Status and development prospects for indigenous freshwater finfish and crayfish farming in Greece

The Hellenic freshwater aquaculture sector has been dominated by the alien rainbow trout since the early 1950s. This species actually represented 96.5% of the total inland production in 2007. Other groups of species accounted for minor production volumes and, apart from common carp, most of them are also of alien origin. Therefore, an absence of production diversification, the presence of alien species, which in some cases have seriously impacted aquatic biodiversity, and emerging consumer sensitivity towards environmentally friendly practises require thorough re-assessment of native species with promising aquaculture potential. This trend is particularly evident in Eastern Europe and Asia, where native species (particularly cyprinids) outcompete alien species. The current review aims to outline past and present farming efforts on native fish and crayfish species in Greece, which collectively belong to six families, and to discuss future development prospects.