Category Archives: News

Underwater WiFi and aquaponic farms

EU Recommendations and Good Practices for Sustainable Aquaculture

In order to promote sustainable aquaculture in the EU, the European Commission has released three new staff working documents. Three key topics are covered in the documents:

1. Access to space and water for freshwater and land-based aquaculture;
2. Climate-change adaptation in the EU aquaculture sector;
3. Energy transition in the EU aquaculture sector.

The first Staff Working Document (available at Access to space and water for freshwater and land-based aquaculture), which complements the previous Commission publication from April 2024 on planning access to space and water for marine aquaculture, focuses on the challenges facing inland aquaculture, particularly access to space and water.

The purpose of the second Staff Working Document (available at Climate-change adaptation in the EU aquaculture sector) is to support Member States and the aquaculture sector in creating Climate Adaptation Plans for aquaculture, explaining how aquaculture in the EU is being impacted by climate change and providing guidance on developing plans for climate adaptation. The document also includes examples of good practices for several climate adaptation measures.

The third Staff Working Document (available at Energy transition in the EU aquaculture sector) outlines the main energy use in the aquaculture sector along with recommendations for decarbonization. The publication takes a practical approach, listing good practices and highlighting EU-funded projects actively involved in the decarbonisation of aquaculture.

Good Practice: Nordic SeaFarm, Sweden

Nordic SeaFarm, Sweden is one of Europe’s leading producers of fair-grown seaweed, cultivating Sugar Kelp, Sea Lettuce and oarweed.

Find out more at: https://www.nordicseafarm.com/

“The EU Fish Market” 2024 Edition

The European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA) has published the 2024 edition of the report “The EU fish market”, based on data available as of November 2024.

The goal of the report is to provide an economic overview of the European aquaculture and fisheries sector. It provides answers to questions about what is produced, exported or imported, as well as when and where, what is consumed, by whom, and the main trends.

The publication is available at https://eumofa.eu/documents/20124/145239/EFM2024_EN.pdf/bd21aeb4-4a3e-3f6e-9f3f-b386fcb0a6ec?t=1733150606293.

FAMENET Report on the benefits of EMFF CLLD in coastal communities

The Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) has published a FAMENET report on the benefits of EMFF CLLD in coastal communities.

Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) is a bottom-up, participative approach to fostering sustainable development through projects selected at local level to address local needs. CLLD was funded under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF, 2014-2020) for the second programming period in fisheries and aquaculture areas.

The report, the first of a series of studies on fisheries CLLD undertaken by FAMENET, presents data reported by EMFF Managing Authorities in Infosys1 and information provided by 149 FLAGs through a survey on their achievements under the EMFF, as well as information provided by newly established 2021-2027 FLAGs (under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, EMFAF).

The report is available at https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/publications/what-does-clld-bring-coastal-and-fisheries-communities-around-europe_en.

EUMOFA Monthly Highlights – Emerging species in EU aquaculture

The edition no. 8/2024 of EUMOFA’s Monthly Highlights features a case study on Emerging species in EU aquaculture. The case study focuses on sole, African catfish, shrimp, yellowtail amberjack, meagre, red porgy, pikeperch, northern pike and seaweed, analysing the aquaculture production in the EU, drivers, barriers and the market.

The Monthly Highlights edition no. 8/2024 is available at the link below:

https://eumofa.eu/documents/20124/139071/MH+8+2024_Final.pdf/df573057-0c64-f35e-f8da-8c38a4bb6dd0?t=1730190881557

Workshops-Navigating the Energy Transition: Strategic Goals for a Resilient and Sustainable Fisheries Fleet

The European Commission’s (DG MARE) EU Fisheries and Aquaculture Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) is organising a workshop series, “Navigating the Energy Transition: Strategic Goals for a Resilient and Sustainable Fisheries Fleet”. The hybrid event will feature 3 workshops, which will be held both online and in Brussels on December 11–12, 2024.

The event will reunite industry experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss resilient operations, sustainable practices, and innovative ways to achieve energy efficiency in the fisheries sector.

Each workshop will explore methods for achieving energy transition objectives in one of the three main fleet segments: Small-Scale Coastal Fisheries, Large-Scale Fisheries and Distant Waters Fleet.

Further details and registration link can be found at the address below:

https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/events/navigating-energy-transition-strategic-goals-resilient-sustainable-small-scale-coastal-fisheries-2024-12-11_en

Symposium – Using Algae for Sustainable Squaculture

The Research and Development Institute for Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries and Aquaculture Galati is organising the Symposium Using Algae for Sustainable Squaculture, which will take place on December 11, 2024, at 10:00 (Romanian time).

The event will have a hybrid format, featuring both in-person (at the “Media” Hall of the Research and Development Institute for Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries and Aquaculture Galati) and online presentations, in Romanian.

The deadline for submitting materials is November 27, 2024.

Find out more about the event at: https://asas-icdeapa.ro/simpozion-utilizarea-algelor-pentru-o-acvacultura-durabila/

AlgaEurope 2024

AlgaEurope 2024, organised by EABA – European Algae Biomass Association and DLG Benelux, will take place in Athens, Greece, from 10 to 13 December. The event is an opportunity to engage with more than 400 key players from over 45 countries and gain a comprehensive understanding of algae production and commercialization.

The target groups for AlgaEurope are:

• Algae Technology Developers / Suppliers;
• Algae producers & cultivation plant owners and operators;
• Venture capitalists and financial investors for biotechnology;
• Food industries;
• Biofuels Network, Animal Feed Companies;
• Nutraceuticals/Pharmaceutical Companies, Fertilizer suppliers;
• Water Treatment & Waste Water Professionals;
• Technology providers for cultivation, harvesting, dewatering, drying, oil extraction, and processing.

Find out more at: https://algaeurope.org/

Good Practice: Mt Cook Alpine Salmon, New Zealand

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon produces Freshwater King Salmon grown in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, under environmentally sustainable farming practices across four farms. 

Find out more at: https://alpinesalmon.co.nz/