Monitoring and regulation of marine aquaculture in Greece: licensing, regulatory control and monitoring guidelines and procedures

Marine aquaculture in Greece is now established and experienced enough to b e able to evaluate its present and determine its future status. The greek p roduction of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and the European sea bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax) represents almost 40% of the total European productio n of these species. There has been a rapid expansion of controlled marine f infish and mussel production since about the middle of 1980. There were two marine finfish farms in 1985 and by the end of 1998 the number increased t o 220. The number of mussel farms in Greece increased from five in 1980 to 346 in 1998. Marine aquaculture in Greece is regulated in accordance with a large number of EU Regulations, EU Commission Decisions, EU Council Decisi ons, EU Council Directives, Greek Laws, Greek Case-Laws, Greek Ministerial Decisions, Greek Administrative Documents and Directives and Greek Legal Co uncil of State Decisions. The weaknesses in the relationship between its le gislation and application are discussed.