Efficient and sustainable European aquaculture

Eurofish in collaboration with the National Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (NAFA), an institution under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania, organised the international aquaculture conference, “Salt- and Freshwater Aquaculture in Europe – Sustainable Seafood for the Future” on the 23 and 24 May 2023 in Bucharest. The event was attended by 180 participants from 39 countries, making it the biggest conference in Eurofish’s history.

Representatives from both Euro sh and NAFA spoke on key developments for the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector and potential methods for modernizing the industry to grow uidly with social and environmental change. Participants at the conference had the opportunity to attend presentations from 25 di erent experts. e conference set a precedent for future cooperation and participation from stakeholders across the industry towards the safe, successful, and sustainable development of sheries and aquaculture through Europe.

The conference was inaugurated by Marco Frederiksen, the director of Eurofish, who expressed gratitude to the audience and emphasized the significance of the event as a valuable platform for networking and gaining deeper knowledge about the diverse aspects of aquaculture. He also highlighted the commitment of Eurofish to the subject, highlighting the organization’s involvement in three aquaculture projects, with one of them being coordinated by Eurofish itself. Additionally, he stressed the significance of ongoing research and development efforts in improving aquaculture practices and promoting sustainability.

Encouraging modernization for stakeholders and the environment alike

Marian Avram, President of the National Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (in Romanian ANPA) presented the “Highlights of National Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture” which is the Programme for the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 20212027. Among the objectives in Romania, President Avram highlighted that fisheries are committed to modernizing fisheries infrastructure, health, safety, and energy efficiency. Objectives in aquaculture are in line with the National Aquaculture Plan where decarbonisation and developing a circular economy are among the priorities. Investments supporting organic, energy efficient, diversified and innovative aquaculture are foreseen as well as compensations for environmental services and new producer organisations and processing facilities. The President of ANPA concluded that the total financial allocation for the Romanian Programme is over EUR232m of which about EUR162m is funded by the EU.

The Romanian State Secretary, Mihail Cristian Leonov, delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of the event and the aquaculture sector in Romania. He touched upon various key topics, including the need for animal health research, the development of new models and technologies, and the importance of ensuring food safety. He also highlighted the significance of networks for Romania, the challenges and possibilities associated with the Black

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Sea region, and the promotion of socio-economic well-being. Additionally, the State Secretary encouraged the exploration of new species in freshwater aquaculture, the emergence of innovative forms of aquaculture, and the integration of competitiveness and training programs to foster the participation and growth of new specialists in the industry.

Industry experts provide insights into the future

The conference featured sessions on freshwater and saltwater aquaculture, markets, and certification, with presentations from 25 international and local experts. Christian Philip Unmack, Senior Project Manager at Eurofish, delivered a comprehensive presentation on emerging trends in aquaculture consumption products within the EU. He provided insights into past, current, and future trends, highlighting the potential growth of alternative seafood products like plant-based options and cultivated seafood. Mr Unmack highlighted the pivotal role of data analysis in understanding consumption patterns, driving transformative actions, and facilitating decision-making processes. By leveraging data to identify and comprehend trends, stakeholders can effectively adapt their practices and strategies to align with the evolving demands of the aquaculture industry. The challenges faced in pond aquaculture and proposed potential solutions were addressed at the conference by Catalin Platon, the president of ROMFISH National Association of Fish Producers. Mr Platon focused on the significance of fish welfare throughout the entire life cycle, highlighting the need for responsible practices. The adoption of circular economy principles and the use of green energy were advocated as important steps towards sustainability. Transparency for fish farmers and the role of associations in creating an investment-friendly environment that attracts the youth were also emphasized.

During his presentation, Tanguy Chever, senior consultant at AND International and member of the EU Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture products (EUMOFA) shared valuable insights on the organic aquaculture market in the EU. Mr Chever provided attendees with an introduction to EUMOFA and its organic report. He focused on examining the organic production of aquaculture, with speci c attention given to the signi cant species within the EU market. Among these species, mussels stood out as the main organic option, while the discussion also encompassed carp, a relevant species of interest for the conference attendees from Romania. Mr. Chever also explored the drivers of growth of organic aquaculture, the barriers that need to be addressed, and the potential future expansion within this segment of the sector. ough speakers came from di erent countries with various backgrounds, many of them shared similar re ections on climate change, growing prices of energy, feed and transportation and other challenges including the importance of innovation, collaboration not only within but also among di erent sectors, as well as good planning and better utilization of “wastes” when a new business is constructed. e shery and aquaculture sector will need to be able to o er better perspectives for the youth to be able to attract new experts and to ensure development in the future as well.

Highly informative field visit to research station

On the second day, participants visited the Nucet Fisheries

Research and Development Station where they saw the experimental centre, with an area of 167 ha consisting of about 90 fish ponds, a pilot station for reproduction and intensive growth of sturgeons and carp species in intensive and super-intensive systems. The Nucet Aquaculture Research and Development Station is the main supplier of stock material of cultured fish species for fish farms in the south and west of the country.

Overall, the International Aquaculture Conference fostered an environment of knowledgesharing and collaboration. With its unprecedent level of attendance, the two-days discussions emphasized the need for sustainable and responsible aquaculture practices, as well as the importance of innovation and continuous research to drive the industry forward. By addressing key topics, the event has not only achieved great success with valuable insights and opportunities for stakeholders, but it has also provided powerful motivation for even more impactful and inspiring conferences in the future, encouraging stakeholders across Europe to work together towards more sustainable aquaculture.

Eva Kovacs, Euro sh, eva@euro sh.dk