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European Commission Fish / 2006 / 09

Assessment of the status, development and diversification of fisheries-dependent communities

Amvrakikos Gulf case study report

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ABBREVIATIONS

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ESYE National Statistical Service of Greece

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization, UN

FLAG Fisheries Local Action Group

LAG Local Action Groups

OP Operational Programme


Table of Contents

1. Introduction 6

1.1 General description of the location 6 1.2 Location 6 1.3 Key geographical characteristics of the community 8

2. Demographic aspects 11

2.1. Population and population age structure 11 2.2. Ethnicity and migration 13

3. Economic aspects 15

3.1. Importance of economic activities 16 3.2. Employment and unemployment 18 3.3. Infrastructure 25 3.4. Local development plans 28 4.1. Details of the local fishing fleet 30 4.2. Fish stock status 34 4.3. Fisheries infrastructure 36 4.4. Details of the local catching sub-sector 36 4.5. Details of the local processing and marketing sub-sector 40 4.6. Details of the local aquaculture sub-sector 42 4.7. Details of the local ancillary sub-sector 45

5. Governance 46

5.1. Key local institutions 46 5.2. Public intervention 47

6. Stakeholder analysis 51

7. Qualitative interpretation and analysis 53

7.1. Key events and drivers of change 53 7.2. Adaptation 56 7.3. Future development of the community 58 7.4. The role of public sector intervention 62 7.5. Conclusion 62

BIBLIOGRAPHY 63


Table of Tables

Table 1: Population changes for the period 1991-2001 ....................................................... 11

Table 2: Age groups change for the period 1991-2001 ........................................................ 12

Table 3: Indicators of aging, juvenility and dependence for the period 1991-2001 ............... 13

Table 4: Active population for the period 1991-2001 ........................................................... 18

Table 5: Employees change during the period 1991-2001 .................................................. 19

Table 6: Active men and women population ........................................................................ 19

Table 7: Employment in the area by economic sector for the period 1991-2001 .................. 20

Table 8: Contribution of each sector in the total employment .............................................. 20

Table 9: Change in employment in fishing and related activities sector ............................... 21

Table 10: Economically active population in the fisheries sector ......................................... 21

Table 11: Employees change and employees’ structure ..................................................... 22

Table 12: Unemployment change in the period 1991-2001 ................................................. 22

Table 13: Change of employees by economic activity for the period 1991-2001 ................. 23

Table 14: Change in employment for the fishing and related activities ................................ 24

Table 15: Accomodation infrastructure in Amvrakikos Gulf Area ......................................... 26

Table 16: Schools in the Prefectures of Etoloakarnania, Arta and Preveza ......................... 27

Table 17: Fleet segments in the study area ......................................................................... 31

Table 18: Demographic characteristics of fishermen ........................................................... 33

Table 19: Main target species in the Amvrakikos Gulf ......................................................... 34

Table 20: Fish stock status for Amvrakikos Gulf .................................................................. 34

Table 21: Prices of the key species of the area ................................................................... 39

Table 22: Processing and packaging units in the area ........................................................ 41

Table 23: Fish quantities handled by the auction hall in Preveza ........................................ 42

Table 24: Production volumes of aquaculture in the study area .......................................... 43

Table 25: Names of Fishermen cooperatives, the lagoons that they rent/manage and their members ............................................................................................................................. 46

Table 26. Public investments in the area and outcomes ...................................................... 47

Table 27: Stakeholder details and contacts ......................................................................... 51


Table of Figures Figure 1: Amvrakikos Gulf in Europe (with red color on left) and major cities and villages in the Gulf (on right) .................................................................................................................. 7

Figure 2: The Amvrakikos Gulf and surrounding eastern Ionian Sea coastal waters with the bathymetry ............................................................................................................................ 8

Figure 3: Bathymetric map of Amvrakikos Gulf ...................................................................... 9

Figure 4: Land uses map in Amvrakikos Gulf ...................................................................... 10

Figure 5. Age structure of Amvrakikos Gulf population 1991-2001 ...................................... 13

Figure 6. Gross Value Added for main economic sectors in the Prefectures of Preveza, Arta and Etoloakarnania (no available data for the specific area of Amvrakikos Gulf) ................. 16

Figure 7: Employment in Amvrakikos Gulf, 1991 – 2001 ..................................................... 23

Figure 8. Changes in employment (fulltime equivalent jobs) across Amvrakikos Gulf between 1991 and 2001 .................................................................................................................... 24

Figure 9: Fisheries dependency .......................................................................................... 25

Figure 10: The Aktio Airport location ................................................................................... 26

Figure 11: Fisheries routes from the fisheries cooperatives of Vonitsa, Preveza and Koronisia ............................................................................................................................. 31

Figure 12: Trends in fleet segment numbers, 2003-2009 .................................................... 32

Figure 13: Trends in fleet segment power, 2003-2009 ........................................................ 32

Figure 14: Trends in fleet segment tonnage, 2003- 2009 .................................................... 32

Figure 15: Trends in wild fish landings volume in the Amvrakikos Gulf ................................ 37

Figure 16: Total lagoons production 1980-2002 .................................................................. 38

Figure 17: Trends in price for the key species of the area ................................................... 38

Figure 18: Mean days of fishing per year. ........................................................................... 40

Figure 19: Volume of aquaculture production ...................................................................... 44

Figure 20: Value of aquaculture production ......................................................................... 44


1. Introduction

1.1 General description of the location Amvrakikos Gulf is a semi-enclosed sea area located on the Western Greek coast. The Northern part of the Gulf is occupied by large and productive lagoons. The fishery of the area is a typical artisanal Eastern Mediterranean fishery, with a large number of small vessels and important lagoon landings. Since the mid 1990’s, aquaculture units have produced mainly sea bream and sea bass. The production of these units, situated inside the Gulf, increased rapidly and since 2002 has stabilised at about 4,800 tonnes. The surface area of Amvrakikos Gulf is 405 km2 and due to this prominent size belongs administratively to two Regions (NUTS 2) (Epirus and Western Greece) and three NUTS 3 areas (Prefectures1

1.2 Location

of Preveza, Etoloakarnania and Arta). Fishing is a traditional occupation in the area and nowadays mainly consists of an important production of high valued prawns. During the last decade, there has been a general decrease of fish landings due to a combination of environmental and managerial problems.

The Amvrakikos Gulf is a well defined Gulf located along the Ionian coast in a semi-enclosed embayment of 405 km2 (38 51.45N-39 07.00N and 20 47E-21-08E). Due to the Gulf’s prominent size its southern part belongs to the Region (NUTS 2) of Western Greece and Prefecture (NUTS 3) of Etoloakarnania while the Northern part belongs to the Region (Perifereia-NUTS 2) of Epirus and the Prefectures of Preveza and Arta (NUTS 3). Administrative Centers around Amvrakikos Gulf are located in all three Prefectures that surround the area. The closest Administrative Centre is in the Prefecture of Preveza, Department of Fisheries which is in the city of Preveza. The largest city in the Amvrakikos Gulf area is Preveza which is located at the entrance of the Gulf. The entrance is a narrow channel of 3 km length, width from 0.8 to 2km and 2-13 meters depth which links Amvrakikos Gulf with the Ionian Sea. The renewal of the waters of the Gulf is made exclusively from this channel. Also in Amvrakikos Gulf two rivers gush, Arachthos and Louros. In Amvrakikos Gulf there are over 20 lagoons. The 3 bigger lagoons are ‘Logarou” 25,75 km2 “Tsoukalio” 16,5 km2 and “Rodia” 13,5 km2. In the Amvrakikos Gulf area there is a significant number of sensitive and protected areas. Part of Amvrakikos Gulf is included in NATURA 2000 & RAMSAR sites. The area which belongs to these sites is a complex ecosystem consisting of a double delta from the rivers Arachthos and Louros, a system of lagoons with three large lagoons (Rhodia, Tsoukalio and Logarou) and also some smaller ones, and a sea area zone. It is a preserved ecosystem, both by national and international directives. Amvrakikos Gulf has been characterized as a ‘National Park” in accordance with national (Greek) legislation (11989/08 ΚΥΑ).

1 As of 1/1/2011 the prefectures will no longer exist after the administrative reform “Kallikratis” initiated by the Greek Government. Kallikratis reform of the national mode of governance in Greece will give beefed-up powers to municipalities throughout the country by providing roughly 70 percent of the powers of the soon to be dismantled prefectures and will be transferred to about 370 municipalities around the country.


Other protected areas by NATURA 2000 and CORINE are Lake Amvrakia, Voulkaria and Saltini located in the South Amvrakikos (in the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania). CORINE areas are the Swamp Trifon - Katouna, the lagoon of Katafourkou and the creek Nisas. In the greater area of Amvrakikos Gulf, the Aesthetic Forest Nicopolis – Mytika is located in the Prefecture of Preveza as well as several highly valued lagoons: Logarou, Rodia-Tsoukalio, Tsopeli, the south part of the river Louros, Arachthos Delta, the hills, castles and the small island Koukoumitsa in Vonitsa. Figure 1: Amvrakikos Gulf in Europe (with red color on left) and major cities and villages in the Gulf (on right)


Figure 2: The Amvrakikos Gulf and surrounding eastern Ionian Sea coastal waters with the bathymetry

1.3 Key geographical characteristics of the community The climate in the area is temperate with relative heterogeneity between the Western part strongly influenced by the Ionian Sea and the Eastern part influenced by the mountains of Epirus. The absolute maximum and minimum air temperatures (nearest meteorological stations of Aktio and Arta) are 37-41°C in summer and -3.6 - -7.2 °C in winter. Compared to the rest of the country, the North Western coast of Greece receives important levels of rainfall and this is a key aspect of the ecosystems that are also affecting the fisheries.

Ionian Sea

Amvrakikos Gulf


Amvrakikos Gulf, a semi-enclosed embayment in north-western Greece, is about 35 km long and 6 to 15km wide. Its maximum depth is 65 m and it is separated from the open Ionian Sea by a beach barrier complex. The connection between the Gulf and the Ionian Sea is through a narrow, elongated channel, the Preveza Straits, about 6 km long and ranging in width from 0.8 to 2km. The channel at its entrance is about 2000m wide and gradually narrows reaching a width of about 800m at mid channel. The sill depth over this distance is between 2 and 10 m, including a man-made navigational channel. In the middle, the channel gradually widens reaching a width of about 2500 m and the sill deepens to about 20 m. The Gulf is bounded by rock to the south and east, and to the north by the delta plain of the Aracthos and Louros rivers and associated lagoons. It can be said that the Gulf has a similar geological evolution to that of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. The oceanographic regime at the entrance to the Gulf is characterized by a semi-diurnal tide with an average tidal range of only 5 cm and a maximum recorded of 25 cm whilst inside the Gulf a low energy wave regime prevails, due to the limited fetch. These two aspects affect both the nature of the fisheries and the technical characteristics of the fleet. Two large rivers, the Louros and Aracthos discharge about 609 x 105 m3 and 2002 x 106 m3 respectively per year. Since the early 80’s two dams control the runoff of the Aracthos river. The Gulf has a positive water balance, the water input from rivers run-off is 2063 x 106 and precipitation is about 1200 mm/year (Hellenic Meteorological Service). Sunshine is presented 250 days per year. The winds in the area are mainly west-northwest and sometimes east (Mertzanis, 1995). In ancient times the strategic location, the diversity and the richness of Amvrakikos Gulf ecosystem led to the development of the ancient city of Nikopolis founded after the victory of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (Augustus) in the naval battle of Actium in 31 BC. The city is associated with the effort to establish Roman dominion and the whole process of 'Romanizing' Greece. The city was developed rapidly reaching a population of 100,000. Between the 3rd and 5th century AD the city underwent a period of relative decline and stagnation while from the mid 5th century AD Nikopolis became the administrative, artistic, spiritual and religious centre of the area with a Christian character. The area around the Gulf was gradually incorporated to the modern Hellenic state since late 19th century and 1912 with the liberation of the city of Preveza from the Turkish occupation. Since the foundation of Nikopolis, the main activities have been linked to the primary sector (agriculture, fisheries) which is something inherited to modern times. Figure 3: Bathymetric map of Amvrakikos Gulf


Figure 4: Land uses map in Amvrakikos Gulf

Source: EEA (European Environmental Agency), Technical report No 3/2010


2. Demographic aspects 2.1. Population and population age structure For the area of the Amvrakikos Gulf (and also for the whole country) there are no annual recorded official data regarding demographics. Our analysis is based on the country’s census which takes place every 10 years by the National Statistical Service of Greece (ESYE). Based on the 1991 and 2001 country’s census held by ESYE, the population of Amvrakikos Gulf region has shown a slight decrease (0.24%). For this period reduction is observed in the Prefectures of Arta (0.74%) and Etoloakarnania (1.64%), while in Preveza Prefecture there is a slight increase (1.24%). The reduction of the population in the region of Amvrakikos Gulf contrasts with the significant population increase during the same period for the Region (Perifereia) of Epirus (4.15%), Western Greece (4.64%) and the whole country (6.86 %). The population change in Amvrakikos Gulf, the surrounding area and the whole country is shown in Table 1 below according to data from the National Statistical Service of Greece. Table 1: Population changes for the period 1991-2001

REGIONS Population 1991

Population 2001

Actual change in population

Percentage change in population

WHOLE COUNTRY 10 259 900 10 964 020 704 120 6.86% REGION EPIRUS 339 728 353 820 14 092 4.15% REGION WEST. GREECE 707 687 740 506 32 819 4.64% PREFECTURE OF ARTA 78 719 78 134 -585 -0.74% PREFECTURE OF PREVEZA 58 628 59 356 728 1.24%

PREFECTURE ETOLOAKARNANIA 228 180 224 429 -3 751 -1.64%

AMVRAKIKOS GULF 60 242 60 097 -145 -0.24% Source: National Statistical Service of Greece (ESYE) According to the data of ESYE (1991 and 2001 census), the population distribution by age groups in the Amvrakikos Gulf shows that the age group 0-14 years decreased by 26.8% for this period and the age group of 65 + years increased by 35.4%. The same phenomenon is observed in the Region (Perifereia) of Epirus and Western Greece and also throughout the whole country.

The level of the population aging observed in the area of Amvrakikos Gulf is acute compared to the surrounding areas. The increase of the age group of 65 + years by 35.4% in the area is higher than the increase presented in the Prefectures of Arta (27.3%), Preveza (34%) and Etoloakarnania (24.6%), and in the Region (Perifereia) of Epirus (29.4%) and Western Greece (23.7%).

