Category Archives: News

Good Practice: KOA Biotech, Spain

KOA Biotech, a Barcelona-based startup specializing in aquaculture health, has raised €2 million in funding to scale its early pathogen detection technology. The investment round was led by Swanlaab Innvierte Agrifood-Tech, with participation from international impact investors Fund-F (Austria) and FABER (Portugal).

Founded by Sira Mogas during her PhD in biomedicine, KOA Biotech was born from her ambition to create a mission-driven company that addressed a real-world need. Though she initially had no background in aquaculture, Mogas recognized a major challenge in the industry: bacterial infections in fish farms, which result in up to 30% production losses worldwide—amounting to more than $6 billion annually.

At the heart of KOA’s solution are genetically engineered biosensors that detect bacterial infections in water before they cause outbreaks. These proprietary sensors work alongside hardware readers and machine learning algorithms that analyze response patterns to deliver early warnings. This proactive approach helps reduce fish mortality, limit antibiotic use, and prevent financial losses—while also enhancing sustainability and enabling real-time health monitoring.

KOA delivers its technology through a “Sensing as a Service” model, offering equipment and consumables on a subscription basis, along with cloud-based access to monitoring data.

Financing Opportunity – Digital Technologies and Energy Transition in Fisheries and/or Aquaculture

Programme: Horizon Europe (HORIZON)

Call: Supporting the implementation of the Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission (HORIZON-MISS-2025-03)

Type of action: HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions

Deadline dates: 24 September 2025 17:00:00 Brussels time

Legal entities from Greece, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine, among other countries, are eligible applicants.

The maximum Horizon Europe funding rate for Innovation action is 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of up to 100% applies).

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Energy efficiency is enhanced and CO₂ emissions are reduced in fisheries and/or aquaculture, without harming the ecosystem and biodiversity;
• Measurable reduction in energy use and the costs associated with energy-intensive operations in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, increasing resilience and leading to improved economic sustainability and operational safety;  
• Wider adoption and application of digital solutions, including artificial intelligence and data analytics, for efficient energy management and decision-making in the fisheries and aquaculture industries;
• Improved understanding of technical, social, legal, regulatory and policy barriers to the uptake of digital solutions for a sustainable energy transition of the sector;
• Establishment of best practices for enhanced fisheries and/or aquaculture management and contribution to the development of standard;
• Enhanced digital and energy efficiency related skills.

The scope of this topic includes all possible edible aquatic organisms with preference for low-trophic species which, in the frame of this topic, are photosynthetic or herbivorous or un-fed species. There is also preference for fish farming that relies on feed ingredients low in fish meal and oil and/or produced in the region where the farm is situated or in neighbouring to the farm regions, as well as feed ingredients derived from circular practices, such as, the use of wastes or by-products.

Projects under this topic will demonstrate how digital technologies can address the need to reduce energy consumption and associated economic and environmental costs in European fisheries and/or aquaculture and provide real-time, accurate, and actionable data and information to reduce energy use. This can include the use of advanced (remote) sensing technologies and monitoring devices, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, data-driven approaches and data analytics, robotics and automation. 

Each proposal should identify explicitly the basin being addressed, i.e.: 1. Atlantic and Arctic sea basin or 2. Mediterranean Sea basin or 3. Baltic and North Sea basin or 4. Danube River basin (including its delta and the Black Sea). Only one basin per proposal should be addressed. Activities should be tailored to address regional/sea basin specificities.

Projects should carry out demonstration activities, proving in real conditions, the operational feasibility and economic viability of digital solutions to enhance energy efficiency in operation at sea (including fishing, farming, offshore aquaculture, onboard processing, vessel operations) or inland aquaculture production and in relation to infrastructure requirements. Projects should provide evidence that these solutions do not harm ecosystems and biodiversity and can contribute to a better treatment of animals.

The consortium must carry out demonstration activities in at least 3 different countries of the basin addressed by the proposal (i.e. one of the following basins: 1. Atlantic and Arctic sea basin, 2. Mediterranean Sea basin, 3. Baltic and North Sea basin, 4. Danube River basin, including Black Sea, involving and including as beneficiaries, legal entities established in these respective countries. 

Demonstration activities are expected to focus on relevant segments of the value chain and address different types of fisheries/aquacultures. Similarly, fishing operations, encompassing activities from route optimisation to catch handling, also present significant opportunities for energy efficiency improvements. 

