Program

Day 1

15 May 2026 | Nikos Skalkotas Hall

09:00 - 10:00	Registration
10:00 - 11:00	Opening Ceremony
Ioannis Foskolos	Moderator, Journalist
Margaritis Schinas	Minister of Rural Development & Food Opening Address
Dr. Costas Kadis	EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, European Commission Welcome Address
Dr. Maria Panagiotou	Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development & Environment of Cyprus
Houssam Hamza	Head Aquaculture Officer, General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean
Apostolos Touralias	Chairman BoD HAPO, Vice Chairman of BoD AVRAMAR GROUP
Filippos Petridis	Chairman of BoD and C.E.O. AMBIO S.A.
11:00 - 11:15	Break
11:15 - 11:45	Keynote Speaker
Dimitra Manifava	Moderator, Journalist
Joel Richardson	Vice President of Public Relations, Cooke Inc.
11:45 - 13:00	First Session. Blue Tech
	AI, automation and digital monitoring transforming marine aquaculture into a digitally driven production model, enhancing efficiency, biosecurity and transparency, reducing the environmental footprint and strengthening sustainability.
Effie Lazaridou	Moderator, New Agriculture New Generation
Lara Barazi-Geroulanou	President of FEAP, Member of BoD HAPO, Chairman and CEO of Kefalonia Fisheries S.A. Digital Transformation Challenges in Mediterranean Aquaculture
Dr. Nikos Papandroulakis	Research Director, Institute of Marine Biology Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC), HCMR Why the shift toward precision aquaculture is now necessary
Dr. Lars Ebbesson	Chief Scientist and Senior Aquaculture Advisor in the Technology Division at Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE) Unlocking AI Value Through Data Sharing
Per Andreas Hjetland	Senior Vice President, Business Development, AKVA Group The Future of Sustainable Offshore Aquaculture
Kari-Elin Hildre	Chief Executive Officer, Alotta AS Powering Aquaculture with Floating Solar: A New Energy Paradigm
13:00 - 14:00	Second Session. Farmed Fish & Modern Diet
	The role of aquaculture in human health and food security through the provision of high-nutritional-value fish, with reference to the role of aquafeeds in the quality of the final product.
Dimitra Manifava	Moderator, Journalist
Konstantinos Toutouzas	Professor of Cardiology and Director of Cardio-Oncology Unit and Structural Heart Disease Unit, First Department of Cardiology, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens. President of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology. Aquaculture, Nutrition and Cardiovascular Health
Loukianos Rallidis	Professor of Cardiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Director of the Lipid Clinic and the Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Second University Cardiology Department Attikon University General Hospital Aquaculture and Nutrition: Myths, Reality and Scientific Evidence
Dimosthenis Panagiotakos	Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Harokopio University, Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Hellenic Food Authority (EFET), Member of the Working Group on Weight of Evidence, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Farmed Fish, Food Security and Human Health
Umberto Luzzana	Marketing Manager, Skretting Italy Farmed Fish, Omega-3 and the Future of Healthy Nutrition
14.00 – 15.00	Lunch Break Τhe Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Organization (HAPO) celebrates its 10th anniversary with desserts and drinks
15:00 - 16:15	Third Session. Sustainable Aquaculture
	Analysis of the current regulatory framework and international guidelines for the sustainable development of aquaculture, with emphasis on policies, best practices, international experience and funding instruments supporting the sector’s green and resilient transition.
Stella Avgoustaki	Moderator, Journalist
Giorgos Paximadis	Aquaculture Expert, General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), FAO From frameworks to impact: scaling up sustainable aquaculture through FAO and GFCM guidelines
Emilia Gargallo Gonzalez	EC, DG MARE Unlocking the Future of European Aquaculture
Lara Barazi-Geroulanou	President of FEAP, Member of BoD HAPO, Chairman and CEO of Kefalonia Fisheries S.A. European Aquaculture: Sustainability Leadership and the Need for Strategic Growth
Filippos Papageorgiou	Aquaculture Expert, FAO/GFCM Coordinator of Technical Advisory Group on Governance and Responsible Investment in Aquaculture Towards a New Paradigm of Responsible Investment in Aquaculture
Dr. Kyla Zatti	Senior Scientist R&D Department, BIOMAR Sustainable Aquafeeds: Secure supply, safeguard market access, and reduce risk
16:15 - 17:15	Fourth Session. Markets, challenges & opportunities
	Challenges and opportunities for the growth of aquaculture products in international markets. Rising costs, increasing competition and changing consumer preferences, potential for development through quality, product differentiation, certifications and a stronger export presence.
Stelios Morfidis	Moderator, Journalist
Simeon Diamantidis	President of Greek Exporters Association & C.E.O. DIOPAS S.A. Αquaculture Exports as a Pillar of Greece’s International Outreach and Regional Development
Nikos Liberis	C.E.O., Central Markets and Fisheries Organization From Farm to Market: The Role of Modern Distribution Networks in the Global Success of Aquaculture
Giannis Triantafyllis	Vice Chairman, WUWM WUWM and Wholesale Markets: A Strategic Distribution Channel and Key Driver of Success
Claudio Truzzi	Head of Quality Assurance, METRO Italia S.p.A. Farmed Fish and Foodservice: Building Consumer Trust and Market Growth
Spyros Giannoulatos	Vice President of HAPO, CEO Galaxidi Marine Farm S.A. The Market is changing