The reduction of the age group 0-14 by 26.8% in the Amvrakikos Gulf area is higher than the reduction in the three Prefectures (Arta 25.6%, Preveza 23.7%, Etoloakarnania 21.9%) in the Region (Perifereia) of Epirus (22.9%) and Western Greece (19.7%), and the whole country (15.7%). At the same time the gradual aging of the Amvrakikos Gulf population is strengthened by the increase (1.2%) of the productive age group 15-64.

The age group change in the Amvrakikos Gulf, the surrounding area and the whole country is shown in Table 2 below according to data from ESYE.


Table 2: Age groups change for the period 1991-2001

REGIONS Total age group

0-14 age group

15-64 age group

65+ TOTAL

WHOLE COUNTRY 10 259 900 1 974 867 6 880 681 1 404 352

REGION EPIRUS 339 728 65 119 220 299 54 310

REGION WEST GREECE 707 687 150 569 454 425 102 693

PREFECTURE OF ARTA 78 719 14 792 50 613 13 314 PREFECTURE OF PREVEZA 58 628 12 036 38 153 8 439

PREFECTURE ETOLOAKARNANIA 228 180 49 619 145 691 32 870

AMVRAKIKOS GULF 60 242 12 626 39 777 7 839 Source: National Statistical Service of Greece (ESYE) The area of Amvrakikos Gulf presents an increase of the total men population by 0.8% and reduction of women population by 1.3%. However, the male population increase is less than the increase presented in the Regions (Perifereia) of Epirus (4.0%), Western Greece (6.0%) and the whole country (7.4%). The female population decrease contrasts with the significant increase of women in the Regions (Perifereia) of Epirus (4.3%), Western Greece (3.3%) and the whole country (6.4%).

This phenomenon leads to the conclusion that women present a higher trend to abandon the farming and fishing settlements and relocate to more populated areas.

The aging indicator in the area of Amvrakikos Gulf increased from 13.0% in 1991 to 17.7% in 2001 following the aging indicator of the Prefecture of Arta (from 16.9% to 21.7%), Preveza (from 14.4% 19%) and Etoloakarnania (from 14.4% to 18.3%).

The indicator of juvenility follows an inverse trend. It appears that there is a significant decrease from 21.0% in 1991 to 15.4% in 2001, with similar decrease rates in the three Prefectures. A similar temporal evolution of these two indicators is observed at regional and national level.

As a result of the approximately equal change of the aging and juvenility indicators, the dependency indicator [the sum of the percentage of the population age groups 0-14 and 65 + years / the population of productive age (15-64 years)] is about 50% and is stable.

It is observed that in more populated areas e.g. Prefecture Department of Neochorio (Municipality of Arachthos, Arta), Prefecture of Preveza and the cities of Amfilochia and Vonitsa (belong to the Municipalities of Amfilochia and Anaktorio respectively, in Etoloakarnania) the indicator of aging is less compared to Amvrakikos Gulf area and the indicator of juvenility is higher or approximately equal. This shows the internal urbanization trend for the area.

The aging, juvenility and dependence change in Amvrakikos Gulf, the surrounding area and the whole country is shown in Table 3 below according to data from ESYE.


Table 3: Indicators of aging, juvenility and dependence for the period 1991-2001

REGIONS

1991 2001

Indicator of Aging %

Indicator of juvenility

%

Indicator of dependence

%

Indicator of Aging %

Indicator of juvenility

%

Indicator of dependence

%

WHOLE COUNTRY 13.69 19.25 49.11 16.71 15.18 46.81

REGION EPIRUS 15.99 19.17 54.21 19.87 14.20 51.66 REGION WEST GREECE

14.51 21.28 55.73 17.15 16.32 50.32

PREFECTURE OF ARTA 16.91 18.79 55.53 21.69 14.08 55.70 PREFECTURE OF PREVEZA 14.39 20.53 53.67 19.05 15.46 52.70

PREFECTURE ETOLOAKARNANIA 14.41 21.75 56.62 18.25 17.27 55.10

AMVRAKIKOS GULF 13.01 20.96 51.45 17.66 15.39 49.36

Source: National Statistical Service of Greece (ESYE)

Figure 5. Age structure of Amvrakikos Gulf population 1991-2001

2.2. Ethnicity and migration As mentioned in the previous section, the population in Amvrakikos Gulf shows a reduction over time which shows extra-regional urbanization trends, abandonment of small rural fishing villages, and there are some events of internal urbanization (movement to larger urban centres of the region, like the city of Preveza). By 2008, the total number of immigrants in Greece, including allogeneic and expatriates, exceeded one million people. Illegal immigrants are approximately 300,000 (Lianos et al, 2008).

For the study area, the situation as of July 2010 is as follows:


In the Prefecture of Preveza there are 4,855 economic immigrants. In the Municipal Department of Prveza there are 1,888. The majority (94-96%) of the immigrants are Albanian and the rest (4-6% or 80 persons maximum) are Indians, Pakistanis, Ukrainians, Georgians and a few Chinese, Bangladeshi, Equadorian, Russian and Americans.

In the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania there are 9,578 economic immigrants. In the Municipal Department of Amfolochia there are 490 immigrants (470 Albanian, 5 Bulgarian, 1 Belarusian, 3 Ukrainian, 1 Uruguayan, 3 Romanian, 6 Russian, 1 Saudi Arabian). In the Municipal Department of Anaktorio there are 452 economic immigrants (377 Albanian, 1 Bulgarian, 1 Brazilian, 3 Georgian, 1 Serbian, 1 Dominique Democracy, 37 Indian, 2 Croatian, 3 Moldavian, 1 Uzbekistani, 5 Ukrainian, 11 Romanian, 9 Russian). In the Municipal Department of Medeonos there are 227 immigrants (224 Albanian, 2 Ukrainian, 1 Romanian). In the Municipal Department of Menidi live 46 immigrants (41 Albanian, 1 Bosnian Herzegovina, 1 Indian, 1 Moldavian, 1 Ukrainian, 1 Russian). The majority of the immigrants are Albanian.

In the Prefecture of Arta there are 2,490 (2,365 Albanian & 125 others) economic immigrants.

In the Municipal Department of Amvrakikos live 124 immigrants (111 Albanian & 12 others). In the Municipal Department Arachthos 507 (507 Albanian). In the Municipal Department of Kompotio 143 immigrants (140 Albanian & 3 others). In the Municipal Department of Kommeno 31 (29 Albanian & 2 others). The majority of the immigrants are Albanian (95%). Also in the area there are a few (5%) Egyptian, Indian, Moldavian, Bangladeshi, Lebanese, and Chinese.

In total therefore in the study area of the Amvrakikos Gulf there are 3,908 economic immigrants. The majority is Albanian (3,689) and the rest (219) are of various nationalities.

There are some economic immigrants working in the fishing, aquaculture and processing sub-sectors mainly from Albania and India but there are no data available regarding their number.


3. Economic aspects

Α significant part of the Amvrakikos Gulf economy is based on agriculture - fishing and related activities . In the area there are extensive fishing grounds. The major fishing centre in the region is the town of Preveza, where fishing is a traditional occupation.

Fishing is important to the local economy which is shown by the high participation of the fisheries sector in the Gross Value Added (GVA). According to provisional data of the Greek National Statistical Service (ESYE) for the year 2005, the involvement of the fishery sector in the total GVA was 2,8% in the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania (increased by 1.5% from 2000), 1.3% in the Prefecture of Arta (decreased by 2.9% from 2000) and 2.0% in Prefecture of Preveza (increased by 1.8% from 2000).

It has to be noted that for the Prefectures of Arta and Preveza the fishing activity - and thus the GVA of the sector – is mainly concentrated in the area of Amvrakikos Gulf, while in the case of the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania, only a small portion of the fish production is on Amvrakikos Gulf (the higher production is presented in the lagoons of Messolonghi, Lake Trichonis etc).


3.1. Importance of economic activities Figure 6. Gross Value Added for main economic sectors in the Prefectures of Preveza, Arta and Etoloakarnania (no available data for the specific area of Amvrakikos Gulf)

Primary sector The primary sector employment in Amvrakikos Gulf area decreased over the period 1991 - 2001 by 16%. However, the area remains predominantly rural in character, since 37% of the workers are still employed in this sector. While the primary sector shows a downward trend over time, the economy of the area depends on stockbreeding sub-sector and general employment in the primary sector. In 2005 the Sector of “Agriculture, Livestock and Forest” contributed 12.8% to Gross Value Added (data of Hellenic Statistical Service) in Etoloakarnania Prefecture, 13.1% in Arta Prefecture and 10.7 % in Preveza Prefecture. This factor, coupled with the lack of specialization of agricultural production, does not facilitate the development of agricultural product processing activities which reflects the limited alternative economic activities of local people other than the primary sector and the limited opportunities of multi employment. In all three Prefectures, the participation of the industries sector decreases over the time, following the same trend of the whole country. A significant part (7,67%- data from the Greek National Statistical Service) of the primary sector is based on traditional fisheries and aquaculture. These sectors show growth, increase of employment and the Gross Value Added (GVA). Amvrakikos Gulf is an important


fishing centre of the country (Greece) and the existing conditions promote the development of coastal fisheries and aquaculture. Fishery processing in the area is limited. But more recently there has been investment to create new packaging/ processing fish units which will have benefits for the Gross Value Added and the employment for the sector. However the fishery sector faces many problems, mainly the decrease of fish stocks, pollution of the area, and a lack of supporting facilities. Secondary sector The secondary sector in 2005 occupied 21.7% in the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania, 17.9% in Arta and 21.4% in Preveza which compared to 22.2% for the whole country. The Gross Value Added of the secondary sector is contributed mainly by construction (54.5% in 2005) and manufacturing units (26.5% in 2005). The main feature of the secondary sector in Amvrakikos Gulf is the small manufacturing activities, mainly processing units, packaging and standardization of agricultural - livestock –fisheries products (e.g. olive oil mill wastewater treatment edible olives, cheese , slaughterhouses and fish), and productive activities almost exclusively for the local market. Most manufacturing units in Amvrakikos Gulf are small (family business) with a small yearly capacity, employing 1-2 people. These units are often equipped with obsolete equipment and scattered locally. 14.9% of the total workforce now works is in the secondary sector in the Amvrakikos Gulf. Indicative of the limited manufacturing activity in the area is the fact that despite significant production of marine fisheries and aquaculture, only two processing fish units and a few packaging units are recorded. Recently there has been some investment activity in order to create new packaging / processing fish units. Tertiary sector 44.0% of the total workforce works in the tertiary sector in the Amvrakikos Gulf. The tertiary sector in the area mainly includes the retail, wholesale trade, tourism and services. The companies which are based in the region are either medium or small local inter-municipal. It has to be noted that during the period 1991-2001 23% of employees moved from the primary sector to the tertiary sector. However, with the exception of the trade sector which shows dispersion in different spatial areas of the region, the sector of hotels - restaurants and health services, education, social security, public administration, etc, shows very uneven distribution. Most companies in Amvrakikos area are located in the Municipalities of Preveza, Amfilochia, Anaktorio and some in the area belong to the Prefecture of Arta. With specific regard to the tourism sector, the Amvrakikos Gulf area shows a significant lack of infrastructure and highly uneven spatial distribution, as most hotels are concentrated in larger urban centers such as Preveza, Amfilochia, Vonitsa and Menidi. Tourism in the region is characterized by strong seasonality, mainly in the summer months and attracts domestic visitors, with associated increases in demand for fish. From data of the Register of Companies in 2004 we can observe the tertiary sector dependence on fisheries related activities for the Prefectures of Arta, Preveza and Etoloakarnania. The retail sector of food products (including fish & seafood) contributes by 6.6% in the Prefectures of Arta, 5.9% in the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania, and 5.3% in the Prefecture of


Preveza from the whole retail sector. The respective percentages for the Region of Epirus is 4.6%, 5.0% for the Region of Western Greece (and 3.9% for the whole country). 3.2. Employment and unemployment In Greece population census are held every 10 years. This means that all official data concerning employment and unemployment comes from this data processing. Unfortunately these censuses are held every 10 years. The last 2 census held in the years 1991 & 2001. The next country census will be held in 2011. There are some available data for employment and unemployment concerning the whole country and maybe some Regions which are not representative for the area. That is the reason that in this study we use data from the 2 last population census which will describe the study area’s situation better.

Economically active population and employment

The employment rate in 2008 was 89.27% in the area of the Amvrakikos Gulf . For the years 1991 to 2001 in the area of Amvrakikos Gulf there was an increase in the working population by 6.7%, which is higher than the Prefectures of Arta (6.2%), Preveza (5.4%) and Etoloakarnania (1.6%) but less than the Region of Epirus (11.2%), Region of Western Greece (10.9%) and the whole country (18.9%). The active population in Amvrakikos Gulf, the surrounding area and the whole country is shown in Table 4 below based on data from the Greek National Statistical Service. Table 4: Active population for the period 1991-2001

REGION

1991 2001 % Change 2001-1991

Active population Men Women Active

population Men Women Active

population

Men Women

WHOLE COUNTRY 3 886 157 2 650

670 1 235 487 4 621 848 2 880 809 1 741.039 18.93% 8.68% 40.92%

REGION EPIRUS 124 235 89 700 34 535 138 193 89 077 49 116 11.24% -

0.69% 42.22%

REGION WEST GREECE

262 654 187 434 75 220 291 357 191 434 99 923 10.93% 2.13% 32.84%

PREFECTURE OF ARTA 27 775 21 238 6 537 29 518 19 669 9 849 6.28% -

7.39% 50.67%

PREFECTURE OF PREVEZA

22 781 16 648 6 133 24 015 15 515 8 500 5.42% -6.81% 38.59%

PREFECTURE ETOLOAKARNANIA

85 693 62 419 23 274 87 060 58 376 28 684 1.60% -6.48% 23.24%

AMVRAKIKOS GULF 23 454 17 100 6 354 25 031 16 553 8 478 6.72% -

3.20% 33.43%

Source: Greek National Statistical Service (ESYE)

In the following Table 5 the change of employees during the period 1991 and 2001 is shown. The employees in Amvrakikos Gulf increased by 3.5%, while in the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania decreased by 1.6% and in the Region of Western Greece by 5.8%. Amvrakikos Gulf employees have increased even more than the area of the Prefecture of Preveza which increased by 1.5%. However, the increase in employees in the Amvrakikos Gulf is significantly lower than the Prefecture of Arta (4.9%) the Region of Epirus (9.3%) and the whole country (15%).


