Greek restaurants are forced to remove shellfish from their menus amid the food crisis

Published Nov 13, 2024

Tridge summary

Greek restaurants are experiencing a severe shellfish shortage due to a crisis affecting the nation's farms caused by rising sea temperatures. The heatwaves have pushed sea temperatures in Thermaix Bay, the mussel-growing center of northern Greece, above 30°C, leading to a predicted 90% decline in the 2024 harvest. This crisis, which is expected to occur more frequently due to global warming, is significantly impacting Greece's maritime industry, which valued at over 603 million euros in 2021. Clam farmers in Kimina town are seeking government compensation for their losses and considering leaving the industry. The shortage is also affecting the culinary scene in Greece, with mussels, a revered delicacy in the north, becoming increasingly scarce on restaurant menus.

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Original content

Greek restaurants can't cope with a shortage of shellfish, amid a serious crisis affecting the nation's farms due to rising sea temperatures. Beloved traditional dishes are losing an important ingredient amid a significant decline in production. In July, heatwaves pushed sea temperatures in Thermaix Bay, the mussel-growing center of northern Greece, above 30°C, dealing a death blow to the shellfish and leading to a predicted 90% sharp decline in the 2024 harvest. This is not new, but reflects an earlier scenario that was expected to happen only once a decade, marine biologist Kostas Koukaras told British media. The Hellenic Aquaculture Producers' Organization indicated that shellfish production in Greece typically exceeds 20,000 tonnes per year, with a significant portion destined for export. The value of the Greek maritime industry in 2021 exceeded 603 million euros, which ranks it in third place in Europe after France and Spain. However, uncertainty looms for the clam farmers in ...

Source: Money