Greece's mussel farming industry is under serious threat as record-high sea temperatures last summer wiped out nearly 90 percent of the harvest in the Thermaic Gulf.
The warm, shallow waters of the Thermaic Gulf hide a growing catastrophe for local farmers. Last July, sea temperatures surged past 30 degrees Celsius, turning this once-productive bay for mussels into a lifeless zone.
Entire harvests were lost, along with the baby mussels meant to seed next year's crop. In villages like Chalastra and Kymina, hundreds of farmers now face an uncertain future.
"Last year's heat killed everything—the seed, the harvest, everything. In this area alone, we lost 100 percent. No income. No future," said Christos Bakalis, a fourth-generation mussel farmer.
Many other farmers are watching their livelihoods slip away. While scientists have warned for years that climate change would warm Mediterranean waters, few expected the impact to come so severe and so fast.
"Especially over the past four years, mussels have been struggling to grow under the methods we've always used. The future of mussel farming has become extremely uncertain," said Vasilis Anastasiou, a mussel farmer and ichthyologist.
The Thermaic Gulf once powered one of Europe's top mussel industries. However, last summer's heat pushed sea temperatures so high the mussels had no chance of survival. With no seed left to regrow, the mussel crisis goes beyond a local scale. Greece exports nearly 20,000 tonnes of mussels every year — and now, that entire chain is at risk.
"We're facing new conditions that are beyond our control. We need to adapt. If we don't adapt and do it fast, then we could be facing the end of our industry altogether, and that's our worst fear," said Anastasiou.
The Greek government has acknowledged the scale of the damage and said it's working with European institutions on potential support. But so far, farmers say little help has reached them.
With no relief yet in sight and the seas seemingly only getting hotter, many mussel farmers fear their livelihoods are now completely destroyed.
Higher sea temperatures devastate Greece's mussel farming sector
Higher sea temperatures devastate Greece's mussel farming sector
Higher sea temperatures devastate Greece's mussel farming sector
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
