The Cooperative
The Agricultural Fisheries Cooperative of Etoliko "Profitis Ilias" was established in 2006 with its headquarters in Etoliko of the Municipality of Messolonghi of the Prefecture of Aitoloakarnania and is governed by the provisions of Law No. 4673/2020. The cooperative is registered in the National Register of Agricultural Cooperatives and other collective bodies under the number AM 0701030. It is governed by a five-member Board of Directors and a General Assembly. Its members are professional fishermen who live and work in the Municipality of Messolonghi. The cooperative is a member of the Association of Fishing Cooperatives of Greek Lagoons.
The main purpose of the cooperative is the leasing and exploitation of the fish farms of the lagoons directed by the Public Sector, the marketing of fish and the development of fishing tourism activities.
Until today since 2010 the cooperative leases and exploitation the Tholi lagoon which belongs to the Messolonghi-Etoliko Lagoon Complex. In 2012 it achieved the direct releasing of the lagoon due to good exploitation according to the Direct Lease Decision no. 299455/2637/18-12-2012 and its appendix no. 6916/340/9-1-2013, while this contract with the protocol number 331054/39538/10-12-2015 Decision (ΑΔΑ: ΒΜΒΞ7Λ6-ΕΞΠ) was extended until 28-2-2023, due to the implementation of an investment project that was integrated and implemented under the framework of the Operational Programme for Fisheries 2007-2013.
During the years in which the cooperative operates it has implemented and participated in investment and researching programs with the purpose of the modernization of the fishing facilities and the improvement and rationalizations of the fishing management.
According to the evaluation expositions of the exploitation compiled by the competent Fisheries Services of the Region of Western Greece, the exploitation which the cooperative exercises has been characterized as successful.