The availability of labour has become one of the decisive factors for the competitiveness of marine aquaculture in the Mediterranean. Beyond production growth or the adoption of new technologies, the presence of young, skilled personnel is emerging as a key element in sustaining the sector’s development, particularly as marine farms expand into more exposed and operationally demanding offshore areas.
This is one of the main conclusions of a study analysing the evolution of production and economic value of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in Greece and Turkey over the period 2003–2023. The study links these trends to demographic developments in both countries and their potential impact on the sustainability of the aquaculture sector.
According to FAO statistics, Greece began in 2003 with seabream and seabass production levels 52.79% higher than those of Turkey. However, subsequent developments have been clearly divergent. By 2008, both countries had reached similar production levels, but in the following years Turkish aquaculture experienced much stronger growth.
Between 2003 and 2023, combined seabream and seabass production increased by 53.52% in Greece, compared with a rise of 743.67% in Turkey. As a result, by 2023 Turkey had surpassed Greece by 34.84% in production volume and accounted for approximately 64% of total European production of these two species, while Greek production represented around 22%. Together, both countries contributed more than 86% of European seabream and seabass output.
The differences are even more pronounced when the economic value of production is considered. In 2003, the market value of seabream and seabass produced in Greece was 39.2% higher than that of Turkey. Two decades later, the situation had reversed: in 2023, the economic value of Turkish production was 43.7% higher than that of Greece. That year, Turkey accounted for nearly 62% of the total European value of these species, compared with just under 22% for Greece.
The study links this evolution to contrasting demographic dynamics. While Greece’s population declined by 6.19% between 2003 and 2023, Turkey’s population grew by 28.66% over the same period. In addition, the difference in median age — 33.5 years in Turkey compared with 46.8 years in Greece — is identified as a relevant factor for labour availability in a labour-intensive sector such as marine aquaculture.
Statistical analysis reveals a strong positive correlation between population growth and aquaculture production in Turkey, whereas in Greece the correlation is negative. According to the study, this contrast suggests that human resource availability may be directly influencing the sector’s growth capacity, beyond other factors such as technology, markets or production costs.
In a context where aquaculture is expanding into more exposed areas with higher technical and safety requirements, the study stresses that human resource management should be explicitly integrated into planning and development strategies.
The recruitment and training of personnel therefore emerge as a structural challenge for ensuring the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of marine aquaculture in the Mediterranean.
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