Table 5: Employees change during the period 1991-2001

REGIONS Employees in 1991

Employees in 2001

Change of employees 1991 - 2001

% Change of employees 1991 - 2001

WHOLE COUNTRY 3 571 957 4 108 083 536 126 15.01% REGION EPIRUS 111 136 121 415 10 279 9.25% REGION WEST GREECE 262 654 247 485 -15 169 -5.78% PREFECTURE OF ARTA 24 974 26 198 1 224 4.90% PREFECTURE OF PREVEZA 20 660 20 979 319 1.54% PREFECTURE ETOLOAKARNANIA 77 468 76 256 -1 212 -1.56% AMVRAKIKOS GULF 21 589 22 346 757 3.51%


In the Prefecture of Arta, the largest increase is recorded in the Municipality of Kompotio and the Municipal Department of Kommeno, while the increase was less for the City of Arachthos, and there were cases of reduction of the economically active population (Municipal Department of Agia Paraskevi and Loutrotopos). Additionally, reduction occurred in the Municipality of Amvrakikos by 1.6%.

In the Prefecture of Preveza there was no significant increase in the economically active population in any of the Municipal Departments.

The area of Etolokarnania shows a decrease in the economically active population as there was a significant reduction in the Municipalities of Amfilochia, Anaktorio and Medeonos with rates of 2.7%, 9.3% and 27.9% respectively, while the City of Menidi shows an increase by 18.4%.

Regarding the change in the economically active population in the period 1991 - 2001 by sex, there is a significant increase in the percentage of women and a reduction in the percentage of men in most of the Municipal Departments of Amvrakikos Gulf. For the Amvrakikos Gulf area, the female economically active population increased by 33.4%, in the Prefecture of Arta by 50.7%, in the Prefecture of Preveza by 38.6% and in the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania by 23.2%. The numbers increased for the Region of Epirus by 42.2%, the Region of Western Greece 32.8% and for the whole country by 40.9%. On the contrary, the male economically active population decreased by 3.2% in Amvrakikos Gulf area, while for the three Prefectures it has decreased by 7%. The region of Epirus shows a reduction of 0.7%, while the Region of Western Greece increased by 2.1% following an upward trend for the whole country (increased by 8.7%).

Gender issues in employment

The active men and women population in the Amvrakikos Gulf, the surrounding area and the whole country is shown in Table 6 below according to data from the Greek National Statistical Service.

Table 6: Active men and women population

REGION

1991 2001 % CHANGE 2001-1991 ACTIVE POPULATION

MEN WOMEN ACTIVE POPULATION

MEN WOMEN ACTIVE POPULATION MEN WOMEN

WHOLE COUNTRY

3 886 157

2 650 670

1 235 487 4 621 848 2 880 809 1 741

039 18.93% 8.68% 40.92%

REGION EPIRUS 124 235 89 700 34 535 138 193 89 077 49 116 11.24% -0.69% 42.22%


REGION WEST GREECE

262 654 187 434 75 220 291 357 191 434 99 923 10.93% 2.13% 32.84%

PREFECTURE OF ARTA

27 775 21 238 6 537 29 518 19 669 9 849 6.28% -7.39% 50.67%


22 781 16 648 6 133 24 015 15 515 8 500 5.42% -6.81% 38.59%


85 693 62 419 23 274 87 060 58 376 28 684 1.60% -6.48% 23.24%

AMVRAKIKOS GULF

23 454 17 100 6 354 25 031 16 553 8 478 6.72% -3.20% 33.43%


In Tables 7 and Table 8 employment in the area is shown by economic sector for 1991 and 2001 and the contribution of each sector in the total employment is shown respectively. The data show the intensive agriculture and fisheries character of the Amvrakikos Gulf area (i.e. the primary sector). In 1991 the primary sector accounted for 45,8% of total employment, a figure higher than the Prefecture of Arta and Preveza which is up to 38%, the Regions of Epirus and West Greece which is 30% and the rest of the country which is 18,7%. By 2001 the primary sector accounted for 37% of total employment.

Table 7: Employment in the area by economic sector for the period 1991-2001 1991 2001

REGION Primar

y Sector

Secondary

Sector Tertiary Sector

Didn’t declare Sector

Primary Sector

Secondary



WHOLE COUNTRY 668.766 852.946 1.843.612 206.633 595.111 894.316 2.400.891 217.765 REGION EPIRUS 33.753 24.220 49.954 3.209 25.721 24.201 65.490 6.003 REGION WEST GREECE 77.337 44.510 100.838 15.608 61.272 43.914 125.541 16.758 PREFECTURE OF ARTA 9.599 4.571 9.722 1.082 7.917 4.805 12.203 1.273 PREFECTURE OF PREVEZA 7.858 3.971 8.392 439 6.252 3.573 10.249 905 PREFECTURE ETOLOAKARNANIA 35.294 11.428 26.518 4.228 26.788 12.561 33.351 3.556 AMVRAKIKOS GULF 9.882 3.057 7.720 930 8.300 3.333 9.827 886 Source: Greek National Statistical Service (ESYE).

Table 8: Contribution of each sector in the total employment 1991 2001

REGION Primary Sector

Secondary Sector

Tertiary Sector


Primary Sector

Secondary



WHOLE COUNTRY 18,7% 23,9% 51,6% 5,8% 14,5% 21,8% 58,4% 5,3% REGION EPIRUS 30,4% 21,8% 44,9% 2,9% 21,2% 19,9% 53,9% 4,9% REGION WEST GREECE 29,4% 16,9% 38,4% 5,9% 24,8% 17,7% 50,7% 6,8% PREFECTURE OF ARTA 38,4% 18,3% 38,9% 4,3% 30,2% 18,3% 46,6% 4,9% PREFECTURE OF 38,0% 19,2% 40,6% 2,1% 29,8% 17,0% 48,9% 4,3%


PREVEZA PREFECTURE ETOLOAKARNANIA 45,6% 14,8% 34,2% 5,5% 35,1% 16,5% 43,7% 4,7% AMVRAKIKOS GULF 45,8% 14,2% 35,8% 4,3% 37,1% 14,9% 44,0% 4,0%

Source: Greek National Statistical Service (ESYE).

Fisheries sector employment The employment in the fishing sector increased, in the period 1991-2001 from 527 employees in 1991 to 566 employees in 2001. Increased employment in the fisheries sector is presented in the areas of Anaktorio, Arachthos, Medeonos, Preveza, Menidi and Kommeno, while there is reduction in the Municipality of Amvrakikos and Kompoti and employment stabilized in the Municipality of Amfilochia. Table 9: Change in employment in fishing and related activities sector

1991 2001 Change 1991 - 2001

WHOLE COUNTRY 15.413 19.220 24,7%

REGION EPIRUS 684 876 28.1% REGION WEST GREECE 949 1.369 44.3% PREFECTURE OF ARTA 339 277 -18.3% PREFECTURE OF PREVEZA 144 249 72.9% PREFECTURE ETOLOAKARNANIA 640 932 45.6% AMVRAKIKOS GULF 527 566 7.4%


The economically active population in the sub-sectors a) “Fisheries, Aquaculture and Units of fry production (Hatcheries)” and b) “Processing and Conservation of Fisheries and their Products” in the Amvrakikos Gulf, the greater area and the whole country is shown in the table below (Table 10). Table 10: Economically active population in the fisheries sector


According to the above Tables Amvrakikos Gulf area presents a significantly increased fishery sector dependency compared to the surrounding areas. Specifically the percentages of the active population in the area employed in fisheries is 2.3%, more than double that of the Prefectures of Arta, Preveza and Etoloakarnania which is approximately 1%, while the percentage for the Region of Epirus is 0.7%, the Region of West Greece is 0.5%, and the dependency for the whole country is 0.4%.

2001

REGION ECONOMICALLY

ACTIVE POPULATION TOTAL

(a) “Fisheries, Aquaculture and

Units of fry production

(Hatcheries)”

(b) “Processing /Conservation

of Fisheries and their Products”

Percentage of (a) &(b)/

total

WHOLE COUNTRY 4 621 848 19 104 1 002 0.44% REGION EPIRUS 138 193 852 52 0.65% REGION WEST GREECE 291 357 1 393 49 0.49% PREFECTURE OF ARTA 29 518 277 1 0.94% PREFECTURE OF PREVEZA 24 015 219 39 1.07% PREFECTURE ETOLOAKARNANIA 87 060 957 3 1.10% AMVRAKIKOS GULF 25 031 549 23 2.29%


It has to be noted that the Municipality of Amvrakikos (which belongs to the Perfecture of Arta) shows a very high percentage 10% of residents that work in the fisheries and related sectors. Also the Municipality of Anaktorio in the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania shows a high percentage of over 3%.

Age issues in employment

The age distribution of employees doesn’t show any significant differences between the Amvrakikos Gulf and the Prefectures/Regions. It has to be noted that in the Amvrakikos Gulf the majority of employees belong to the productive age group 25-44 years (52.3%) which is lower than for the country as a whole (56.8%).

Table 11: Employees change and employees’ structure

Employees Men Women Age

REGION WHOLE COUNTRY 10-24 25-44 45-64 65+

WHOLE COUNTRY 4 108 083 2 600 008 1 508 075 435 341 2 331 453 1 260 110 81 179

REGION EPIRUS 121 415 79 490 41 925 10 594 63 975 44 219 2 627 REGION WEST GREECE 247 485 165 420 82 065 25 233 138 897 77 368 5 987 PREFECTURE OF ARTA

26 198 17 562 8 636 2 124 13 461 10 080 533


20 979 13 714 7 265 1 667 10 777 8 111 424

PREFECTURE ETOLOAKARNANIA 76 256 51 732 24 524 7 449 41 919 25 261 1 627 AMVRAKIKOS GULF 22 346 14 873 7 473 2 034 11 678 8 208 426


Unemployment

Unemployment in the Amvrakikos Gulf Region in 2008 was 10.73%. In the following Table 9, the total number of unemployed for the period 1991 – 2001 is shown. It is observed over the period that there is a significant increase in unemployment in the area (44%), which mainly affected the male population. For the female population, unemployment increased by 31%. The increase in unemployment in the Amvrakikos Gulf is higher than all the other Prefectures and the Region of Epirus, while in the Region of Western Greece unemployment increased over the same period by 80%, and for the entire country it increased by 63.5%. It should also be noted that in the Amvrakikos Gulf area unemployment in young people increased by 77.5% and for young men by 115%. The number of unemployed women increased by 36% over the same period. Table 12: Unemployment change in the period 1991-2001

1991 2001

REGION Total Men Women Total Men Women

Unemployed

Young unemploy

ed Unemploy

ed Young

unemployed

Unemployed

Young unemploy

ed Unemplo

yed Young

unemployed

Unemployed

Young unemploy

ed Unempl

oyed Young

unemployed

WHOLE COUNTRY 314 200 168 416 165 966 81 320 148 234 87 096 513 765 247 155 280 801 137 883 232 964 109 272

REGION EPIRUS 13 099 7 332 7 961 4 125 5 138 3 207 16 778 10 062 9 587 5 542 7 191 4 520 REGION WEST GREECE 24 361 13 972 12 968 6 780 11 393 7 192 43 872 25 435 26 014 14 803 17 858 10 632

PREFECTURE OF ARTA 2 801 1 668 1 744 991 1 057 677 3 320 2 281 2 107 1 403 1 213 878


PREFECTURE OF PREVEZA 2 121 1 338 1 345 820 776 518 3 036 1 745 1 801 1 031 1 235 714


8 225 4 507 4 860 2 453 3 365 2 054 10 804 7 176 6 644 4 345 4 160 2 831

AMVRAKIKOS GULF 1 865 1 053 1 098 552 767 501 2 685 1 869 1 680 1 188 1 005 681


Due to data provided by the Greek Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) the rates of unemployment for the period 2005-2008 for the three Prefectures show an unemployment reduction in the Prefecture of Arta by 28%. In the Prefecture of Preveza there was a reduction of 20% with a higher percentage for men (24.6%) than women (18%). Also for the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania there was a reduction of 17% with a higher percentage shown for men (23%) than women (13.6%).

In 2008 for the three Prefectures the age group of 26 – 35 years is most affected by unemployment with percentages of 32% - 36%. The percentages are the same for both men and women.

Figure 7: Employment in Amvrakikos Gulf, 1991 – 2001

Table 13: Change of employees by economic activity for the period 1991-2001 Primary Sector Secondary Sector Tertiary Sector

REGION change 2001-1991 % change change

2001-1991 % change change 2001-1991 % change

WHOLE COUNTRY -73 655 -11.0% 41 370 4.9% 557 279 30.2% REGION EPIRUS -8 032 -23.8% -19 -0.1% 15 536 31.1% REGION WEST GREECE -16 065 -20.8% -596 -1.3% 24 703 24.5% PREFECTURE OF ARTA -1 682 -17.5% 234 5.1% 2 481 25.5% PREFECTURE OF PREVEZA -1 606 -20.4% -398 -10.0% 1 857 22.1% PREFECTURE ETOLOAKARNANIA -8 506 -24.1% 1 133 9.9% 6 833 25.8%

AMVRAKIKOS GULF -1 582 -16.0% 276 9.0% 2 107 27.3% Source: Greek National Statistical Service (ESYE).

The phenomenon of abandonment of agricultural activities in the Amvrakikos Gulf is obvious (-16%) and is higher than the decrease compared to the rest of the country (11%).

The following Table 14 shows the change in employment for the period 1991 to 2001 especially for the fishing sector and its related activities. In 2001, the percentage of


employees in this sector was 0.5% for the rest of the country and the Regions of Epirus - Western Greece and the Prefectures of Arta, Preveza and Etoloakarnania was about 1%. In the Amvrakikos Gulf area it was 2.5%, reflecting the strong component of the fishing character of the area.

Table 14: Change in employment for the fishing and related activities

REGION 1991 2001 Change 1991 - 2001

WHOLE COUNTRY 15 413 19 220 24.7% REGION EPIRUS 684 876 28.1% REGION WEST GREECE 949 1 369 44.3% PREFECTURE OF ARTA 339 277 -18.3% PREFECTURE OF PREVEZA 144 249 72.9% PREFECTURE ETOLOAKARNANIA 640 932 45.6% AMVRAKIKOS GULF 527 566 7.4%

Source: Greek National Statistical Service (ESYE).

