Agrinio, Saturday June 6
The Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Organization (HAPO) participated as a sponsor in the “Western Business 2026” Conference.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Konstantinos Bokas, Member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of HAPO, emphasized the importance of defining a clear productive development model for the region:
“We need to decide what kind of productive model we want for Aitoloakarnania.“
Mr. Bokas took part in the panel discussion titled “The New Business Landscape and the Prospects of Western Greece,” where he highlighted aquaculture as one of the strongest pillars of Western Greece’s emerging economic landscape. He also stressed the need for targeted government action to support investment and ensure the sector’s sustainable growth.
Commenting on the region’s development strategy, he noted:
“The title of this session is ‘The New Business Landscape and the Prospects of Western Greece,’ but I am not sure whether there is a new or an old business map. A few years ago, we had a six- or seven-page memorandum outlining the region’s development priorities. Today, that has been reduced to half a page.“
Referring to the contribution of Greek aquaculture to the national economy, Mr. Bokas stated:
“From a production perspective, our sector is of strategic importance. Fish is a unique product. Greece produces approximately 130,000 tones of sea bream and sea bass annually, of which 82% is exported. Domestic demand is more than fully covered, while the remaining production reaches consumers in 38 countries worldwide. The sector generates valuable export revenue, supports approximately 12,000 direct and indirect jobs, and has a significant social footprint.“
He concluded by underscoring that spatial planning remains one of the sector’s most pressing challenges:
“The key issue is spatial planning. No announcement has been made regarding aquaculture. Special spatial planning frameworks have been developed for industry, renewable energy and tourism. Either aquaculture is not considered a priority, or policymakers believe the existing framework is sufficient. The current Special Spatial Framework for Aquaculture, which has been in force since 2011, identified 11 designated aquaculture zones, yet only seven have been officially approved. No investor will commit capital in an environment marked by uncertainty.“
HAPO reaffirmed that a stable regulatory framework, clear spatial planning, and long-term policy support are essential to unlocking further investment and ensuring the continued growth and international competitiveness of the Greek aquaculture sector.
