Greece Socio-economic Profile


1 Greece GR1
1.1 Overview

The area defined as Greece GR1  covers the whole of Greece and its islands. According to the Ministry of Agriculture register of vessels, 20,491 fishing vessels were registered in Greece in 1996 with a total of 655,891 kW of power and 110,904 GRT. Registered  fishing vessels on average have 32kW of power and 5.4 GRT.  In terms of vessel numbers, the NUTS 3 regions of  Euboea, Cyclades, Dodecanese, Magnisia and Thessaloniki all have 1,000 registered vessels respectively.  The region of Attica has the largest number of registered vessels with an average power of 49.2 kW per vessel and the greatest average tonnage of 11.7 GRT per vessel.  This reflects the fact that the port of Piraeus in Attica is home to an overseas fishing fleet.  

Of the 20,491 vessels in Greece,  83% of registered vessels are less than 10m in length and mostly operate within a few miles of shore.

There has been a 8% decrease in the number of vessels since 1991 when there were  22,253 vessels.  The trawler segments (23% decline) and vessels fishing in the Atlantic (55% decline) have experienced the greatest decreases.  The decrease in the number of smaller boats has been relatively modest, less than 2%).

Landings as recorded by the Agricultural Bank total some 124,386 tonnes, valued at around
458,196,147 ECU.  These figures however do not account for the landings of part time fishers who sell their catch directly to the purchaser and whose landings are not recorded.  The main fishing areas are the Gulfs of Thermaikos and Chalkidiki which account for 32% of production.

Processing is only carried out in 22 of the 54 NUTS 3 regions.  The majority of the processing takes place in  Thessaloniki,, Attica and Kavala (38%, 19% and 13% of total volume respectively). Most processing facilities are old and rely on both local production and imports from abroad.

Bass and bream farming takes place mainly in the Nomoi of Phokida, Euboa, Cephaloniki and Chios. Fish farming continues to expand rapidly.  In 1996 the production value of bass and bream farms was nearly 160,368,651ECU. Since 60-65% of bass and bream are exported, Italy remains the main export market for farmed fish and has a preference for sea bass and mussels

A total of 26,705 tonnes of mussels valued at  7,972,612 ECU were produced in 1997.  

1.2 Coastal Fishing Employment

The total employment in marine capture fishing in Greece was 41,251. The distribution of employment numbers follows the same pattern as the vessels with the majority of employment in the NUTS 3 regions of Attica  (5,969 fishers),  Lesvos  (3,062 fishers)  Cyclades  (2,637) Euboea  (2,450) and Thessaloniki  (2,502).

The Agricultural Bank also provides an estimate of capture fishing employment for 1997 of 35,944 fishers with a split of approximately 81% working in inshore fisheries, 17% in the offshore fisheries and 2% overseas

The National Survey of the Workforce provides a sample of employment in fishing of 14,419 persons, from which age and gender breakdown can be determined.  In this survey 8% of the fishing sector workforce are female.

1.3 Processing Employment

The processing sector in Greece provides employment for 1,455 full time and 954 part time workers . Of these 1,455 persons employed, 7.6% were involved in the processing of freshwater aquaculture species. The percentage  of women employed in the processing sector was 32% which compares to the 37%  in the overall workforce.

1.4 Vessel  Construction and Repair Employment

Estimations based on a short survey give an approximate number of  350-400 people employed in all vessel construction and repairs (sector dealing with fishing, other commercial and recreational craft).

1.5 Marine Aquaculture Employment

The aquaculture industry in Greece is considerable and employs a total of 2,910 people.  Mariculture employment is predominant in the Nomoi of Thessaloniki and Pieria  where mussels are produced.  

1.6 Inland Aquaculture Employment

There are a further 254 people employed in freshwater aquaculture mostly involved in trout production.

1.7 Inland Fishing Employment

There are 2,701 fishers employed in inland capture fisheries,  the majority located in the Nomos of Aitoloakarnania which is where the majority of Greece's lagoons are situated.