The change of employment in the fishery sector and its related activities shows that despite the decrease of the primary sector we mentioned before, the fishery sector has strengthened, and in most of the surrounding regions there is an increasing percentage of employees. The employment in the fishery sector in Amvrakikos Gulf increased by 7.4%, while at the Prefectures of Preveza and Etoloakarnania it increased by 73% and 46% respectively, in the Region of Epirus by 28%, in the Region of Western Greece by 44% and the rest of the country approximately by 25%.

Figure 8. Changes in employment (fulltime equivalent jobs) across Amvrakikos Gulf between 1991 and 2001


Figure 9: Fisheries dependency

3.3. Infrastructure The current intra-regional network and linkages with the rest of the country is not sufficiently developed, and the area remains geographically isolated from the rest of the regional and national territory. In the last few years the road network in the Prefectures of Etoloakarnania, Arta and Preveza has significantly improved but is still considered unsatisfactory. The completion of the underground tunnel Aktio - Preveza linked the region of Epirus with southern Greece, improving the accessibility in the area enormously. The mountain of Pindus which is located in the eastern part of the Amvrakikos Gulf keeps the area isolated from northern and central Greece. Access to these areas is achieved by the National Roads Preveza - Ioannina - Metsovo - Trikala and Arta - Ioannina - Kozani - Thessaloniki, however the quality of the roads are not sufficient for the road link required between Western and Central Greece. The access to the Amvrakikos Gulf from central and northern Greece is expected to be easier with the construction of new road connections with the new highway “Egnatia Road” and through the road of Arta - Trikala and Arta - Karditsa. The new road connections are expected to solve many problems which the region faces. The completion of “Egnatia Road” is estimated for the middle of 2012. Access between the Amvrakikos Gulf and North Greece, especially with the part of Corinthos - Patras, will also be significantly upgraded with the future construction of the Western Corridor (Ionian Road) linking Ioannina with Antirio, and will pass through Arta. The construction of the Western Corridor will certainly remove the isolation that characterizes the Amvrakikos Gulf today. The construction of this Road has not yet started. The main roads of the area consist of the following parts of the sub-national network: • National Highway 5 Amfilochia - Arta - Filippiada - Ioannina • National Highway 18 Preveza - Igoumenitsa • National Highway 21 Preveza - Filippiada


• Unionist section NR Preveza - Igoumenitsa & NR Preveza - Filippiada • National Highway 42 Amfilochia - Vonitsa - Aktion / Lefkada The rural roads are low traffic roads which raise significant safety problems because they intersect with the rest of the national / provincial roads without fulfilling international requirements. In the Amnvrakikos Gulf there is no railway network. The main port of the area is in the city of Preveza. This is a local port and small quantities of agricultural product exports are possible from the regions of Arta, Preveza and Etoloakarnania. The airport of Aktio serves the Prefectures of Arta, Preveza and Etoloakarnania. The airport is located 4 kilometers from the city of Preveza and operates from March until October. The flights that this airport serves are domestic (Athens) and international flights (only charter flights).

Figure 10: The Aktio Airport location

Source: Google Maps According to data from the Greek Hotel Chamber in 2006, there are 28 accommodation facilities in Amvrakikos Gulf area with a total capacity of 1,447 beds, which represents 18% of the total tourism infrastructure in the 3 surrounding Prefectures. In the Amvrakikos Gulf most of the accommodation is established in the Prefectures of Preveza and Etoloakarnania.

The following Table 15 shows the number of the accommodation facilities in the Amvrakikos Gulf. Table 15: Accomodation infrastructure in Amvrakikos Gulf Area YEAR 2006 Category 1* 2** 3*** 4**** TOTAL

Amvrakikos Gulf

Units 4 20 4 0 28

Rooms 59 473 230 0 762

Beds 110 905 432 0 1 447

Source: ETANAM, 2009

In the larger Municipal Departments there are a lot of restaurants, taverns, fast foods outlets etc, while in the smaller villages there are traditional cofee shops, traditional resturants etc.

PREVEZA

AMVRAKIKOS GULF

ANAKTORIO

AMFILOCHIA

MENIDI

AMVRAKIKOS

NATURA- RAMSAR


The Museum of Neochori has been established in the Prefecture of Arta, and the Museum of Rural Heritage in Kompoti.

In the area there is the spa of Tryphos and modern hotel facilities, restaurants – bar etc. in the Municipality of Medeonos as well as the production unit of bottled water KORPI.

In Amvrakikos Gulf there are also companies for renting cars- motorcycles – boats, sea sports, organized beaches (rent umbrellas and sun beds) and tourism offices.

There are no available data for the number of Schools in the area of Amvrakikos Gulf. The Schools which are established in the greater area (Prefectures of Etoloakarnania, Arta and Preveza) are shown in the following Table 16.

Table 16: Schools in the Prefectures of Etoloakarnania, Arta and Preveza Number of Schools and Number of Pupils for the period (2002-2007)

PREFECTURE YEAR

Nursery Schools Primary School Gymnasium Lyceum

Schools Pupils Schools Pupils Schools Pupils Schools Pupils

ETOLOAKARNANIA 2002/2003 156 3 043 207 14 383 37 6 336 28 4 980

2006/2007 156 3 054 187 13 790 48 7 526 26 4 981

ARTA 2002/2003 55 853 74 2 795 19 2 108 11 1 499

2006/2007 58 879 61 3 631 19 2 043 11 1 507

PREVEZA 2002/2003 57 883 55 3 406 14 2 018 10 1 440

2006/2007 54 841 44 3 382 15 2 014 11 1 313

TOTAL 2002/2003 268 4 779 336 20 584 70 10 462 49 7 919

2006/2007 268 4 774 292 20 803 82 11 583 48 7 801

Source: ETANAM, 2009

According to the above Table 16 there is a significant reduction in the primary Schools through the years (14 less) but overall, the number of pupils remains rather constant.

Also in Preveza and Arta some technological high schools are established, which contribute to the population and students remaining in the area. In these kind of high schools, students are trained in new specialized courses and technical-scientific support of local initiatives.

With regard to university education in the greater area two Departments of the Technological Institute of Epirus (Arta and Preveza) are established. In the Department of Preveza the Schools of Accounting and Finance-Audit operate, and in Arta the Schools of Crop Production, Animal Production, Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Telematics -Management, Folk and Traditional Music. Also in Arta there is one Institute of Vocational Training (IEK) and in Preveza a Merchant Marine Academy.


3.4. Local development plans

The study area of Amvrakikos Gulf belongs administratively in two Regions: The region of Epirus and the Region of Western Greece. Each Region has produced Regional Development Plans that are analysed below:

The Regional Development plan 2007-2013 for the Region of Epirus (including part of Amvrakikos area registered in the Prefectures’ of Preveza and Arta) has the following 8 targets:

1. Improving competitiveness, openness, quality and innovation capacity of the enterprises.

2. Improve accessibility by creating and upgrading infrastructure and intra-regional and inter-regional transport networks.

3. Development of human resources.

4. Sustainable management of natural resources.

5. Enhance intra-regional economic and social cohesion

6. Strengthening the interregional cooperation

7. Development of tourism and culture

8. Promote digital convergence

The priority lines of the Local Development Plan are:

• Infrastructure and Services Accessibility

• Sustainable Development and Quality of Life

• Digital convergence and entrepreneurship

The Regional Development plan 2007-2013 for the Region of Western Greece (including part of Amvrakikos area registered in the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania) has the following objectives:

1. Objective 1: Development and modernization of infrastructure accessibility (Road Transport-roads. Rail Transport, Water Transport, Air, Transport.)

The specific objectives are:

• Upgrading and completion of regional transport infrastructure

• Creation of security infrastructure and traffic management systems

• Creation of port infrastructure in order to enhance fishery sector. The financing of fisheries infrastructure (eg fishing ports) will be made in those cases where the needs are not covered by the EFF (European Fisheries Fund).

• The upgrading and completion of the transport infrastructure focus on:

• Completion of road network giving priority to the regional / local roads and highways.

• Modernization of road and railway infrastructure, ports and airports to improve the level of provided services and security.


2. Objective 2: Digital convergence with the use of information technology and stimulate entrepreneurship.


• The incorporation of new technologies in production’s processes and adoption of innovative practices and ideas u963 in business, penetration of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in companies and local authorities.

• Strengthening the business by establishing new and strengthening existing business operating in all sectors of the economy, promote special forms of tourism, incorporating quality standards - overall expansion and modernization of business, supporting applied research and technology, enhance research - development and innovation in entrepreneurship in order local traditional industries and new business to be oriented in new higher added value sectors.

• Interventions to support territorial cohesion by strengthening the productive capacity of the territorial unity and the emergence of dynamic industries.

• The promotion of investment projects

3. Objective 3: Sustainable development and quality of life


• Improve the protection of natural and human environment, as sovereign funds for the development of spatial unity, and improve life quality.

• The protection, promotion and enhancement of cultural heritage.

• The lifting of the isolation and intraregional disparities to support territorial cohesion and improve the living conditions of vulnerable social groups.

• Qualitative and quantitative improvement of social infrastructure (education and health-care) and improve conditions for social services.

• The upgrading of tourist services, improving tourism infrastructure and promotion of the territorial unity of national and international level. Reducing unemployment and promote gender equality.


4. Fisheries and aquaculture sector

Fishing is an important activity in the Amvrakikos Gulf. The importance of fisheries for the structure and function of the communities is very high; not only for the coastal areas but also for the inland areas as there are numerous important lagoons.

Fishing with dynamic/active gears is prohibited in the region. The fleet consists of typical small coastal fishing vessels. Negative trends are characterizing the coastal fisheries. The fleet in the region currently consists of around 500 vessels of which 360 are active. The vessels in the area have decreased showing a similar pattern to the rest of the country.

The decrease in vessel numbers is 27% since 1991 for the area of Preveza and 14% for the area of Etoloakarnania (which includes a large number of vessels fishing outside the Amvrakikos Gulf area). The main decrease took place during the 90’s whereas in the last decade 2000-2010 the number of the fleet in the study area is rather constant and reduced only by 6.5% in the period 2003-2009. By comparison the decrease in the total Greek fleet over the same period was about 22%. The vessels in the Amvrakikos Gulf area are mainly small (between 6 and 9 m) and mainly active in the coastal fisheries.

Most of the vessels in Amvrakikos Gulf are docked in nature reserves. This is evidence for the lack of fisheries infrastructure investment. The fleet of the Amvrakikos Gulf is an example of a fleet adapted to the environment, with low operating costs and flexibility in usage.

The analysis of the changes in fisheries production in the lagoons shows a continuous downward trend of catches of mullets, eels and the goby. This downward trend started from the early 80's and continues until today. The reduction of fish prices increases the pressure by fishermen on these ecosystems and leads to overexploitation.

4.1. Details of the local fishing fleet In the Amvrakikos Gulf the fleet mainly consists of small vessels which use nets (gill nets and trammel nets), less often lines and bolts and very occasionally lines, traps or ‘volkans (a traditional local kind of trap)’. The number of vessels is difficult to determine accurately. The reason is that vessels which are registered in the three ports of Amvrakikos Gulf area (Preveza, Menidi and Amfilochia) are not obliged to operate only in this area which means that they either can operate inside Amvrakikos Gulf or other sea areas (eg Ionian Sea, other). This problem is presented in most of the coastal areas in Greece. This phenomenon is more intense in the region of Preveza, where the registered vessels operate in both the Amvrakikos Gulf and the Ionian Sea. For 2009 the nominal fleet comprised by 653 vessels, with an average length of 6.80m, with a total horsepower 7753.6 kW, a total tonnage of 844.6 and an average age of 25.8 years. The same fleet in 1991 consisted of 839 vessels, age average about 14 years. So there has been a decrease of 22.18% since 1991 and 6.5 % in the period 2003-2009. Nowadays the registered vessels that seem to operate in the Amvrakikos Gulf are about 500 of which 360 are in real operation. For the 360 vessels that actually operate in the Amvrakikos Gulf area, 93.55% have a fishing license. 87.9% of the fleet have sonar, 27.3% have VHF and 12.1% radar. 17.9% of the fleet have no electronic equipment, while only 5.1% of the vessels have three or four different instruments. 55.88% of the boatowners have crew in their vessels. The majority of these (94.74%) have one person crew and only 5.26% have two people crew. Particularly interesting is the fact


that 76.47% of the vessels’ crew are family members of the vessel owner. The crew payment consists either of a fixed daily fee or a percentage of the profit (30.00%).

Table 17: Fleet segments in the study area

Segment (length class)

Number of

vessels Main gears

used

Number of crew

(average)

Main species fished (list at least 3 and up

to 5 for all fleet types)

Main fishing

locations (ICES areas)

Trip length (average

days)

00-06 181

gill net & trammel net & combined + few hand lines 1.2

prawn, cuttlefish, sardine, Striped goatfish, sole N/A 0.5

06-09 445



>09 27



Source: official data from the Community Fisheries Register

Figure 11: Fisheries routes from the fisheries cooperatives of Vonitsa, Preveza and Koronisia

Source: Masoura, 2008

Preveza

Vonitsa

Koronisia

Amfilochia

Koprena

Menidi


Figure 12: Trends in fleet segment numbers, 2003-2009

Figure 13: Trends in fleet segment power, 2003-2009

Figure 14: Trends in fleet segment tonnage, 2003- 2009

The characteristics of the fishermen in Amvrakikos area are shown in the following Table 18:


Table 18: Demographic characteristics of fishermen

Source: University of Patras and Association of Fishermen of Epirus, 2008

According to the above Table 18 the fishermen in the area of Amvrakikos Gulf are mainly married men, with low education level and average age 52 years old. The fishermen’s demographic aspects in Amvrakikos Gulf follow the generalized profile of the small scale fishermen in Greece. The data that vary are the father’s and husband’s occupation and the children’s number that intend or are engaged in the commercial fishing. There is a high percentage of fishermen’s fathers that were farmers, which is justified by the fact that the region has intense agricultural activity. But there is also a very high rate of wives of fishermen that are fishermen too. This is particularly interesting and may be one of very few areas within the EU where women are actively engaged in fishing activities. The same is true for fishermen’s children - there is a high rate (in this case compared with the country as a whole), of those who are already involved in professional fishing or going to be engaged in the future. The involvement of whole families in fishing highlights the importance of the catching sub-sector for the cohesion of local societies.

