Severe weather on Wednesday tore through aquaculture facilities off Liopetri, releasing vast numbers of farmed sea bass and bream into open waters.

The fisheries department confirmed that strong storms damaged fish farming equipment, allowing large quantities of stock to escape.

Officials said the full scale of the losses remains unclear as producers continue to assess the damage.

“Each unit holds millions of fish, which makes calculating the exact losses extremely difficult,” an official said.

The incident follows a recurring pattern, with storms repeatedly causing damage to offshore farms in recent years.

Each event typically draws increased fishing activity along the Liopetri coastline and around Vasiliko, where the island’s largest aquaculture farms are based.

Authorities warned that the sudden influx of farmed fish into open waters could intensify pressure from recreational fishing and urged the public to comply strictly with regulations.

“We call on fishermen to respect size limits and existing measures,” the department pleaded, stressing the need to protect stock sustainability.

Under current rules, sea bass must measure at least 25 centimetres to be legally caught, while sea bream must reach a minimum of 20 centimetres.

Both species are among the most sought after by local anglers.

Producers are expected to submit detailed reports in the coming days as assessments continue, while officials monitor the situation at sea.