PROGRAMME

For more than 20 years, the European Wild Rabbit (WR) (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) is considered a pest in Lemnos island, Greece, due to significant crop damage. Authorities took insufficient actions to control WR overpopulation, resulting only in managing its effect on crop losses with farmers’ compensation. The current study aims to redefine the WR problem in Lemnos by transforming the WR population to a local commodity, where hunting could supply the local market (restaurants and butcheries) with WR products. Semi-structured qualitative interviews from local stakeholders were analyzed using content analysis, to identify their priorities on the WR problem. Additionally, relative local press articles (2016–2021) were recorded and analyzed qualitatively. Furthermore, European and National legal framework was studied to understand the implementation of hunting and selling procedures of WR in local markets. The main events’ timeline of the WR overpopulation problem was identified and the stakeholders’ key points were combined to create a viable solution. These highlights include the affected areas of interest, hunting processes, and local interest in the supply and demand of WR consumption. The national legislation on hunting and selling of WR at the local market was identified, and its activation is proposed for turning the WR into a sustainable product of local gastronomy. The present research and the APC were funded by EPAnEk-NRSF 2014-2020; Operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Call 111 “Support of Regional Excellence” in the context of the implementation of the program: AGRICA II: AGrifood Research and Innovation Network of ExCellence of the Aegean, which is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), MIS code: 5046750.