The following Table 19 shows the main target species in the Amvrakikos Gulf, and the associated by catch for each main target species.

Fishermen demographic aspects Amvrakikos Gulf area (%)

Whole country (%)

SEX Men 89.19 98.40

Women 10.81 1.60

EDUCATION

Primary School 64.86 60.50

High School (level 1) 16.22 14.80

High School (level 2) 18.92 9.40

MARITAL STATUS Unmarried/Divorced/Widowed 8.11 17.00

Married 91.89 83.00

AVERAGE AGE 52 49

FATHER’S OCCUPATION

Farmer 38.89 12.30

Fisherman 44.44 64.60

Other 16.67 23.10

HUSBUND/WIFE’S OCCUPATION

Fisherman 40.63 12.60

Housewife 37.50 60.10

Other 21.87 27.30

NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 0.00 21.30

1 18.18 12.10

2 63.64 42.10

3 12.12 17.00

>3 6.06 7.50

CHILDREN THAT WORK IN FISHERIES Yes 25.93 14.90

No 74.07 85.10

CHILDREN’S INTENTION TO WORK IN PROFESSIONAL FISHING

Yes 25.00 7.70

No 75.00 92.30


Table 19: Main target species in the Amvrakikos Gulf Target

species 1 2 3 4

sprat mullet carp shrimp

species Fisheries Main Sardina

pilchardus Mullus barbatus Sepia officinalis

Mugilidae Lithognathus mormyrus

P. kerathurus Solea spp.

Secondary S. sphyraena B. boops) Diplodus annularis S. pilchardus

S. salpa Sparus aurata D. annularis

S. officinalis S. sphyraena

Rare Trachurus spp Boops boops Sphyraena sphyraena

Merluccius merluccius Trachurus spp Sarpa salpa Mugilidae Solea solea Shrimp spp Penaeus kerathurus Symphodus melops

Scorpaena spp Trachurus spp

M. barbatus Mugilidae S. salpa S. aurata B.boops D. annularis

Non commercial

Raja spp. (1-2 kg/vessel per day)

Sardinella aurita 10-100 kg/vessel per day) Raja spp. 5-20 kg/vessel per day)

S. aurita Engraulis encrasicolus (10-50 kg/vessel per day) Raja spp. (1-5 kg/vessel per day)

In winter fishermen catch (with trammel nets) sole and cuttlefish with satisfactory results. Also there is usage of the following fishing gears:

• panniers for sand steenbras and seabream • drum for cuttlefish and goby • traps (volkans) for eels

4.2. Fish stock status

The following table highlights the fact that no information is available on fish stock status for any of the species caught in the area.

Table 20: Fish stock status for Amvrakikos Gulf

Species ICES Area Management responsibility

Stock status relative to MSY (above, near, below, unknown)

main management regulations affecting the stock e.g. Area closures, quotas, specific recovery plans

European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

ICES Advice ACFM/ACE report (2004) ECOREGIONS I: Adriatic Ionian Seas

The area is included in three Prefectures (Arta, Preveza and Etoloakarnania) and also there is the Amvrakikos Management Body responsible for its Unknown

Special National legislation, Seasonal closures, Minimum landing size, Gear limitations





management

European Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)


The area is included in three Prefectures (Arta, Preveza and Etoloakarnania) and also there is the Amvrakikos Management Body responsible for its management Unknown


Solea (Solea spp.)




Mullet (Mugilidae)




Gilthead Sea bream (Sparus aurata)




European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus)




Striped goatfish (Mullus barbatus)








Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)




Prawn (Penaeus kerathurus)




4.3. Fisheries infrastructure

In Amvrakikos Gulf there are two main ports one in Preveza and one in Amfilochia. These two ports mainly serve the fishing fleets of the area. They also serve the touristic boats and the exports from the area. There are also a few fishing shelters in the area, specifically in Kronisia, Kopraina, Vonitsa and Aghios Thomas. These shelters require significant infrastructure improvements in order to generate substantial.

There are around 50 shipyards (the biggest is located in Preveza named Manetis) and one marina (AKTION MARINE DIMOPOULOS). 90% of the fleet owners take out their vessels from the water on their own because most of the vessels are small. The repair of the gear is usually done by the vessel owners themselves.

In the area of the Amvrakikos Gulf there are approximately 10 companies selling fishing gear.

In the area there is only one auction hall, in Preveza.

4.4. Details of the local catching sub-sector

The fish production in the region is not recorded systematically. This problem occurs because the Greek National Statistical Service doesn’t record vessels over under 20 HP. Thus, the data shows, for example, increase of the total production in the region from 700 t in 2002 to 2000 t in 2004, which is not at all representative for the study area which possibly has a downward trend. Also key part in these productions is that boat seines are prohibited in Amvrakikos (they operate in the Ionian Sea). The analysis of production data from a survey with the fishermen, leads to the following production trends.


The data for the catching sub-sector present gaps which is due to the records that holds the Greek National Statistical Service. The main issues are a) the non systematic record of fish production and b) the non recording of the vessels less than 20 HP operating in Greek seas.

The data provided by the Greek National Statistical Service for the greater area show that the total production in the region increased from 700 t in 2002 to 2000 t in 2004. This is due to the increase of the fishery products in the Ionian Sea while the Amvrakikos Gulf has a downward trend. This difference occurs because of the reduction of the fish stock inside Amvrakikos Gulf and thus intensification of the fisheries activity outside the Gulf.

In the following figure (16) is presented the situation of Amvrakikos Gulf till 2009 according to data provided by the local fishing community.

Figure 15: Trends in wild fish landings volume in the Amvrakikos Gulf

A downward trend in landing volumes is observed. According to local fishermen this phenomenon is getting worse every year (especially the last two years). Prawns are the most important catch for fishermen as it is high value product. Fishery products per vessel operating in Amvrakikos Gulf are estimated at approximately to 10 kg, 4 kg of which are typically prawns.

The fleet is almost stable the last few years. The vessels in the fleet are mainly up to 12 m.

According to the local fishermen nowadays the total catch is almost 10 kg per day of which 4kg are prawns, for each vessel. Some years ago the catch of each vessel could be even 20 kg per day. Most of the fishermen’s income is based exclusively to the prawns’ fishery as is a high valued product (higher of all the others).

In the area there is a significant decrease of squid, mullet, sole, mullet, sprat and bogue. It has to be mentioned that in 2008 the catch of sprat was 90kg per day for the whole fleet while nowadays is 20-30 kg. 10 vessels have as exclusive target the catch of sprat.

To supplement these data on total catches, it is also illuminating to consider catches in the lagoon areas in the Gulf, over a longer time series but only up until 2003. Around the Amvrakikos Gulf there are 14 lagoons covering an area of approximately of 86 km2 (representing 20% of the whole country’s lagoons). In particular there are two large lagoon complexes (Logarou and Tsoukalio-Rhodia each larger than 30 km2) located in the north of Amvrakikos and the rest (12) each cover an area ranging from 0.2-5 km2. The lagoons of


Amvrakikos Gulf, like the majority of Greek lagoons are (with a few exceptions) public property which is being rented to private cooperatives in order to exploit fisheries. These lagoons have rented to the same cooperatives for over 40 years, employing about 400 fishermen. Available data kept in the archives of the Governmental Fisheries Department is only from the lagoons Vathi, Pogonitsa, Mazotos, Capital, Tsoukalio-Rhodia, Logarou, Rouga and Myrtari. Over the period 1980-2003 the production fell by around 50% to less than 200 tonnes per year in 2003 (ETANAM 1992, Kentrou et al. 2005).

Figure 16: Total lagoons production 1980-2002

The average production in the lagoons is mostly composed of mullets species (five species of the family Mugilidae: Mugil cephalus, Chelon labrosus, Liza aurata, Liza ramada and Liza saliens) and represents around 51% of the production. Eels (Anguilla anguilla) contribute 31% of production, and sea bream (Sparus aurata) and goby (Gobius sp.) around 7% of the total production.

The annual production of mullet in the lagoons decreased from 220 t in the period 1980-1984 to 100 t during 1995-2002. Similarly, the annual production of eels decreased from 200 t to 25 t. The goby production decreased from 40 t in 1980 to zero in 2001. The production of seabass, after a decline of 30 t the beginning of 1980 to 10 t in the period 1985-1990 shows an upward trend since 1995, reaching 30-50 t per year over the period 1998-2002. Shrimp production (Penaeus kerathurus) increased to 1-1.5 t / per year for the period 1980 - 1995, and to 6-20 t per year for the period 1995-2002.

In recent years in the lagoons is observed a significant increase of the sea bream production. This phenomenon is due to the artificial enrichment of lagoons with fry from commercial hatcheries. This parameter makes the total production of the lagoons seem stabilized through the years but the fish species been caught vary compared to previous years.

Price trends in recent years generally show flat or slightly rising prices.

Figure 17: Trends in price for the key species of the area


Source: ETANAL, 2004-2008

In the following Table the prices for each of the species (fisheries & lagoons) are shown.

Table 21: Prices of the key species of the area Species 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Anguilla anguilla 7 257 9 510 10 744 10 143 8 632 Dicentrarchus labrax 8 625 8 632 9 083 9 232 9 722 Mugilidae 3 987 3 955 4 156 4 223 4 146 Solea spp. 8 629 7 900 8 639 5 786 9 445 Sparus aurata 8 349 9 788 8 489 9 528 8 988 Diplodus sargus 14 744 17 934 20 320

Lithognathus mormyrus 7 600

10 500 9 200 Sarpa salpa 3 800 3 900 4 600

Sardina pilchardus

1 903 1 983 2 488 2 657 Penaeus kerathurus

17 675 22 260 21 591 22 106

Sepia officinalis

7 149 6 857 7 687 6 611 Octopus vulgaris

8 444 10 038 10 000 10 181

Lithognathus mormyrus

12 890 11 067 12 000 12 000 Mullus barbatus

12 269 11 612 11 645 13 872

Source: ETANAL, 2010

Fisheries in Amvrakikos Gulf appear to be rather seasonal. The following diagram presents the mean days that vessels go fishing in the area, with differing numbers of days primarily reflecting local weather conditions and demand for product.


Figure 18: Mean days of fishing per year.

Source: University of Patras and Association of Fishermen of Epirus, 2008 During the summer months (touristic period) the demand for fish is higher. During these months the fishing effort is more intensive. There are reported to be many cases in winter months when fishermen find it difficult to sell their catch in the local market. As can be evidenced from local catches per vessel, income per vessel day at sea is generally very low, and thus operating costs are also kept low. Many vessels owners’ income is exclusively based on the fisheries with no other supplementary activities. This in turn means that there is significant problem in recruiting labour/crew in the vessels due to the low income, which does not allow for the employment of many persons in the same vessel.

4.5. Details of the local processing and marketing sub-sector

The local processing sub-sector is not well developed but has been stable for the last few years.

The local processing and marketing sub-sector consists by two processing units (eels, salmon), 6 packaging units, and one Auction Hall.

The two processing units are a) the Geitonas eel processing unit (in Arta) and b) the Olympiaki ABE eel & salmon smoked fish unit (in the Industrial zone of Preveza). In the GEITONAS processing unit eels are processed from the aquaculture unit maintained by the same owner in Arta. In the OLYMPIAKI ABE EEL & SALMON processing unit, eels and salmon do not come from Amvrakikos Gulf but are imported (domestically or internationally). Consequently there are no processing units that process products that come from Amvrakikos Gulf. In the area of Amvrakikos Gulf there are 6 packaging units. These units exclusively support the aquaculture units and package their production. There is also an Auction Hall in Preveza which is packaging fishery products for promotion and sale in the local market. The Auction Hall also packages aquaculture products from farms which do not have a packaging unit.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Months

Ave

rage

num

ber o

f fis

hing

day

s


Table 22: Processing and packaging units in the area

Company Name main species

total annual processing capacity

actual capacity most recent year

total value sales most recent year

number F/T employees most recent year

number P/T or seasonal employees most recent year

GEITONAS V. & SIA E.E. (ARTA) eel processing unit

eel 220 tonnes 170 tonnes N/A 10 0

OLYMPIAKI ABE EEL & SALMON - (smoked fish unit-VIPE PREVEZAS)

eel, salmon N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

PREVEZA AUCTION –ETANAL SA (ΑGIOS THOMAS PREVEZA) packaging unit

sea bass, sea bream, mullet, cod, eel, trouts

600 tonnes 1,444 tonnes

N/A 4 0

SEA BRAM AMVRAKIKOS- V. LEONTITSIS SA. (Laskara, Agios Thomas Preveza) packaging unit

sea bass, sea bream 230 tonnes 230

tonnes N/A 7 0

KOLIOS EVAGELOS & SIA OE (Agios Feorgios Preveza) packaging unit

trout 40 tonnes 40 tonnes N/A 4 0

ICHTHIOPARAGWGIKI LASKARA SA (Laskara Preveza) packaging unit

sea bass, sea bream and others

230 tonnes 230 tonnes

N/A 10 0

ANDROMEDA SA (Vonitsa Etoloakarnania) packaging unit


10 tonnes per day max (600

tonnes)

600 tonnes

N/A 12 0

AMVRAKIKOS EPE packaging unit under construction


0 0 N/A 0 0

ICHTHIOKALIERGEIES VONITSAS SA (Anaktorio, Etoloakarnania) packaging unit


1.7 tonnes per day max (180

tonnes per year)

180 tonnes

N/A 6 0

TOTAL

1,880 tonnes 2,724 tonnes

N/A 53 0

Source: Data provided by the Prefectures of Preveza, Arta and Etoloakarnania

The fish that went through the auction hall in the period of 2002–2006 mainly consisted of sea bream, sea bass, sardines, anchovies, cod, whitebait and mullet.

The following Table shows the quantities (kg) that were handled by the auction hall in the period 2002–2008.


Table 23: Fish quantities handled by the auction hall in Preveza YEAR FISHERIES AQUACULTURE TOTAL

2002 682,920 1,245,921 1,928,841

2003 614,020 1,545,915 2,159,935

2004 679,252 835,289 1,514,541

2005 626,224 573,583 1,199,807

2006 782,430 421,207 1,203,637

2007 N/A N/A 2,104,087

2008 N/A N/A 2,113,250

Source: ETANAL, 2009 Aquaculture products going through the auction hall have reduced due to the increase in exports and also due to the fact that many aquaculture units now have their own packaging units. Wild caught fisheries going through the hall increased during the period 2002–2008. In the Amvrakikos Gulf there are no marketing chains, and all the fishery production remains in the local market. Usually fishermen sell their catch immediately after finishing fishing early in the morning in flea markets they establish in the ports. Only aquaculture production is distributed to other areas of the country and exported to other countries.

