Just the sight of the sea in Greece, and generally in the Mediterranean, inspires thoughts of seafood – and when combined with the hot summer weather, even more so! But what impact does this consumption have on the environment, society, and the economy?

Consumption isn’t the only threat to seafood, but it’s one of the biggest. It is estimated that the annual consumption of seafood by Mediterranean countries is 7.5 million tons per year, equivalent to 34 billion euros! Only three of these million tons come from aquaculture and the rest come from nature. Thus, 95% of species are threatened with extinction by over-fishing.

However, there are other threats to the many seafood species in the Mediterranean. A relatively recent addition to these threats, which is growing, is the invasion of ‘alien’ species. An alien species is defined as one whose natural environment is not the place where it is now found. A very characteristic threat to the Mediterranean, especially to Italy, is the blue crab. The blue crab entered the Mediterranean covertly, on ships from the Atlantic. This ‘gentleman’ destroys nets, eats, or simply kills fish. It also destroys shellfish farms such as those for mussels, and generally makes its presence felt!

In America this delicacy is paid for dearly, but Mediterranean cuisine does not have it on its menu! Therefore, in an effort to eliminate them, Italian chefs are trying to incorporate it into traditional recipes.

A more difficult case is the lionfish from the Indo-Pacific, particularly in Greece. However, if properly cleaned, with the removal of its poisonous fins, it can be consumed safely. Thus, chefs in Greece and Cyprus are also trying to incorporate that creature into their menus.

And these are just two of the hundreds of cases of invasive species in the Mediterranean. However, the environmental and economic impacts on the region are evident. On the other hand, as noted in the above cases, society is trying to translate this into an opportunity for development and the creation of a new value-added item in the food chain.

The question is, as tourists, would we ever choose something outside of the usual delicacies in a restaurant in the places we visit? Tourism has a huge environmental impact due to the overconsumption of seafood. Greece now imports over 50% of the seafood it consumes, and this phenomenon intensifies during the summer months.

In a multi-factor environment, it is difficult to make conscious choices that are environmentally friendly – but even one good choice during your vacation can make a difference! Think about it, and have a great summer!

* The above is not medical advice but mere suggestions for improving your diet. Before herbal use you should consult your doctor, especially if you have health issues, you are pregnant or under the age of 6.

Evropi-Sofia Dalampira holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics, MSc in Botany-Biology and MSc in Horticulture & Viticulture.