News

European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet)

On the 25th of January 2023, the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), supported by the European Commission, launched its fully unified marine data service, integrating all the data into one single portal.

More than 120 organisations involved in EMODnet have been working together for more than a decade, gathering observations and marine data from various sources and processing them according to international standards, in order to make them available for free.

The portal will be useful to all marine data users, including policy makers, researchers, scientists, private industry and anyone interested, allowing them to access data with a searchable unified catalogue. Fast access to reliable and accurate data and information is extremely important in addressing threats to the marine environment, in the development of policies and legislation to protect vulnerable areas of our coasts and oceans, in understanding trends and in forecasting future changes.

You can access the new portal at the link below:

https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en

Blue Bioeconomy Report – Third Edition

EUMOFA (European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products) has published the third edition of the study “Blue bioeconomy report”.

The third edition aims to provide an updated overview of the European Union’s blue bioeconomy sector focusing on micro- and macroalgae cultivation systems, examination of potential of seaweed as blue carbon and of the sargassum seaweed, as well as on whether seaweed farming can transform regional economies.

The study is available at the following link: https://www.eumofa.eu/documents/20178/84590/blue+bioeconomy+report+2022+final.pdf/eb889d94-74a6-2c15-e136-4d2204118c6a?t=1673441855108

Workshop – Effects of Dissolved Oxygen on Salmon Farming

On February 8th, 2023, during 12:00-15:30, the workshop Effects of dissolved oxygen on salmon farmingwill take place. The event is a part of the NoviFEED project (Novel tools for intelligent feeding management in Atlantic salmon and meagre farming) and aims to promote the transfer of knowledge between the salmon industry and academia on the effects of dissolved oxygen on salmon farming.

The workshop will cover the impact of dissolved oxygen and other environmental factors on fish behavior, nutrient requirements and feed formulation, the importance of measuring oxygen and other variables for production management.

Professionals from the aquaculture and aquafeed sectors, including from fish farming companies, aquafeed companies and researchers are invited to attend the workshop at IMR Bergen (Norway) or online.

In order to register, please access the following link: https://mform.imr.no/view.php?id=189230

Video Recording of Online EUMOFA Talk “Cost of Raw Materials for Fish Processing and Aquaculture”

On 15 December 2022, The European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA) held the online Talk “Cost of raw materials for fish processing and aquaculture”.

The event focused on the current trends of increasing costs of raw materials, especially on fish processing and aquaculture.

The video recording of the online Talk is available below:

GOOD PRACTICE: Future of Fish Feed (F3)

Future of Fish Feed (F3) is a collaborative effort between NGOs, researchers, and private partnerships to accelerate the commercialization of innovative, substitute aquaculture feed ingredients to replace wild-caught fish. The F3 Challenge is a series of contests designed to help accelerate “fish-free” ingredients for aquaculture feed that produce healthy seafood for consumers without utilizing wild ocean fish like anchovies, sardines and menhaden.

F3 CHALLENGES:

1. Fish-Free Feed Challenge – launched in 2015 

The challenge was for an aquafeed company to either produce and sell the most seafood-free aquaculture feed using innovative formulations of proteins and lipids by the challenge end date, September 15, 2017, or be the first to reach 100,000 metric tons (mT) of seafood-free feed sales.

TOTAL FORAGE FISH SAVINGS FROM THE F3 FISH-FREE FEEDS CHALLENGE: 350 MILLION

2. Fish Oil Challenge – launched in 2017

The challenge aimed to find fish oil replacements that contain essential fatty acids in ratios that mimic the average fatty acid profile found in forage fish. The prize was for the team that sold the greatest amount of DHA + EPA + ARA as calculated from sales of qualified F3 Oil by the end of the Challenge (2019).  

TOTAL FORAGE FISH SAVINGS FROM THE F3 FISH OIL CHALLENGE: 2 BILLION

3. Carnivore Edition – launched in 2019

The challenge was to create a Fish-Free Feed for one of three categories: Salmonid, Shrimp, or Other Carnivorous Species. The goal of this challenge was to reduce aquaculture’s demand for forage fish by advancing substitute feeds for the industry’s biggest consumers of forage fish.
The prize was awarded to the team that sold the greatest amount of F3 Feeds in their category (Salmonid F3 Feeds; Shrimp F3 Feeds; Other Carnivorous Species F3 Feeds) at the conclusion of the Challenge sales period (September 15, 2022).

TOTAL FORAGE FISH SAVINGS FROM THE F3 CARNIVORE EDITION CHALLENGE: OVER 95 MILLION

The next F3 Challenge focused on palatants will be announced in early 2023.

Find out more at f3challenge.org. 

You can also check out the F3 webinar series in the playlist below:

European Aquaculture: Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation – Advice to the Aquaculture Advisory Council (Report)

The EU is a major food producer and exporter but does rely on imports of feed protein for animal and fish livestock alike. Climate change, caused by largely anthropogenic-driven global warming, is already demonstrating its potential to challenge existing food production systems in the EU that are already being impacted by geo-political turbulence.

The report European Aquaculture: Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation – Advice to the Aquaculture Advisory Council, produced by Poseidon Aquatic Resources Management Europe Ltd with financial support from the Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC) and the European Commission, examines the potential solutions for adapting to – and mitigating against – the impact of climate change on EU aquaculture as well as the resilience of aquaculture to climate change compared to equivalent terrestrial food production systems. 
The report concludes with a series of recommendations aimed at the Commission and to aquaculture stakeholders across the EU. 

The document is available below:

EUMOFA Report: The EU Fish Market – 2022 Edition

The European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA) published the 2022 edition of the report “The EU fish market”, which aims to provide an economic description of the wholeEuropean fisheries and aquaculture industry.

The report is based on data available as of August 2022 and it provides answers to questions such as what is produced/exported/imported, when and where, what is consumed, by whom and what are the main trends. A comparative analysis allows to assess the performance of fishery and aquaculture products in the EU market compared with other food products. 

The publication is available at the link below:

https://www.eumofa.eu/documents/20178/521182/EFM2022_EN.pdf

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027 Programme for Greece

The European Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) programme for Greece, to implement the EU common fisheries policy (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal.

The total financial allocation for the Greek programme 2021-2027 is €519.6 million over the next six years, of which the EU contribution accounts for €363.7 million.

57% of the programme’s allocation will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries, 25% will be invested in sustainable aquaculture and in processing and marketing, 13% will be dedicated to sustainable blue economy in coastal, island and internal regions and 2% will be invested in the strengthening of international ocean governance.

The programme in Greek and a summary of the programme in English can be found below:

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027 Programme for Romania

The European Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) programme for Romania, to implement the EU common fisheries policy (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal.

The total financial allocation for the Romanian Programme 2021-2027 is €232 million over the next six years, of which the EU contribution accounts for €162.4 million.

The fund will promote the sustainable growth of Romanian aquaculture and fishing sector. 24% of the Union contribution will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries, 47% will be invested in sustainable aquaculture and in processing and marketing and 23% will be dedicated to sustainable blue economy in coastal, island and internal regions.

The programme in Romanian and a summary of the programme in English can be found below:

EUMOFA Talk – Cost of Raw Materials for Fish Processing and Aquaculture

EUMOFA (European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products) is organizing an EUMOFA Talk with the topic Cost of raw materials for fish processing and aquaculture, which will be held on December 15 2022 (14:00 – 15:30 CET), online. 

The event will be held in English and it will discuss current trends of increasing costs of raw materials, with a special focus on fish processing and aquaculture.

In order to register, please access the following link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rdO-ppj4pGtIz36WvI_CGiC3SAc0vu0Yz