Category Archives: News

Programme on sustainable aquaculture practices for young women from the Mediterranean and the Black Sea

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is organising the third edition of the programme on sustainable aquaculture practices for young women from the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, scheduled for September 8–15, 2024, in Spain. The first two editions of the programme were successfully held in Tunisia in 2022 and in Greece in 2023.

This activity is the result of the collaboration between the GFCM, the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), and APROMAR (Asociación Empresarial de Acuicultura de España), aiming to help young women from the Mediterranean and the Black Sea region learn about the newest developments in aquaculture and gain practical experience with some of the best aquaculture practices in Spain.

The activity will feature theoretical sessions held by aquaculture specialists from the area in order to build a foundation of best practices, emphasize the significance of women’s participation in the sector, discuss achievements and demonstrate the GFCM strategy for the sustainable development of aquaculture, as well as field visits in Spain to highlight Mediterranean aquaculture and various environments, species and production systems.

In order to register for the participation in the programme on sustainable aquaculture practices, access the link below:

https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/d7e0d202e44049f0a2ec67861523584b?portalUrl=https://www.arcgis.com

EUMOFA Study on the Challenges of Aquaculture Products in Food Outlets

The European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA) has published the Study on the challenges of aquaculture products in food outlets, which was conducted following a request from the Market Advisory Council (MAC).

Several challenges have been identified for the farming sector to increase sales in the EU:

• Difficulties in increasing the volume of production
• Adaptation to climate change and scarcity of the resources
• Increased production costs
• Production and consumption seasonality
• Higher logistical costs out of the main flows (rural areas)
• Strong competition on the market, with an importance of price
• Low level of organisation in the sector
• Variable capacity for material and immaterial investments
• Presence of fishmongers and fish counters to offer a diversity of products
• Consumer preferences for wild caught products, but this is a side criterion

Find out more at https://eumofa.eu/documents/20124/115068/Aquaculture+outlets+study+_final.pdf/5aa4920a-525b-6ad8-bbe9-cf32d8f25be6?t=1718282885395.

Good Practice: Eco-Ark, Singapore

Eco-Ark is a closed-containment floating farm installed in October 2019, producing almost 100 tonnes of barramundi (Asian sea bass), grouper and red snapper a year. 

More information available at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-insider/leave-aquaculture-norwegians-singaporean-was-told-food-security-fish-farming-2591951

FAO. 2024. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024. Blue Transformation in action

FAO’s 2024 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, devoted to “Blue Transformation in action”, was published.

The report analyses the status, trends and projections of global fisheries and aquaculture, providing up-to-date and evidence-based information, supporting policy, scientific and technical insights on challenges, opportunities and innovations shaping the present and future of the sector.

According to the report, in 2022, global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record high of 223.2 million tonnes. With 94.4 million tonnes, or 51% of the global total and a record 57% of the production destined for human consumption, aquaculture has surpassed for the fist time capture fisheries in the production of aquatic animals. Out of the total farmed aquatic animals, 62.6% came from inland aquaculture, and 37.4% from marine and coastal aquaculture. By 2032, it is anticipated that the production of aquatic animals would rise by 10%.

The report is available at the link below:

https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a4151f1e-3130-4504-a7d7-4b066de59030/content

Seaweed farming – a sustainable income alternative for fishers

Joint Call: New Aquaculture Opportunities with AQUAEXCEL3.0 and EMBRC

AQUAEXCEL3.0 and EMBRC (European Marine Biological Resource Centre) have launched a joint call dedicated to EU and Associated States’ researchers. The call offers access to 40 research infrastructures, with experimental costs, travel and subsistence covered by AQUAEXCEL3.0.

Applicants can propose aquaculture research projects that:

• involve research on any AQUAEXCEL3.0 target species (includes fish, shellfish and macroalgae species) at one of the available aquaculture research infrastructures;
• are aligned with the EATiP Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda;
• involve a visit of one or two people to one of the 40 research infrastructures that offers installations not available in their own country, for a period of up to three months.

Researchers are able to submit project proposals until the project ends in October 2025 or when all the available funding has been allocated.

Find out more at: https://aquaexcel.eu/transnational-access/

Good Practice: Riverence, USA

Riverence is a land-based farm in the USA, sustainable producer of elite pedigree salmon & trout eggs, as well as gourmet trout fillets & smokehouse products. The eggs are raised in Washington State in state-of-the-art RAS facilities and are then transported to the company’s grow-out farms, located along the Snake River in Idaho’s Magic Valley. 

Find out more at: https://riverence.com/index.html

Aquaculture Congress 2024

The third edition of the Aquaculture Congress 2024, themed “Defining a Resilient Future“, will take place on 28-29 June 2024, in Athens, Greece. The event is organized by AMBIO S.A. with the support of the Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Organization.

Key objectives of the Congress include addressing investment challenges, promoting sustainable practices to mitigate the effects of climate change, strengthening competitiveness, encouraging innovation through advanced technologies, developing new products, investigating global demand projections for aquaculture products, and fostering international cooperation and partnerships.

You can attend the event in person or online. Registration is free at https://aquaculture-congress.com/en/registration-en/, on a first-come, first-served basis.

For further information, please access the link below:

https://aquaculture-congress.com/en/home-en/

4th Edition of the World Aquaculture and Fisheries Conference (WAC 2024)

The 4th Edition of the World Aquaculture and Fisheries Conference (WAC 2024) will take place between 24-26 June 2024, in a hybrid format (in Paris, France as well as online).

The event aims to amplify awareness and support for small-scale and artisanal fisheries, emphasizing their pivotal role in global sustainable development.

Researchers, scientists, academicians, marine biologists, aquaculturists, fish care experts, and industry representatives from around the world are expected to attend the conference, which will feature keynote speeches from thought leaders, tech presentations by industry professionals, oral presentations, poster sessions and panel discussions.

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

Seagriculture EU 2024

The Seagriculture EU 2024 event, themed “Bridging Continents”, will take place during 18 – 20 Jun 2024, in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark.

The event will open with a site visit to Ocean Rainforest, which consists of a full day trip that will take place on 18th June.

Participants will explore the global landscape of seaweed cultivation, harvesting, and innovation, learning from the experiences and perspectives of experts and enthusiasts from various countries and continents. 

The previous edition of the event was held last year in Norway, with a record attendance of 221 delegates from 26 countries.

More information and registration are available at the following address:

https://seagriculture.eu/