Typologies as Management Tools

Abstract

Mussel farming in Greece constitutes an important economic activity for the areas where it is concentrated. This paper presents the results of a survey of mussel producers in Thermaikos Gulf, Northern Greece, where almost 90% of the total mussel production in the country takes place. Using data from a questionnaire survey of 66 mussel producers in the area, a typology is elaborated, by means of which three types of mussel farmers are discerned. “Professionals” are the ones continuing their family tradition, “Newcomers” are those who chose mussel farming as their main occupation and recently invested in the sector and “Aged amateurs” are the oldest and least educated group, members of which plan to pass their farm to younger family members. There is strong evidence that the sampled “Newcomers” achieve considerably higher financial results, however the sample size is not adequate to generalize for all results except for the farm income. When it comes to their environmental attitudes, mussel farmers comply to bans in cases where high toxin concentrates are detected, but they are not convinced about the effectiveness of controls. They discern very clearly between the environmental and regulatory measures necessary to boost the productivity of the sector, but they seem to proclaim by far the latter type of adjustments, including the resolution of location issues. Based on the profile of each cluster and the general results of the sample proposals are made concerning the implementation of the new Common Fisheries Policy.