The Organic Aquaculture Sector In Italy: A Delphi Evaluation Of The Market Potentialities

The paper draws out the possibilities of development and increase of organic farmed fish in Italy, evaluating both technical and economic aspects, for breeding, market, political, regulatory and environmental issues. The survey has been conducted using a well-known foresight methodology, the Delphi technique, with a panel of national experts. The analysis offers interesting insights and useful suggestions addressed to the organic aquaculture sector. Authors chose Delphi methodology according to the paper’s objective: the study is in fact aimed at exploring the evolution dynamics (positive or absent) for a less-developed market like the one of the Italian organic fish. This method allows to create a forecast by collecting and evaluating experts’ opinions about the organic fish market; these experts are divided in homogeneous groups and selected as privileged observers of the phenomenon. Expert panel suggestions are worthy of consideration as a contribution to improve and to subsidize organic aquaculture, that may be further sustained by scientific research and technologic innovation