Day 2

16 May 2026 | Nikos Skalkotas Hall

09:00 - 09:30	Registration
09:30 - 10:00	Opening Address
Antonis Kritikos	Moderator, Journalist
Athanasios Kavvadas	Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food
Konstantinos Karagkounis	Deputy Minister for Social Security
Dr. Ioannis Theodorou	Professor, Head of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Patras
10:00 - 11:00	1st Workshop. Strategic Planning & Financing
	Financing tools, investment strategies and policies that support the development of businesses in the sector
Maria Smilidou	Moderator, Journalist
Spiros Protopsaltis	General Secretary, General Secretariat of Rural Development & Food, Ministry of Rural Development & Food Strategy for the Development of the Aquaculture Sector
Efthymia Giokala	Director of Managing Authority of the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Maritime Operational Program, Ministry of Rural Development and Food Financing Tools and the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Maritime Programme (FAMPA) 2021–2027
Alkistis Parpoura	Director of Directorate General of Fisheries, Ministry of Rural Development and Food Regulatory Framework and Aquaculture Policy
Marios Haidarlis	Attorney at Law - Assistant Professor at the University of Thessaly (Department of Planning and Regional Development) Institutional and Spatial Planning Challenges in Aquaculture
Apostolos Touralias	Chairman BoD HAPO, Vice Chairman of BoD AVRAMAR GROUP Strategic Planning and Funding
11:00 - 11:30	Break
11:30 - 13:30	2nd Workshop. Fueling Growth
	Technologies, products and services presented by industry companies that enhance their efficiency and productivity. (Sponsors’ session)
Vicky Chalikiopoulou	Moderator
Anna Hesby Nessa	Global Product Manager, Skretting Aquaculture Innovation From resistance to resilience
Guilherme Sampaio-Sansao	Global Sustainability Specialist, BIOMAR Future-proofing the Greek Aquaculture - Sustainable aquafeeds for the Greek seafood industry
Dr. Pantelis Katharios	Aquatic Biologicals founder, Research Director HCMR Aquatic Biologicals: A New Era of Biosecurity and Disease Prevention in Greek Aquaculture
Dr. Dafna Israel	Head of Research and Development, PHIBRO AQUA A saponin-based nutritional specialty product supporting gut health in Mediterranean fish species
Ioannis Chekimoglou	C.E.O., POAY Thesprotias, General Secretary, HAPO POAY Thesprotias: A Model for the Harmonious Coexistence of Environment, Society and Aquaculture
Vasiliki Drakou	Founder and CEO of Drakou Insurance Brokers Aquaculture and Insurance: Safeguarding the Future of the Sector
Anastasios Mamanis	FPresident & Chief Executive Officer, SCIENTACT S.A. Measurement Systems and Instruments for Aquaculture
Dr. Jonas Van Damme / Nikos Meletopoulos	R&D Project Manager in Aquaculture SIOLINE-GANIS Textile Solutions Engineered for Modern Aquaculture
Smaro Athanasiadou	GFSI/QMS/MSC and ASC CoC Lead Auditor TÜV NORD Hellas Beyond Compliance: How Certification Transforms Sustainability into Competitive Advantage
Valeska Weymann	GLOBALG.A.P.’s senior expert & trainer/ Senior Technical Key Account for Aquaculture GLOBALG.A.P. AQUACULTURE CERTIFICATION. Covering the entire value chain from hatchery to market
Samara Croci	Communications Manager, Healthy Seas Closing the Loop at Sea, Lessons from Marine Litter and Ghost Farms
13.30 – 14.30	Lunch Break
14:30 - 16:00	4th Workshop. Knowledge Bridges. Passing Industry Expertise from Senior Professionals to Emerging Talent
	The role of young professionals and women in the sector, opportunities, career pathways and strategies for their development and empowerment.
Christina Zantioti	Moderator. Chair and Co-Founder, NOWA - Network of Women in Aquaculture
Andrew Richardson	Founder, YAS (Young Aquaculture Society)
Dr Juli-Anne Russo	Founder & CEO, Caribbean Aquaculture Education and Innovation Hub
Marilou Suc	Founder and CEO, Blue Connection, Co-founder and General Secretary of NOWA
Dr Theodoros Krintas	Founder & CEO, Koubaras Ltd

