Characteristics and Current Status of the Fishery Product Market in Athens, Greece

Abstract

In Greece, the distribution of fishery products is largely fragmented and remains less developed due to the small-scale nature of domestic fisheries and topographical features, such as archipelagos and long coastlines. To understand the current status of the distribution of fishery products in Greece, this study elucidated the characteristics of the fishery product market in Athens, the national capital, where various fishery products are collected from different areas. Interviews and observational surveys were conducted to investigate the different varieties and distribution routes of fishery products and the business style of fishmongers. As a result, 60 species from 42 families of fishery products were identified. Production sites of the fishery products observed were dispersed over wide areas in Greece, while many products were also imported from other countries. Most fishery products arrived in Athens through Port Keratsini in Piraeus, although some fishmongers had their own wholesale channels. It appears that the variety of fishery products is determined not only by the species of fish caught and types of fishing gear used in the production phase but also by the location of production sites, the business strategy of fishmongers, trends in the domestic economy, and cultural and religious aspects of Greek society.