4.6. Details of the local aquaculture sub-sector During the past 15 years, a significant number of aquaculture units have been established in the area, particularly intensive cage farming of sea bream and sea bass. According to the available data from the Directorate of Fisheries of the Prefectures of Etoloakarnania, Arta and Preveza, inside the Amvrakikos Gulf there are currently at least 35 aquaculture units (sea bream / bass, new species, trout, mussels, eels, etc.). The total approved capacity (licensing) is for more than 7,200 tonnes. In the part of Amvrakikos Gulf that administratively belongs to the Prefecture of Preveza, there are 11 aquaculture units of sea bream, sea bass and new species (such as common seabream, common dentex, common pandora, white sea bream, stripped seabream, saddled seabream and sharpsnout sea bream) with total capacity 2,370 tons and 6 units of mussels, scallops and eel with a total capacity of 1,480 tons. In the prefecture of Arta a total of five aquaculture units of various species (eel, trout, sturgeon, carp, etc.) are in operation, with a total capacity of about 1,040 tonnes. In the part of the Amvrakikos Gulf that administratively belongs to the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania 13 aquaculture units operate, especially for sea bream / bass and new species, with a total annual capacity of 2,288 tons. Most of the aquaculture units have their own packaging unit. The aquaculture units which belong to the Prefecture of Preveza are located in the Gulf of Salaora while the aquaculture units that belong to the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania are located in the sea zone in Menidi and two more units north of the city of Vonitsa. Nowadays the aquaculture units are approximately 30.


The number of the aquaculture units and their production showed rapid growth in the late 90s and the period up to 2000, but production has now stabilised.

Table 24: Production volumes of aquaculture in the study area

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

finfish volume 4 500 4 530 4 530 4 550 4 550 3 600 4 600 shellfish volume 230 230 230 240 250 250 250 Total volume 4 730 4 760 4 760 4 790 4 800 4 850 4 850 Source: Data provided by Prefectures of Arta, Preveza and Etoloakarnania Since 2003 production and prices of aquaculture show only small variations. Production mainly consists of sea bream and sea bass. Other production includes clams and mussels (mean production for the period 2003-2009 is 100 tonnes). In the year 2008 there was a significant decrease of the aquaculture production due to the massive death of about 1,000 tonnes of aquaculture fish in February in the Eastern side of Amvrakikos Gulf, Menidi area which ruined the total production of the 3 units established in this area. The massive fish death was due to the lack of oxygen that characterizes all the area of Amvrakikos Gulf under 22m of depth. This phenomenon created problems not only in the aquaculture units located in the Gulf but also in the capture fisheries sub-sector.


Figure 19: Volume of aquaculture production

Figure 20: Value of aquaculture production

For the aquaculture sub-sector profits are not thought to be very high as mean prices are approximately 4-4,2 Euros per Kg. The production cost of the aquaculture fish depends on the size of the aquaculture unit and is round 3 Euros per Kg.

The prices show reduction in 2008 but the period of 2009-2010 there was an increase and it now remains stable.

In the aquaculture sub-sector for the area of Amvrakikos Gulf there are 150-160 employed persons. For each unit one Ichthyologist is employed who is the manager, one veterinarian (normally part-time) responsible of fish wellbeing and a few additional workers. Usually the workers are not Greek (but come from India, Pakistan and other countries). Most of the times the Ichthyologist and the Veterinarian are Greek but not from the area that the aquaculture unit has been established.


4.7. Details of the local ancillary sub-sector

In the area there are not many ancillary facilities and most vessel owners are truly artisanal in the sense that they conduct most support functions themselves e.g. engine repairs, vessel maintenance, etc. There are however a few constructors of fishing vessels, 50 boatyards (the biggest is located in Preveza and named Manetis) and one marina (AKTION MARINE DIMOPOULOS). 90% of the fleet owners take out their vessels from the water on their own because most of the vessels are so small. The repair of the fishing gear is usually made by the vessels owners themselves. In the area there are not established facilities for the exclusive repairing of vessels’ engines. This kind of repair is usually made in the vessel construction facilities either by one of the employees or an external partner.

The supply of the fuels in vessels is made by small tankers from local petrol stations.

Most of the aquacultures’ supplies are transferred to Amvrakikos area from Athens where companies have their headquarters. The ancillary sector for aquaculture units is almost nonexistent.

All catch is transferred to the Auction Hall of Preveza where placed in ice. There are no other ice facilities in the area.


5. Governance 5.1. Key local institutions In the area of Amvrakikos Gulf there are 11 Fishermen’s Associations and 8 fishermen cooperatives with 306 members. The Fishermen’s Associations represent the fishermen in Amvrakikos Gulf and the greater area. The fishermen’s cooperatives rent and manage the lagoons of the area.

The following Table 25 shows the fishermen’s cooperatives, the lagoons that they rent/manage and their members.

Table 25: Names of Fishermen cooperatives, the lagoons that they rent/manage and their members

Fishermen’s cooperatives Lagoon Members FC Alikis (Kompoti Arta) Agrillos 12 FC Koronisia- Kalogeriko Logarou 110 FC Vonitsa Myrtari, Rouga 22 FC Ag. Nikolaos Vonitsa Kokkala, Voulkaria 12 FC Aneza Tsoukalio Rodia 77 FC Neochori Ag. Dimitrios Koftra Paliompouka 25

FC Preveza Vathi, Gripos, Mazoma, Pogonitsa, Tsiopeli 48

FC Sikeon TOTAL 306 Source: ETANAM, 2009

The main Management Groups are the Fishery Departments of the three Prefectures and the two Regions that Amvrakikos Gulf belongs too. Also contributing to the management of the area is the Amvrakikos Management Body and the ETANAM SA (Development Agency for South Epirus- Amvrakikos).

Also in the area there is the “Active Citizens of Amvrakikos Area”, which is a group of people contributing to the area’s development.

There is an established fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) in the area operated by the company ETANAM SA (Development Agency for South Epirus- Amvrakikos). The areas that are included in the program are the coastal communities of the Amvrakikos Gulf and specifically the following ones: In the Prefecture of Etoloakarnania: Municipality of Amfilochia (Municipal Departments of Amfilochia, Ampelaki, Anixiatiko, Varetada, Kechrinia, Loutro, Mega Kampou, Sardinia, Sparto, Stano). Municipality of Anaktorio (Municipal Departments of Vonitsa, Agios Nikolaos (Vonitsa) & Xiromero, Drymou, Thirio, Monastiraki, Paliampelo). Municipality of Medeonos (Municipal Departments of Katouna, Tryphou). Municipality of Menidi (Municipal Department of Menidi). In the Prefecture of Arta Municipality of Amvrakikos (Municipal Departments of Aneza, Vigla, Gavria, Kalogeriko, Koronisia, Polydroso, Rachi, Strogyli, Psathotopi).


Municipality of Arachthos (Municipal Departments of Neochori, Agia Paraskeui, Akropotamia, Loutrotopo, Pachikalamo, Peranthi, Sikeon). Municipality of Kompotio (Municipal Department of Kompotio). Municipality of Kommeno (Municipal Department of Kommeno). In the Prefecture of Preveza Municipality of Preveza (Municipal Departments of Preveza, Michalitsi, Mitika, Nikopoli, Flampoura).

5.2. Public intervention

The following Table depicts the main items of public investment and the sub-sectors to which they relate.

Table 26. Public investments in the area and outcomes Public investment

Source of funding

Investment cost

What was the investment intended to achieve?

What were the expected outcomes

What were the actual outcomes

LIFE programme (1999-2002, 38 months)

75% EU 11,6 % Perifereia of Epirus 9,6% Greek Ministry of Environment 2,1% Prefecture of Preveza 1,7% ETANAM SA (Development Agency for South Epirus- Amvrakikos)

€2,143,031 Protection and management of wetlands in Amvrakikos

Preserve and restore the natural environment of Amvrakikos Gulf, which falls within the NATURA areas proposed for designation as Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Sites of Community Interest (SCI). Special emphasis to be given on the conservation of lagoons that are priority habitat type, the conservation of six priority bird species "Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga), Eagle (Aquila pomarina) and Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeous) ", and protection /conservation of sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the marine environment Amvrakikos.

The expected project’s outcomes were achieved (rare birds recorded, examination of habitats, restoration of environment, dissemination activities)

Management, rehabilitation and

75% EU 25 % National Fund

€3,489,000 Management, rehabilitation and

a) "Creation of a system for monitoring and assessing the environmental status of

The expected project’s outcomes were achieved ( studies of monitoring


Public investment

Source of funding

Investment cost




upgrading of the wetlands of Amvrakikos Gulf (2003-2007 extended until 2009)

upgrading of the wetlands of Amvrakikos Gulf

the river systems of Louros and Arahthos and the wider region Amvrakikos Gulf," Building soil maps and check the quality of soils in lowland areas of northern Amvrakikos Gulf "and" Investigating abiotic and biotic parameters at the bottom of Amvrakikos Gulf and their relation to fish production ' b) "Creation, installation and operation of a pilot automated telemetric monitoring stations of water quality in real time” c) Information and education - dissemination of project results. d) «Master Plan for water catchment Louros Arachthos and Amvrakikos Gulf"

and assessing environmental status, soil maps, investigation of parameters , installation of stations ( temperature, pH, Turbidity, dissolved oxygen, etc) staff training , dissemination activities, Co-management plan for the waters

Fleet Renewal and withdrawal old vessels (Prefectures of Arta, Preveza & Etoloakarnania)

FIFG: Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance 2000-2006

€1,964,793 Fleet renewal and withdrawal of old vessels

Fleet renewal, facilitate fishermen’s everyday life

Replacement of old vessels with new, reduction of areas’ fleet, facilitation of fishermen’s everyday life

Construction of fishing shelters (Prefectures of Preveza & Etoloakarnania)


€1,660,000 Creation/ Improvement of infrastructure in order to support fishing vessels, safe mooring of vessels

Creation/ Improvement of infrastructure in order to support fishing vessels

Creation of a few fishing shelters which are not enough for the area

Management and enhancement of area (Prefectures of Arta, Preveza & Etoloakarna


€4,133,029 Management and enhancement of area

Management of Amvrakikos Gulf and surrounding areas

Management plans, creation of environmental monitoring stations (which are no longer in usage)


Public investment

Source of funding

Investment cost




nia) Aquaculture Units (Prefectures of Arta, Preveza & Etoloakarnania)


€25,907,434

Increase of the yearly capacity of units, facilitate employees’ everyday life, modernization of the existed facilities, establishing of new packaging units/ancillary facilities



Auction Halls (Prefectures of Preveza & Etoloakarnania)


€338,491 Modernization of Auction Halls

Modernization of Auction Halls

Modernization of Auction Halls

Studies (Prefectures of Arta, Preveza & Etoloakarnania)


€604,734 Various studies

Various studies like Environmental Impact Assessment of construction in the area, Research studies in the environmental parameters of the area, Monitoring the impacts of artificial reefs in the area etc

Many various studies implanted for the area which achieved the expected outcomes

Fisheries reduction (Prefectures of Arta, Preveza & Etoloakarnania)


€4,978,057 Early fishermen’s retirement

Early fishermen’s retirement

Early fishermen’s retirement

Construction of artificial reefs (Prefecture of Preveza)


€942,775 Increase of fish stock and fisheries

Increase of fish stock and fisheries

Increase of fish stock and fisheries

Lagoons (Prefectures of Etoloakarnania & Arta)


€12,090,973

Construction works in order to improve the catch




Public investment

Source of funding

Investment cost




Disaster prevention (Prefecture of Arta)


€578,527 Studies and some construction for the disaster prevention

Studies and some construction for the disaster prevention

Studies and some construction for the disaster prevention


6. Stakeholder analysis

Key contacts in the Amvrakikos Gulf community are provided in the table below.

Table 27: Stakeholder details and contacts A/A Organisation Contact details (address, telephone, fax and e-mail)

KEY PEOPLE WITHIN THE FISHERIES SECTOR 1 ETANAM SA (Development Agency for

South Epirus- Amvrakikos) fLAG Mr. George Armpiros Director Address: Preveza, Laskaratou, Ydragogiou Area Telephone: +30 26820-89150, +30 6944-505581 e-mail: [email protected]

2 Association of Fishermen of Epirus Mr. Menelaos Tsiolis Association’s President (Fisherman) Address: Aneza 47100, Arta Telephone: +30 26810-47041, +30 6937-389578 Fax: 26810-42271

3 Association of Fishermen of Epirus Mr. Dimitris Tsalikidis Fisherman, Association’s member Address: Parodos Xaonias 10, Preveza Telephone: +30 6976-514665

4 Association of Fishermen of Preveza Mr. Apostolos Koletsis Association’s President (Fisherman) Address: Vathi Prevezas Telephone: +30 26820-27694

5 Amvrakikos Management Body Mr. Spiros Konstas Ichthyologist Address: Katsimatou 1 & Kommenou, Arta Telephone: +30 26810-71919, +30 6946-501923 Fax: +30 26810- 23593 e-mail:[email protected], [email protected]

6 ANDROMEDA GROUP AE (aquaculture unit)

Mr. Konstantinos Papamakarios Ichthyologist Address: National Road Patra-Athens 55, Rio Telephone: +30 6978-994149 Fax: +30 26430-29015 e-mail: [email protected]

7 ANDROMEDA GROUP AE (aquaculture unit)

Mr. George Travlos Ichthyologist Address: National Road Patra-Athens 55, Rio Telephone: +30 6978-994149 Fax: +30 26430-29015 e-mail: [email protected]

8 V. LEONTITSIS AE (aquaculture unit) Mr. Vasilis Leontitsis President Address: Spiliadou 2, Preveza Telephone: +30 26820-29548, +30 6944537231 Fax: 26820-26097

9 Experimental Carp and – Eel on growing unit of Arta

Mr. Dimitris Tsotsios Ichthyologist Address: Psathotopio, Arta Telephone: +30 6974-770303 Fax: +30 26810-42102

10 Active Citizens of Amvrakikos Area Mr. Pavlos Charalampous Fisherman Address: Aneza, Arta Telephone: +30 6972-131798 Fax: +30 26810-41643 e-mail: [email protected]