16 May 2026 | ΜC3 Conference Suite

10:00 - 11:00	3rd Workshop. Prevention, Biosecurity & Automation Solutions in Mediterranean Aquaculture
	Presentation of best practices in health management and automation solutions across the full production cycle in Mediterranean aquaculture. Case examples from Mediterranean and global production, followed by discussion with experts on their practical implementation.
Evagelos Kakavoulis	Moderator, CEO, AQUA VET
Athanasios Prapas	Moderator, Vice President, AQUA VET
Patrice Dauvin-Dedise	International Sales Manager, Axcentive France Biosecurity and Disinfection Across the Aquaculture Lifecycle.
Claudia Maira	Senior Clinical Scientist & Technical Support Manager for Mediterranean and Latin America, PHARMAQ Development of a Vaccine Against Aeromonas veronii in European Sea Bass.
11:00 - 11:30	Break
11:30 - 13:30	3rd Workshop. Prevention, Biosecurity & Automation Solutions in Mediterranean Aquaculture (Cont.)
	Presentation of best practices in health management and automation solutions across the full production cycle in Mediterranean aquaculture. Case examples from Mediterranean and global production, followed by discussion with experts on their practical implementation.
Evagelos Kakavoulis	Moderator, CEO, AQUA VET
Athanasios Prapas	Moderator, Vice President, AQUA VET
Matías Fertig	Business Development and Client Support in the Mediterranean Automations in Aquaculture Activities: Mortality Management and ROV- Based Interventions.
Riccardo Caponi	Export Sales Manager, Deep Trekker ROVs in Aquaculture: Solving Operational Challenges with Inspection and Intervention Systems.
Amine Chaabane	Aquaculture Technical & Product Manager, Phodé The Holistic Power of Plant Extracts: Managing Handling Stress, Oxidative Stress and Pathogen Pressure to Improve Productive Performance in Mediterranean Aquaculture.
13.30 – 14.30	Lunch Break

Parallel Sessions

15 May 2026 | MC 3.2 Hall

11:00 - 13:00	Parallel Session Planktonic. Introducing Norwegian values and technologies into a Mediterranean setting
Antonio Coli	Commercial Director and a member of the management team, Planktonic AS Planktonic: Aquaculture Evolution
Nils Tokle	CTO & Co-founder, Planktonic AS What really matters in the first days of a fish's life
Konstantinos Tzakris	Professional in marine hatcheries CryoPlankton in action at a global scale
Katerina Loufi	Postdoctoral Researcher Fish larval nutrition: Feeding the gut, shaping the skeleton
13:00 - 14:00	Parallel Session PREVENT. Roundtable 1. Enhancing Transnational Collaboration for Marine Litter Management
Prof. Dora Foti	Full Professor, Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy Pollution Reduction and Early-warning for Vulnerable Ecosystems in Adriatic-Ionian Territories – PREVENT project
Giorgos Chatzigeorgiou	Moderator, Permanent Research Fellow, HCMR
Giannos Priovolos	Industrial Design Department of MEPP From Marine Litter to Recycling and the Circular Economy
Samara Croci	Communications Manager, Healthy Seas Ghost Farms: A Story from the Field
Christina Zeri	Research Director, HCMR Tethys4ADRION project: A regional approach for tackling riverine litter
Nikos Katsafados	Technical Manager, WASTE ET WATER Ltd Implementation of ECOPLEX device for Microplastics Removal in European project Inspire
14.00 – 15.00	Lunch Break
15:00 - 16:00	Parallel Session PREVENT. Roundtable 2. Advancements in Technology for Marine Litter Management
Stella Roubeti	Moderator, Lawyer, READ S.A. - Development Agency of South Aegean Region
George Balaskas	NCSR Demokritos PREVENT: Intelligent tools for marine litter detection
Andreja Palatinus	National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia From Early Detection to Joint Action: Remote Monitoring of Marine Litter and Transnational Cooperation in PREVENT
George Triantafyllidis	CEO, MINDS Technologies & Environmental Sciences PC Technologies for marine litter detection, collection and prevention: Experiences from the INSPIRE and CLAIM Projects
Marilou Suc	Co-founder & Chief of Ecosystem, Recycllux From Data to Impact: Leveraging AI, Earth Observation and Blockchain to Build Scalable Marine Litter Management Systems

16 May 2026 | ΜC3.2 Hall

10:30 - 11:30	Parallel Session BIOMAR. Innovative bream and bass nutrition for sustainable performance and robustness SmartCare Defence: Strengthening Sea bass immunity
Ioannis Karakostas	Technical Director EMEA, BIOMAR
Vasilis Karalazos	Principal Scientist, Global R&D, BIOMAR