More information available at:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-miss-2025-03-ocean-03?order=DESC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate&keywords=aquaculture&isExactMatch=false

Financing Opportunity – Diversifying Aquaculture Production with Emphasis on Low-trophic Species

Programme: HORIZON

Call: Cluster 6 Call 02 – single stage (HORIZON-CL6-2025-02)

Type of action: HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions

Deadline dates: 16 September 2025 17:00:00 Brussels time

Legal entities from Greece, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine, among other countries, are eligible applicants.

The maximum Horizon Europe funding rate for Innovation action is 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of up to 100% applies).

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• consumers have access to a variety of edible aquatic species produced in the EU and in Horizon Europe Associated Countries;
• aquaculture industry has access to new and improved technologies to enhance the competitiveness and profitability of the sector;
• reduced environmental impact of the sector, becoming resilient and climate-adaptive and contributing to climate change mitigation;
• increased information available to consumers to enhance their literacy in relation to the nutritional and environmental benefits of food produced in aquatic ecosystems;
• economic growth and creation of jobs in coastal and rural areas.

The scope of this topic includes all possible edible aquatic organisms with preference for low-trophic species which, in the frame of this topic, are photosynthetic or herbivorous or un-fed species. There is also preference for fish farming that relies on feed ingredients low in fish meal and oil and/or produced in the region where the farm is situated or in neighbouring to the farm regions, as well as feed ingredients derived from circular practices, such as, the use of wastes or by-products.

Topic proposals under this destination should set out credible paths to “ensuring healthy food and nutrition security by making agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and food systems sustainable, resilient, inclusive and within planetary boundaries”. More specifically, proposed topics should contribute to one or more of the following impacts:

• Agri-food systems contribute to the EU strategic autonomy by fostering food and nutrition security practices and safeguarding long-term sustainability with multi-disciplinary approaches including One Health.
• Farmers and relevant actors in agricultural primary sector are enabled to manage sustainable, efficient, profitable, circular, low greenhouse gas-emitting farming systems contributing to climate-neutrality and climate-resilience. This will be achieved by new knowledge, innovation and the upscaling and replication of existing and new sustainable farming approaches, including organic farming, while making farming a professionally attractive and remunerative life choice.
• Sustainable and resource efficient farming practices contribute to ecosystems´ health, and their related ecosystem services, while minimising pollution, including in surface and groundwaters and the marine environment, and restoring and protecting biodiversity.
• Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture (including organic aquaculture) contribute to fair, healthy, resilient and environment-friendly food systems, promote low-impact and diverse aquatic food production. Healthy aquatic ecosystems with thriving diversity of species and habitats provide ecosystem and climate services for safe and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture and use of coastal zones for leisure activities, thus triggering growth and jobs’ creation in coastal, and rural areas. Technological knowledge on the elimination of negative impacts of fishing and aquaculture is improved, in particular through the creation of innovative, more selective, energy and resource efficient and environmentally sustainable techniques.
• The just transition to overall sustainable, healthy and inclusive food systems is consistently developed. Analysis of existing barriers and enablers to change allows to design effective leverages to steer the sustainability transition. Co-benefits for climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental sustainability and circularity, sustainable healthy diets, malnutrition and hunger reduction are delivered.
• Food environments are transformed so that citizens and communities are empowered to move towards healthy, affordable and sustainable diets; food businesses can flourish; food processing industries’ competitiveness is improved, while ensuring sustainability; food safety and food sovereignty as well as human health is preserved and food waste is reduced.

More information available at:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-cl6-2025-02-farm2fork-10?order=DESC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate&keywords=aquaculture&isExactMatch=false

The Aqua Nor Conference 2025

The 2025 edition of the Aqua Nor Conference, organised by Nor-Fishing Foundation, will take place on 19 – 21 Aug 2025, in Trondheim, Norway.

Aqua Nor has served as a key international gathering for the aquaculture industry since 1979. Today, it stands as the world’s largest exhibition dedicated to aquaculture technology. The event showcases technologies, processes, and services related to the farming of salmon, marine species, mollusks, and more. Leading aquaculture nations participate in Aqua Nor, whether as exhibitors, visitors, or part of official delegations.

The conference will consists of three parts, each each of them focusing on engaging discussions and key topics: The global picture; Technology and innovation; Limiting factors for growth.

Registration and further details are available on the website of the event: Aqua Nor

Financing Opportunity – Romania (Investments in Aquaculture) – Deadline Extended

The General Department for Fisheries – Managing Authority for the Operational Programme for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs (Romania) has extended the deadline for the second session for submitting applications under the Aquaculture and Fisheries Programme 2021-2027, Priority 2: Fostering sustainable aquaculture activities and processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products, thus contributing to food security in the Union, Specific objective 2.1. – Promoting sustainable aquaculture activities, especially strengthening the competitiveness of aquaculture production, while ensuring that the activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term, Action 2.1.1 – Investments in Aquaculture.

