Support to build resilience of Hungary’s fish farms

MAHOP Plusz, the Hungarian Fish Operational Programme Plus, aims to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in Hungary’s sh farming sector. e programme focuses on sustainable aquaculture practices, including circular farming principles and the preservation of biodiversity in water and wetland habitats. It also encourages diversi cation and innovation by introducing new sh species and production technologies, aligning with changing consumer demands. E ciency is another key objective. By modernising infrastructure, upgrading technology, and improving sh storage and distribution, the programme aims to enhance the sector’s stability and product quality. It promotes the use of renewable energy sources to reduce the environmental footprint. Biodiversity conservation and the maintenance of aquatic ecosystems are high priorities. e programme supports responsible pond management techniques to mitigate climate change e ects and preserve valuable ecological services. It also addresses working conditions by supporting investments in safety, hygiene, and infrastructure, making the sector more attractive for employees. Recycling and reducing environmental impact are vital for sustainable aquaculture. e programme supports projects focused on water puri cation, recycling, and minimising chemical use. Read more about pond sh farming in Hungary from page 32 e EU Horizon 2020 ERA-Net COFUND Blue Bioeconomy (BlueBio) has played a key role in enhancing Europe’s position in the blue bioeconomy thanks to 49 projects it supports. ese projects introduce bio-based products and services, enhancing the aquatic domain’s value. ey encompass diverse aspects of the blue bioeconomy value chain, driving research and innovation. To realize fully circular aquaculture and sheries, waste and side stream utilization, and novel ingredient integration are critical. Algae, such as seaweed and microalgae, o er vast potential. Projects like MINERVA and SNAP have developed innovative algal extracts and biopolymers, contributing to food ingredients, cosmetics, and advanced materials. Low-trophic animals like sea stars and polychaetes are sustainable food and feed sources. Projects like InEVal and SIDESTREAM have produced sea star meal and polychaete meal, reducing waste and promoting resource e ciency. ese and other initiatives exemplify the richness of circularity in the blue bioeconomy, o ering sustainable solutions to current challenges. Results from these projects will continue to be published and commercialized, ensuring a sustainable blue bioeconomy future. Investors and accelerators can explore the BlueBio website and individual project factsheets for opportunities. Read more on page 29

Recent studies have shown promising results in the use of plastic-consuming bacteria to tackle oceanic plastic waste, but the feasibility of this approach remains a subject of scrutiny. Plastic-eating bacteria o er a potential solution to the plastic pollution crisis, but several factors need to be considered. e discovery of Ideonella sakaiensis, a bacterium, capable of breaking down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), generated excitement among scientists. However, these bacteria are slow at decomposing plastics, limiting their practical application. Researchers have identi ed microorganisms in di erent environments with the ability to break down various plastics, including bio-based polyurethane and butylene adipate-co-terephthalate-polylactide (PBAT/PLA). ese discoveries suggest that there are more plastic-degrading bacteria than previously believed. E orts to use bacteria for large-scale plastic degradation are ongoing, with some companies working on commercial recycling plants. However, recycled plastic’s initial cost may be higher than newly synthesized plastic, a ecting consumer acceptance. While bacteria may o er a solution to plastic waste, e orts should focus on preventing plastic waste from entering the environment in the rst place by nding more sustainable alternatives to plastic. Read Dr Manfred Klinkhardt’s article on page 52

Slovakia’s aquaculture sector primarily focuses on freshwater sh, with rainbow trout and common carp being the prominent species. Small-scale enterprises, including family farms, contribute to around 2,975 tonnes of production in 2022, Fish consumption remains low, with individuals consuming only 5.9 kilograms of sh per year, including just 1 kilogram of freshwater sh. Strengths of Slovak aquaculture include its tradition of breeding freshwater sh, diverse species, and low disease outbreaks. Weaknesses comprise low wages, limited innovation, lack of breeding programs, and con icts with environmental protection measures. Fish farming methods include pond sh farming for mixed stocking and salmonid farming, particularly rainbow trout. Emerging aquaculture systems are focusing on African cat sh. Challenges involve infectious diseases, declining pre-Christmas sh sales, labour shortages, declining water quality and quantity, and competition from cheaper imports. Despite the challenges the sector has growth potential through diversi cation and innovation with support from the European Maritime, Fisheries, and AquacultureFund 2021-2027. Read more on page 57

