Visits to a marine fish farm improve visitors’ perceptions of aquaculture

Educational visits to a fish farm can help improve public perceptions of aquaculture, according to a study published in Marine Policy. The research examined a tourism experience in western Rhodes that combines talks on aquaculture and marine biology with a visit to the farm and its surrounding marine environment.

The researchers interviewed 48 tourists, aged 20 to 68, before and after their visits in June and July 2024. After the experience, 81.25% had a more favourable view of aquaculture; 16.67% held the same view, while one participant viewed it less favourably. Before the tour, 73% said they had little or no prior knowledge of the sector.

After the visit, 87.5% rated aquaculture within the positive range used in the study. Participants highlighted what they had learnt about farming practices and the opportunity to see the farm and surrounding ecosystem at close quarters. Some also pointed out that one site could not represent the whole aquaculture industry and retained concerns about its environmental impacts.

The experience, known as Marine Life Experience, is a collaboration between tour operator Blutopia and the LAMAR marine farm, located near the island of Strongyli. The farm produces European seabass, gilthead seabream, red seabream and meagre. Tours include scientific talks, marine biology activities, dolphin watching and guided snorkelling near the cages.

The authors suggest that this type of tourism could help the public engage with aquaculture and support its social acceptance. However, the findings relate to one farm and a limited sample of visitors, so they do not establish whether the same effect would occur at other sites or with different tour formats.

Reference: van Blanken, L., Baltadakis, A. and Kelling, I. “Plenty of fish in the farm: Analysing the effect of aquaculture-based tourism on public perceptions of aquaculture”. Marine Policy, 196 (2027), 107352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2026.107352