The new deadline for submission is 10.08.2025, 12.00.

More information regarding the call is available in the article linked below:

Status and Trends of Inland Fisheries in Europe

Status and trends of inland fisheries in Europe is an EIFAAC (European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission) occasional paper describing the status of inland fisheries in the European region and its sub-regions, based on information and data drawn from statistics reported to FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) as well as additional national sources.

Greece, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine are among the countries featured in the paper, which is available at the following link: https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/6a8efe0e-9de0-4e45-b38b-c121c0ad1284/content

International Marine Biotechnology Conference (IMBC)

The International Marine Biotechnology Association (IMBA) and the Marine Biotechnology journal are organising The International Marine Biotechnology Conference (IMBC), which will take place in Brest, France, on 07 – 11 July 2025.

The International Marine Biotechnology Conference (IMBC) has served as the premier global forum for marine biotechnology ever since 1989, uniting experts and leaders from around the world. Its goal is to enable knowledge sharing and collaboration among students, researchers, technologists, policymakers and industry stakeholders. The 2025 edition will explore a wide range of topics, including marine pharmacology and bioenergy. Aquaculture will be a key area of focus, with dedicated sessions such as “Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Aquaculture,” “Disease and Immunology in Aquaculture,” and “Novel Foods from the Ocean.”

Find out more at: IUEM

Farmers of the water – Education toolkit for the Blue Transformation of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea

The publication Farmers of the water – Education toolkit for the Blue Transformation of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, prepared by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is intended to guide educators and students across the Mediterranean and Black Sea on an exploration of the aquaculture sector in their respective regions.

This educational toolkit, consisting of three units for teachers, students ages 5–12 and students ages 13–18, emphasizes the environmental, social and economic benefits of farmed aquatic food systems through enjoyable, collaborative, and critical thinking-focused activities. By completing the activities in the toolkit, students will participate in aquaculture’s Blue Transformation and learn how they may suppor stustainable and resilient farmed aquatic food systems.

Financing Opportunity for Aquaculture Products Processing – Romania

The General Department for Fisheries – Managing Authority for the Operational Programme for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs (Romania) has launched a new session for submitting applications under the Aquaculture and Fisheries Programme 2021-2027, Priority 2: Fostering sustainable aquaculture activities and processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products, thus contributing to food security in the Union, Specific objective 2.2. – Promoting marketing, quality and added value of fishery and aquaculture products, as well as processing of those products, Action 2.2.1 – Processing of Fishery and Aquaculture Products.

Deadline for submission: 11.07.2025, 12:00.

Total financial allocation for this call: 19.890.720,34 lei , equivalent to 3.930.351 euros.

Maximum eligible value for one project is 7.591.200,00 lei (equivalent to 1.500.000,00 euros.

Applications will be submitted in the electronic application MySMIS2021. Call code: PAP/635/PAP_P2/OP2/OS2.2/PAP_A13

The applicant has to comply to the eligibility and conformity requirements mentioned in the Applicants Guide for this action. The Applicants Guide can be found on the General Department for Fisheries – Managing Authority for the Operational Programme for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs (Romania) site, at http://www.ampeste.ro/pap-2021-2027/ghidul-solicitantului-popam/ghidul-solicitantului-aprobat.html.

Financing Opportunity – Romania (Investments in Aquaculture)

The General Department for Fisheries – Managing Authority for the Operational Programme for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs (Romania) has launched a new session for submitting applications under the Aquaculture and Fisheries Programme 2021-2027, Priority 2: Fostering sustainable aquaculture activities and processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products, thus contributing to food security in the Union, Specific objective 2.1. – Promoting sustainable aquaculture activities, especially strengthening the competitiveness of aquaculture production, while ensuring that the activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term, Action 2.1.1 – Investments in Aquaculture.

Deadline for submission: 11.07.2025, 12:00.

Total financial allocation for this call: 248.836.565,31 lei, equivalent to 49.169.413 euros.

Maximum eligible value for one project is 30.364.800,00 lei (equivalent to 6,000,000.00 euros.

Applications will be submitted in the electronic application MySMIS2021. Call code: PAP/636/PAP_P2/OP2

The applicant has to comply to the eligibility and conformity requirements mentioned in the Applicants Guide for this action. The Applicants Guide can be found on the General Department for Fisheries – Managing Authority for the Operational Programme for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs (Romania) site, at http://www.ampeste.ro/pap-2021-2027/ghidul-solicitantului-popam/ghidul-solicitantului-aprobat.html