11 Prefecture of Preveza, Fisheries Department

Mrs. Giannoula Stoumpou Ichthyologist Address: Dodonis 37, Preveza, 48100

mailto:[email protected]�



Telephone: +30 26820-60952, +30 6942-027440 13Fax: +30 26820-23581 e-14mail:


Mr. Konstantinos Akovitiotis Ichthyologist Address: Dodonis 37, Preveza, 48100 Telephone: +30 26820-60952, +30 6938-735624 Fax: +30 26820-23581 e-mail: [email protected]


Mrs. Anthi Kentrou Director Address: Dodonis 37, Preveza, 48100 Telephone: +30 26820-60952, +30 6937-244832 Fax: +30 26820-23581 e-mail: [email protected]

14 ICHTYOKALLIERGHTIKH POGONITSA EPE (aquaculture unit)

Mr. Pantelis Tzouros President Address: Kyprou 17, Preveza, 48100 Telephone: +30 26820-23947, +30 6977-018621 Fax: 26820-23947

15 ICHTHYOPARAGWGIKH LASKARA Mr. Dimitris Economou President Address: 63 Irinis Avenue, 48100, Preveza Telephone: +30 26820-27205, +30 6972-550300 Fax: +30 26820- 25535

16 Prefecture of Etoloakarnania, Fisheries Department

Mrs. Maria Liourdi Ichthyologist Address: Eleftheriou Venizelou 1, 30200, Mesolongi Telephone: +30 26430-29090 Fax: 26430-22090 e-mail: [email protected]

17 Association of fishermen of Vonitsa Association of fishermen of Etoloakarnania

Mr. Yannis Zisis Fisherman Address: Amfilochias 19, Vonitsa Telephone: 26430-22972

18 Governmental Hatchery of Preveza, in Pogonitsa

Mr. George Ziakas Ichthyologist Address: Filipou 8, Preveza, 48100 Telephone: 6949-051244 e-mail: [email protected]

19 University of Patras Dr. Constantine Koutsikopoulos Professor Address: Panepistimioupoli, 26 500, Rio, Patras Telephone: +30 2610 -996100 FAX: +30 (2610) -997521 Mobile phone number: +30 (6977) -826042 email: [email protected]

KEY PEOPLE IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY 1 Prefecture of Preveza Mrs. Maria Zerva

Deputy Prefect for Environmental Issues Address: Spiliadou 8, 48100, Preveza Telephone: +30 26823-60200 Fax: +30 26823-60215 e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

2 Amvrakikos Management Body Dr. Albanis Triantafyllos President of Amvrakikos Management Body Katsimitrou 1 & Komenou, 47100 Arta Telephone: +30 2681071919 Fax: +30 26810 23593 e-mail: [email protected] www.amvrakikos.eu




7. Qualitative interpretation and analysis

To qualitatively analyse socio-economic changes in Amvrakikos Gulf a focus group was held at the Prefecture of Preveza. The focus group included 20 participants representing the fishing and aquaculture industry, fish processors, fishery scientists and local government personnel.

7.1. Key events and drivers of change

Demographic aspects

The declining and ageing population in the area has been driven by a number of factors. The population reduction shows foreign urbanization trends, abandonment of small rural - fishing villages, and there are events of internal urbanization (movement to larger urban centres of the region, like the city of Preveza). This is mainly due to the fact that young people are leaving for university level studies or people move to urban centres in order to get a job in the tertiary sector. This results to an increase of the population aging indicator in rural areas and is evident by an observed slight reduction of the number of the primary Schools in the area. The main explanations for the perception that in the most recent year or two the local population has been decreasing or has at least stabilised, is the global economic downturn and the corresponding economic crisis which is quite acute nowadays in Greece, and has curtailed many of the employment opportunities elsewhere previously available to people from Amvrakikos Gulf.

Within the fisheries sector specifically, there is a low image of the profession of the fisherman, which results in declines in the fishing sector employment; the aquaculture industry experienced two consecutive price crises that resulted in job cuts; the primary sector requires a lot of effort and is considered as a hard work for the young generations; poor yields and prices that have remained constant over the years resulting in loss of income due to the inflation. A characteristic example is that the youngest fisherman in the city of Vonitsa is 38 years old and fishermen’s average age is over 50 years old. Young people feel that there is currently a lack of a good quality life and job opportunities in the rural areas. This was thought to encourage local young people to leave their villages for further education and to seek elsewhere employment opportunities.

It has to be metioned that there is a high percentage of fishermen’s fathers that were farmers, which is justified by the fact that the region has intense agricultural activity. But there is also a very high rate of wives of fishermen that are fishermen too. The fishermen’s wives usually act supporting (help in untangling fish from nets, sewing nets etc) but sometimes also participate in the fishery procedure. Economic aspects (all sectors)

During the last decade there have been many problems affecting people’s income. Even the fact that for the three Prefectures the GVA has been increased, for the area of Amvrakikos Gulf it has been decreased. Residents’ income mainly comes from the tertiary sector, agriculture, fishing and related activities and there are few alternative employment opportunities.


Fish catches in the last years have reduced and thus population’s income. For that reason more people search for new activities in order to increase their income.

Working in one sector is usually not effective so people involved in the fisheries sector (and not only) try to participate in multiple activities (fishing, agriculture, renting apartments, establishing restaurants etc) which in combination can offer them a better standard of living. Unfortunately this is achieved by very few people due to the investment risk that has to be taken and also the apparent lack of capital.

Another problem that contributes to the low income is the existing strict Greek legislation which doesn’t help multi-employment especially for fishermen, e.g. it is not allowed for professional fishing vessels to be used for other purposes than fishing. This means that fishing vessels cannot be used as such to participate in activities such as eco-tourism and ichthyotourism which could be a means for fishermen to increase income. Numerous studies and reports highlight this inconsistency with other European Countries (for example Italy) but so far the Government is not oriented into this direction. New investments should be made in vessels for ecotourism and this prohibits many fishermen to diversify their activities.

Fisheries and aquaculture aspects

Catching sub-sector

A serious problem that appears is the illegal fishing with towing gears (which are prohibited) and make a great catch and contributes to fish stock decrease. There are no official data of illegal fisheries catch but local fishermen believe that this is approximately half of the total production.

The lagoons produce mainly sea bream, carp, goby and eels. The catch in the lagoons has also decreased (eels & goby are over-exploited; the sea bream (due to artificial restocking) and prawn stocks are increased). The decrease in the lagoons production is due to environmental parameters and overexploitation. The income from the lagoons is stable during the last years. The prices of the lagoon fish for the period 1995-2005 have been decreased with the exception of eels which increased. The eels stock has been over exploited in the area and thus their price presents an increase.

During the summer months (touristic period) the fishing effort is more intensive because the demand for fish is higher. There are reported many cases in winter months when fishermen find it difficult to sell their catch in the local market. For the rest of the year many restaurants are closed, and the population is lower and that is the reason that the fishing effort is lower during the winter season.

The prices of some species are stable and for some there is an upward trend due to the reduction of fish stock for these specific species. Such species are the red mullet, prawns, the striped goatfish and the white sea bream.

Wild caught fisheries going through the Auction Hall in Preveza increased during the period 2002–2008. This is due to the more intensive fishing effort in order fishermen to increase their income.

Fishery products are not distributed to other areas of the country and not exported to other countries due to the non existence of refrigerated units and intermediary persons. Since today nobody has established refrigeration units in the area. Of course unsold fish is not an every day event and fishermen prefer to sell it fresh because its price is higher than giving it to refrigeration units.


Aquaculture

Aquaculture units, which are usually accompanied with a packaging unit (exclusively for their production), are stable because the Greek legislation doesn’t permit the establishment of new units for seabass and seabream (not specifically for this area but for the whole country).

Some of the companies operating in Amvrakikos Gulf are large and have branches (units) all over the country. The mussel cultivation units are small scale and are carried out by local companies.

Aquaculture’s fish prices presented reduction in 2002-3 and 2008 but increased during the period 2009-2010. The average price nowadays is 4-4.2 euro/kg. The production cost of the aquaculture fish depends on the size of the aquaculture unit and ranges between 3.5-4.0 Euros per Kg.

Part of the aquaculture production is distributed to other areas of the country and exported to other countries while fishery products do not. This is due to the developed supporting facilities of this sub-sector in the area.

The number of the aquaculture units and their production showed rapid growth in the late 90s and the period up to 2000, but production has now stabilised. The stabilisation is due to the fact the Greek Legislation doesn’t allow any more the establishment of aquaculture units of the following species: sea bream, sea bass, common seabream, common dentex, common pandora, white sea bream, stripped seabream, saddled seabream and sharpsnout sea bream. The species that are allowed to be reared in aquaculture units nowadays are blue-fin tuna, amberjack, dusky grouper, shi drum, common sole and brill. This Law is in force since 2003 and since then all applications have been made for the establishment of new aquaculture units for these species not approved (in the whole country).

In February 2008 there was a significant decrease of the aquaculture production due to the massive death of about 1,000 tonnes of aquaculture fish in in the Eastern side of Amvrakikos Gulf, Menidi area which ruined the total production of the 3 units established in this area. The massive fish death was due to the lack of oxygen that characterizes all the area of Amvrakikos Gulf under 22m of depth. This phenomenon created problems not only in the aquaculture units located in the Gulf but also in the capture fisheries sub-sector. Since then such incidents did not occur again but it is very likely to happen again at any time as the lack of oxygen in the bottom layers of the Gulf always exist.

Processing sub-sector

The processing sub-sector is very limited in the area (just 2 companies) and is almost consisted from the packaging units of the aquaculture farms. A very negative factor is that in the area there are no fish storage (fridge) facilities for the local fishermen. There are some cases that some fishmongers make salted fish which they sell in their shops.

The processing sub-sector has been stable within the last years because of the restrictions in the legislation and in the decisions of the Prefectures not to allow further increase of the production capacity of the established fish farms.

Ancillary sub-sector

The ancillary sub-sector is very limited, only 10% of the fleet got out of the water to be reconstructed. Vessels’ hauling is usually made by the vessels’ owners and not by a specialized worker.


The gears’ reconstruction is most of the times made by the vessels’ owners and their family members – usually their wives. These women are not declared as labor personnel in the local governmental departments.

Governance aspects

Amvrakikos Gulf is a large area included in the administrative boundaries of three Prefectures.

In the three Prefectures there are departments (Fisheries Departments) responsible for the management of the Gulf fisheries. This sometimes makes communication and common decisions for the area difficult.

There are also independent local authorities responsible for the management and protection of the area. These are the Amvrakikos Management Body & ETANAM SA (Development Agency for South Epirus- Amvrakikos).

All the authorities are supposed to cooperate in order to achieve the sustainable development of the area through national and European funds, trying to encourage young people to stay in the area and mainly to balance the ecosystem of Amvrakikos Gulf which is overexploited and faces many environmental problems. However, it is clear that Governance needs to further strengthen, information flow to be more transparent and easily accessible and assign very clear mandates and responsibilities avoiding overlapping that creates confusion and increased management costs.

7.2. Adaptation

Demographic aspects

The adaptive response to declining demographic trends has been an increase in non-Greek labour in the area. Residents of the area are not adaptable and are not ready to move between sectors where employment opportunities exist. This is due to the fact that, until recently, the local society (and the whole Country) did not have to face extremely acute financial problems forcing them to be adaptable to changes. It has to be taken under consideration that acute fish stock reduction appeared the last few years and communities are not yet adapted to these new circumstances. With the current economic crisis, some fishermen try to do parallel activities but this is very difficult due to the non existing legislation for diversification activities for the fishermen and to the fact that a change requires capital for new investments which is hard to find.

Economic aspects (all sectors)

The residents of the area try to find alternative sources of income but the circumstances to do not really allow them top do so. Many of the employees of the primary sector moved to the tertiary sector but not with significant results for their income.

Fisheries and aquaculture aspects

Catching sub-sector

The fisheries community in Amvrakikos Gulf, in order to adapt to the CFP and new circumstances, has received European and National funds for the withdrawal of old fishing


vessels and fishermen’s early retirement. Through these funds local authorities expected to create new jobs and assist younger fishermen to buy new vessels. However, many fishermen are thinking of leaving the profession to work in other jobs/sectors, but this is very difficult because unemployment in all sectors has increased. It is also true that the educational level of most fishermen is quite low and this does not enable them to adapt easily to such changes.

How then has the catching sub-sector responded to recent challenges and financial pressures?

The fishery sector nowadays depends to a large extent on the prawn fishery. If this fishery collapses, they will face tremendous problems.

Overall declines in employment in the catching sub-sector over the years were also highlighted in the earlier text. The response and principal ways of adapting to these changes have been through a) early retirement, b) outmigration, and c) increases in unemployment.

For the lagoon fisheries, the fishermen cooperatives that lease the rights to fish in the lagoons are responsible for their management, adapted to new circumstances by enriching the lagoons with sea bream fry bought from commercial hatcheries.

In the Amvrakikos water catchment area water balance has been calculated and published twice (1985 and 1997). The studies were commissioned by the Ministry of Environment. In the 1985 calculations the water requirements for drinking water, irrigation, industry and tourism were simply added up and subtracted from the calculated total annual river water quantities. Since the result was positive, there was a conclusion that there is adequate water for the ecosystem functions. In the 1997 calculations, a hypothetical minimal water flow equalling 1/3 of the two rivers mean minimal annual flow was calculated and added to the requirements, which still presented a positive result when subtracted from the calculated available water quantities. There was no attempt to calculate the water requirements for the ecosystem functions.

In reality however, the 1994 measurements have shown that the water reaching the river mouth to the sea were lower than these hypothetical minimal requirements for some parts of the year. It was also shown that only one sixth of the initial mean river water quantity of the river Louros would end up to the sea, which is a change of a rather important magnitude. The impact of such change gradually building up over the years since 1970 was demonstrated in 1998 when several facts were correlated, including loss of lagoon habitat diversity due to increased salinity, decrease of lagoon fisheries production, decrease in numbers of certain bird species. The cost of actions proposed to restore some of the ecosystem functions related to freshwater in the lagoons is estimated at € 7 million and the investment needed to restore some of these functions in the marine waters of the Gulf is estimated to € 70 million. For the above reason local communities (mainly fishermen) believe that this Common Ministerial Decision must be modified (special restrictions for the area of Amvrakikos Gulf) and not implemented as it is.

