Greek fish farmers seek clarity on licences and investment after spatial-plan deadline

The Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Organisation (ELOPY) and the Panhellenic Association of Small and Medium-sized Fish Farmers have called on the Greek government to clarify the spatial-planning and licensing rules that now apply to the sector.

In a joint letter dated 6 November, the organisations said the lack of clarity affects the planning of new investments, the renewal of operating licences and the legal certainty of existing farms.

The intervention follows the 4 November milestone linked to the 2011 Special Spatial Framework for Aquaculture. The framework has reached the 15-year period specified in its approval decision, while the process to assess and revise it is not currently expected to be completed until 2029.

The producer organisations have asked the Ministry of Environment and Energy to confirm which planning framework applies after 4 November, how existing licences will be safeguarded and what measures will prevent disputes or possible interruptions to farm operations.

They also highlight the position of businesses that have already invested in the establishment of Organised Aquaculture Development Areas (POAYs), but whose procedures have not yet been completed. For these companies, the unresolved regulatory situation adds uncertainty to long-term investment plans.

The concern comes against a background of slow progress in formalising these areas. ELOPY’s latest sector report shows that only seven of the 23 POAY applications submitted between 2011 and 2025 had received formal approval, with no new POAYs approved in 2025. The organisation says several planning studies have been ready for approval since 2022.

The groups have requested a meeting with the responsible ministries, written answers and a timetable for the revision and formal adoption of the new spatial framework.

The development does not mean that aquaculture licences have been declared invalid or suspended. Rather, it reflects a formal request from the sector for the authorities to provide legal and administrative certainty while the revision remains pending.