne in mind that there can be conflict between these types of objectives. The emphasis or level of priority given to social objectives has important implications for the level of involvement which government will have in the development and control of the industry. The use of aquaculture as a means of directing economic opportunity to the more difficult, remoter areas requires a greater degree of control over the location and size of production units. There is also a greater need for government support services for producers and producer groups who will not possess the necessary range of technical and commercial expertise.
2.3 The project document refers to three general findings concerning development work in aquaculture in Greece. These were as follows:
The lack of government policy and planning was a major factor in constraining projects and in the non-realization of their potentials.
National capacity building needed to be implemented at all levels and overemphasis on bio-technology to the neglect of marketing, economics, social aspects and planning had to be avoided.
It was necessary for government to avoid direct involvement in production and to accept the benefits of owner/operator production.
2.4 The consultant would confirm that these are general weaknesses in aquaculture development activity in Greece. It can also be said that there is general, widespread enthusiasm and commitment towards the concept of aquaculture development. The fact that such energy is not channelled through comprehensive and explicit plans has resulted in a lack of coordination in the efforts of different agencies. More important, the failure to treat aquaculture as a potential industry with broad and practical servicing needs rather than as a subsidiary area of biological science is widespread. This has given rise, for example, to limitations in government extension services and insufficient emphasis being given to applied, as opposed to basic, research.
It can also be said that the importance of the private sector - companies, individual producers and producer groups - needs to be clarified and highlighted. The links between industry and science are weak and would benefit from a higher priority being given to applied research programmes. Extension services, the critical link in the development process, are incomplete and patchy despite some positive work in particular regions.
2.5 Briefly stated, those are the basic development objectives for aquaculture in Greece and the general areas where weaknesses have been identified.
In the following section of this report, the general requirements for development planning are laid out. It should be noted that detailed information on particular areas is given in other consultants' reports. Detailed information on production, legislation and ownership, governmental and institutional participation, and education, training and extension services is provided in the later sections of this report.