Processing and marketing sub-sector

The processing and marketing subsectors are almost non –existent in the area.

Aquaculture sub-sector

Aquaculture sector in order to increase the value added try to export as much quantities as possible especially to other countries where prices are relatively higher and the markets can absorb the produced quantities.


At the moment there is an active Common Ministerial Decision (KYA) 121570/1866/12-6-2009 (enforced in 2009 by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food) that offers the opportunity to the aquaculture fish farms to increase/decrease their annual aquaculture units’ capacity by parameters related to the depth, distance from the coast and the prevailing currents. All units have to be adapted to this Law in the next 4 years. The problem is that in the area of the Amvrakikos Gulf the current measurements are so high as a result from the movement of the water due to temperature differences and not due to the renewal of the water (Amvrakikos is a semi – closed Gulf), that the established farms have the opportunity to increase their capacity. However, this is very risky as it is now evident that in Amvrakikos Gulf anoxic conditions are found in waters deeper than 23 m, while twenty years ago such conditions were observed in waters 40 m deep and below. This is due to the environmental downgrading that observed in the area. According to professor Koutsikopoulos, today approximately 70% of the Gulf is a dead zone. With regards to the dramatic problems faced by the Gulf, namely increasing eutrophication and pollution, especially alarming is the fact that on 27 February 2008, between 500 and 700 tons of fish were reported dead, in the fish cages of three of the existing fish farm units in the marine waters of Amvrakikos. Scientists have suggested that the fish died of anoxic conditions due to sudden water stratification in combination with cold temperatures. According to reports by the EEA the amount of €350,000 has been spent so far just to remove the dead fish from the sea, and it is most likely that these 3 fish farms did not generate any income for that year with heavy financial impact for their operation in the next years. It may well be proven that the reduction of freshwater inflow into the gulf is related to the incidents of these massive deaths of fish in the marine waters of the Gulf occurring today

Ancillary sub-sector

The ancillary sub-sector in the area is very limited, and it is difficult for it to engage in creative adaptive strategies. Its fortune is just following those of the catching and aquaculture sub-sectors.

Governance aspects

The adaptive response by representative fishing sector organisations to trends and threats facing the sector has been to ensure active participation in relevant fisheries meetings and policy fora to ensure that the concerns and voice of the fisheries sector is being heard. In concrete terms this means frequent and regular meetings with the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, the University of Patras, the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research and the Amvrakikos Management Body within Greece (e.g. to discuss effort management measures, control issues, and sector development), engagement with the Commission on areas of EC fisheries policy and CFP reform.

7.3. Future development of the community In order to ensure the suitable conditions for further development of the fishery sector the impacts of the CFP reform has to be managed, maintain the social and economic cohesion of the coastal communities, create more value added for the local fish production, strengthen multi-employment, create alternative business opportunities in the primary sector and also deplete the pollution of natural and productive resources.

In particular aquaculture, with the existing tradition and expertise in fisheries, are sub-sectors with significant growth potential.


However, the area shows potential development of specific types of tourism related to natural - cultural environment, to its rural character, etc. The increasing demand for alternative forms of tourism in the Greek area and the observed increase of the tourist traffic, especially in Prefectures of Arta, Etoloakarnania and Preveza, creates favourable conditions for this direction. A prerequisite for this will be the rational use of the available natural and cultural resources through a coordinated and comprehensive intervention in order Amvrakikos Gulf area to be competitive compared to other destinations.

An ageing population and consistent migration of young people means that the population is forecast to decline into the future with a marked deficit of young people and young families. It is hoped that the provision of alternative employment opportunities as well as new ones with fish tourism and ichthyotourism and multi employment development, new opportunities for higher education, the availability of high quality schooling and the creation of a modern highway connection with the rest of Greece will help to encourage new residents and retain young people.

The implementation of the “LEADER Fisheries” programme is expected to bring positive results to the local fisheries communities. Particularly it is expected to develop opportunities of multi-employment and increase residents’ income through various investments. The implementation of the “LEADER Fisheries” programme should increase residents’ income in all sectors of activities. The public sector is perceived to be extremely vulnerable in the current financial situation and stakeholders believe that indigenous industries including aquaculture and the growth of tourism and especially agrotourism will become increasingly important.

The Amvrakikos Gulf area is characterised as one of the “Areas depending on fisheries” in Greece.

For that reason ETANAM SA (Development Agency for South Epirus- Amvrakikos) company has submitted a program with the title “LEADER Fisheries” which will contribute to the development of the Amvrakikos Gulf area (the proposal has been approved by the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food and is included in the fourth axis of the operational Programme Fisheries of Greece 2007 – 2013). Therefore ETANAM SA will act as a fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG). The total value of the program is € 9,745,000 (€ 7,496,500 is Public Expenditure and €2,248,500 are Private Contributions). The areas that are included in the program are the coastal communities of Amvrakikos Gulf which have been analysed in section 1.2. The program of the Amvrakikos FLAG includes two Actions: Action 1 : Private Investments for the sustainable development of fishing areas and Action 2 : Public Investments for the sustainable development of fishing areas. ACTION 1: Private Investments for the sustainable development of fishing areas Measure 1.1: Fishermen’s investment in non-fishing activities, aims at developing multiple activities and alternative ways of the fishing population of the area to improve their income, and as a result for the population to remain in rural areas. Under this Measure the following actions are included: • Action 1.1.1: Enterprises related to the development of activities for fisheries and the marine environment such as leisure, sports or entertainment.


• Action 1.1.2: Enterprises for implementing ecotourism, fishtourism, diving tourism etc. • Action 1.1.3: Enterprises for Business services such as repair and service of vessels, engines, fishery equipment, catering, etc • Action 1.1.4: Establishment and modernization of small-capacity accommodation facilities • Action 1.1.5: Catering and leisure facilities • Action 1.1.6: Conversion - modernization of fishing vessels for non-fishing activities • Action 1.1.7: Industrial units for fishery products • Action 1.1.8: Cottage industries, handicrafts, production of traditional arts, craft units • Action 1.1.9: Food Business after first stage of processing Measure 1.2: Investments by non-fishermen will be made aiming at stimulating private initiatives and support for entrepreneurship in various sectors of local economy. By the implementation of such type of actions the appropriate conditions will be created to retain / increase population because beneficiaries of these actions will be natural or legal persons residing / established in the specific region. In this Measure appropriate conditions are included: • Action 1.2.1: Support of companies for providing services in rural tourism • Action 1.2.2: Other companies providing services for ecotourism, fish tourism etc. • Action 1.2.3: Companies providing services • Action 1.2.4: Establishment and modernization of small-capacity accommodation facilities • Action 1.2.5: Catering and leisure facilities • Action 1.2.6: Industrial units for fishery products • Action 1.2.7: Cottage industries, handicrafts, production of traditional arts, craft units • Action 1.2.8: Food Business after first stage of processing • Action 1.2.9: Enhance business towards environmental protection Measure 1.3: Investments in fishery sector. The Measure includes actions aimed at improving the operation of existing infrastructure, reducing environmental impacts and improving the quality and certification of products. Under this Measure the following actions are included: • Action 1.3.1: Support of traditional aquaculture activities • Action 1.3.2: Aqua-environmental measures • Action 1.3.3: Eligible measures in processing and marketing activities with emphasis on traditional handicraft • Action 1.3.4: Collective Actions • Action 1.3.5: Promote products obtained using methods with low environmental impacts • Action 1.3.6: Quality Certification, including label creation and certification of products harvested or farmed with production methods that are environmentally friendly ACTION 2: PUBLIC INVESTMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF FISHERY AREAS Measure 2.1: Infrastructure for encouraging tourism The area has particularly valuable natural environment and there are a lot of cultural aspects. Therefore the area has all the characteristics for developing tourism, which can be facilitated by removing isolation through the completion of roads in Ionia Street and vertical axes of Egnatia Road. Particularly a huge opportunity for the region is to use the new special forms of tourism that exploit the strengths and traditions of the region such as eco-tourism and fish tourism. However today the tourist infrastructure is scarce and its quality is poor, while tourism is only for the internal/Greek population and the season is short. This Measure includes the following actions: • Action 2.1.1: Infrastructure for tourism development in coastal areas • Action 2.1.2: Tourist Information Centers • Action 2.1.3: Small-scale infrastructure to enhance areas of natural beauty, attractions and monuments.


Measure 2.2: Infrastructure and services to improve the life quality in fishing areas The Measure aims to enhance infrastructure and services to improve the life quality and promote cultural activities, there are important cultural resources in the area of intervention and their reclaim is an important opportunity for the region. The Measure includes the following actions: • Action 2.2.1: Intervention in existing buildings • Action 2.2.2: Support of cultural events Measure 2.3: Renovation and development of villages The Measure includes projects for the renovation and development of villages for a comprehensive upgrade. The Measure includes the following actions: • Action 2.3.1: Improve and redevelop of public areas • Action 2.3.2: Rehabilitation of buildings for civic use

In addition, ETANAM (the FLAG) further to the €9,745,000 Axis 4 programme, has submitted a proposal entitled "Sustainable Development in Amvrakikos – ANASA (breath)” with a total budget of 80 million Euros, that envisages implementation of environmental protection measures which will contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the region of Amvrakikos, while ensuring social consensus on environmental restrictions imposed and enhance the environmental parameters associated with the development of production activities. The actions included in the program “ANASA” will serve to improve the quality of surface waters in the area of Amvrakikos, increasing the fish production capacity and further development of fisheries and aquaculture. It will include actions to develop the ecological, fisheries and marine tourism, based on available resources of the area and a rare ecosystem that will attract many visitors, and actions to maintain the ecological balance and protection of all environmental aspects of the rare natural environment. It will also include actions for the organization of technological research that will produce results that will be utilised by the productive sectors and on the same time will enhance the environmental protection of the area ensuring the quality of the fishery and agriculture, livestock and their association with the region through appropriate labelling. These actions respond to the key demands of local communities to adopt developmental interventions to counterbalance the loss of income and opportunities from the application of environmental restrictions. In partnership and involving 24 stakeholders from the wider area of the national park of Amvrakikos, there is therefore some optimism for the future.

Demands and expectations for the future of the fisheries sector include that :

• Fishermen will have new job opportunities in order to diversify their activities. The fishing effort will be decreased allowing the ecosystem to recover from the apparent overfishing;

• Also new investments in fisheries infrastructures (processing units for fishery products, refrigerating units, new port facilities) will be made which will improve fishermen working conditions;

• Fisheries products if certified might lead to prices increases; • The lagoon sub-sector will have the same benefits as the catching sub-sector with

the improvement of the fisheries infrastructure; • The aquaculture, processing and ancillary sub-sectors will benefit from the

implementation of the regional programme.

Finally, it is hoped that some current conflict between fishermen and the aquaculture units can be reduced – this results as fishermen believe that the aquaculture farms contribute to increased eutrophication of the Gulf. Overall, however, stakeholders recognise that they have a unique environment, which while at risk, with appropriate funds makes them mildly optimistic about the future of the fisheries sector.


7.4. The role of public sector intervention Public sector support has been always important in enabling fishing-dependent communities to adapt to change. And indeed relying on public sector support appears to be a defining feature of the sector. At the start of the decade a number of fleet renewal and withdrawal of old vessels programmes started and almost 2 million Euros resulted in fleet renewal and withdrawal. Also, construction of fishing shelters took place, but apparently not enough. Significant amounts of more than 12 million Euros were spent during 2000-2006 for construction works and interventions in the lagoons in order to improve the catch, with limited success however according to the official statistics. Almost 5 million Euros have been spent also during the period of 2000-2006 for early fishermen’s retirement. The aquaculture units absorbed 26 million Euros for installation, modernization of equipment, construction of processing units etc. Finally the modernization of the Auction Hall in Preveza absorbed 0.33 million Euros. Efforts to upgrade the environment of Amvrakikos Gulf absorbed 2.14 million Euros through a LIFE programme as well as 3.49 and 4.13 million Euros for Management, rehabilitation and upgrading of the wetlands of Amvrakikos Gulf. A very significant improvement of the road network in western Greece is ongoing whereas the connection with Aktion with a subsea tunnel has taken place in recent years to address previous deficiencies in infrastructure. These developments have not been funded by the Amvrakikos Gulf community of course, but nevertheless have served to benefit it. 7.5. Conclusion In conclusion, this report has demonstrated a number of clear trends and important factors with regards to the fisheries sector and the wider economy in Amvrakikos Gulf. The area was and still is dependent on fisheries. The fishermen income is low nowadays and is going to be lower as fish stocks are depleting by time. Enhancing the multi employment in the area may have significant results for the community’s future development.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lianos, T., Kanellopoulos, K., Gregou, M., Gemi, E. and Papakonstantinou P., 2008. Estimation of the volume of foreigners staying illegally in Greece. Hellenic Migration Policy Institute, April, 2008 as study in the framework of the programme Aineias, 113p.

Masoura Dimitra, 2008. Approaching the stock of the prawn Melicertus kerathrurus in Amvrakikos Gulf. Morphometric observations. Study submitted for the postgraduate programme “Environmental Management”, Charokopio University, 141p.

Mertzanis A., 1995. “Geomorphological evolution of Amvrakikos Gulf”, PhD study, National and Kapodistrian Univeristy of Athens, Department of Geology, Geography- Climatology Sector.

HCMR (Hellenic Centre for Marine Reasearch), 1989. Amvrakikos oceanological study. Technical Study, Athens, p.47.

EEA (European Environmental Agency), Technical report No 3/2010. Ecosystem accounting and the cost of biodiversity losses. The case of coastal Mediterranean wetlands. European Environmental Agency.

ETANAL, 2009. Data of the annual report of ETANAL SA (Auction Hall)

ETANAL, 2004-2008. Data of the annual reports ETANAL SA (Auction Hall)

ETANAM, 2009. Proposal of the “LEADER Fisheries” programme.

ETANAM, 1992. Study: Proposed improvement works for the fisheries usage of the Mirtari lagoon in Vonitsa. Preveza, April 1992.

Kentrou A., Zompola S., Moutopoulos D., Katselis G. & Koutsikopoulos K., 2005. Chronological changes and seasonal fluctuation of the lagoons’ fisheries production of the Prefecture of Preveza. 12th Pan-Hellenic Conference of Ichthyologists.

University of Patras and Association of Fishermen of Epirus, 2008. Fishery activities in Amvrakikos Gulf: Current situation and prospective. Arta 2008, p.154.

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