Thessaloniki, Greece | January 9th, 2026
Greek Demo Site: Sustainable Aquaculture
In the Thermaikos Gulf, near Thessaloniki, Greece, sits one of the Mediterranean’s most important mussel-farming areas. A protected Ramsar and Natura 2000 area, the site faces environmental challenges, such as organic waste buildup and seabed degradation. Here the Greek Demo Site is testing innovative nature-based solutions to support sustainable aquaculture and the circular economy.
To address these issues, researchers and local aquaculture operators are piloting two Demonstration Sites. First, the Holothuria Blue Parks initiative. Here, native sea cucumbers are placed beneath mussel farms, where they naturally clean sediments by recycling organic waste into valuable biomass for food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic uses. A second site, launching in 2026, will use microalgae-based systems to improve water quality by removing excess nutrients and capturing CO₂, while producing high-value biomass.
Together, these pilots explore new ways to reduce environmental impact, reuse aquaculture by-products, and strengthen collaboration between science and industry, thus helping build a more resilient and sustainable Mediterranean blue economy.
Photos: HCMR
