“It is better to sell a smaller quantity at a high kilo price than to produce in large quantity at a low kilo price,” said Basil Sudborough, product director.

Selonda is Greece’s second-largest aquaculture company. In 1994, it was the first aquaculture company to be listed on a European stock exchange.

Until now, the industry has been production-driven, but should think more about what the market wants to get better prices, Sudborough said.

It's widely accepted Southern Europeans eat more seafood per capita than people in Northern Europe.

“Experience shows that we get the best returns on marketing directed at groups that already eat bass and bream," Sudborough said. "They are open-minded towards including more of the fish in their diet. It would take a great deal more marketing to capture new consumer groups, even if they eventually lean in that direction.”

Greek fish farmers export 80 percent of their production.

Greece’s biggest export market, Italy, appears to be saturated, but United Kingdom small-volume bass and bream consumption increased 100 percent last year.

Sudborough believes U.S. niche markets for Mediterranean ex-patriots should be targeted.

Export volumes are also improving in parts of Northern European markets such as Germany, where the public is more accustomed to skinned and boneless fillets.In Southern Europe the preference is clearly for bream, with the exception of Italy, while in Northern Europe the fish’s round shape is considered too exotic.

Slow growth rates make bass and bream fillets costly as fish are harvested at a half-kilo or less. By comparison, the average salmon weight is three to five kilos, making the job easier for the processing industry.

Some U.K. supermarkets sell 300-gram packs of pan-ready, vacuum-packed, skinned, boneless fillet sides with spiced butter.

Selonda warns against sea bass and bream overproduction