Events

12 AlgaEurope 2023, 12-15 December 2023, Prague

Advancing algae biomass research and innovation

14 Conxemar 2023, 3-5 October 2023, Vigo

Record attendance, and a glimpse into the future of seafood

16 DanFish International, 7-9 October, Aalborg

Thousands flock to one of Europe’s largest fisheries exhibitions

18 fish international, 25-27 February 2024, Bremen

Germany‘s only fish trade fair will focus on three points

20 Shaping the future of rural areas

Effective policymaking depends on data collection AND analysis

22 Western European Fish Technologists’ Association conference, 16-20 October 2023, Copenhagen

Boosting economic and social resilience with sustainable seafood practices

Aquaculture

24 Aquaculture Europe 2023, 18-21 September 2023, Vienna

Light plays an important role in fish development

26 AquaFarm 2024, 14-15 February 2024, Pordenone

Climate change brings challenges but also opportunities

28 SPACE, 12-14 September 2023, Rennes

Aquaculture grows in importance at animal farming event

Projects

29 Holistic solutions are key to a sustainable and resilient economy

Unlocking the potential of aquatic bioresources

Hungary

32 International Carp Conference highlights pond aquaculture’s role in Europe and beyond

Ecosystem services deserve greater attention

34 MAHOP Plusz (Hungarian Fish Operational Programme Plus) supports sustainable aquaculture

Future-proofing fish farming in Hungary

37 An entrepreneur in Hungary breeds high quality pike-perch for the international market

A demanding fish to breed and rear

39 Hortobágy Fish Farm adapts production to more unpredictable climate conditions

Summer droughts and warmer winters are the new norm

42 A Hungarian perspective on the sustainability of pond fish aquaculture

An activity that merits greater recognition

46 Joint efforts: A winning formula for Hungary’s leading fish producers

Wide range of value-added fish products

Latvia

49 Paper data registration of catches and other data is on its way out in Latvia

Mobile application for electronic catch reporting

50 Fish resource restocking in Latvia

Century-old activity gets a makeover

Environment

52 Can plastic-eating bacteria offer a viable solution to the problem of oceanic waste?

Waste prevention is more efficient than attempts at restoration

Technology

56 Estonia’s fishing sector bears the hallmarks of a digital nation A system benefiting fishers and managers alike

Slovak Republic

57 The aquaculture sector in the Slovak Republic The challenges are not insurmountable given the strengths

Ukraine

60 Ukraine’s seafood business: Impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine

Operating at Ukraine’s economic frontline

Guest Pages: Bente Torstensen

63 EAS—a platform for exchanging information and promoting sustainable aquaculture practices

A science-based approach is key for the future of the aquaculture sector

Estonia: Herring abundance falls despite Estonia’s adherence to catch limits

Baltic Sea herring stocks are notoriously challenging to manage, having fallen for many years in spite of tightened allowable catches. Herring stocks are part of a broader Baltic ecosystem that is in trouble for reasons beyond overfishing but which interfere with herring management at local or national levels. Estonian authorities and fishermen are frustrated by the worsening state of herring populations within Estonian waters, a decline that continues despite the fact the industry closely adheres to European Commission catch allocations. A further one-fifth reduction this year in the Commission’s allocation to Estonia only aggravates this frustration. The nation’s fishermen and fishery managers argue that the problem is the herring in the so-called red zone of the Baltic Sea, beyond Estonian territory, which is in a bad shape, but which interacts with herring in Estonian waters. Estonian fishermen should not be punished, they argue, for poor ecosystem conditions elsewhere in the Baltic.

The vital role that Baltic herring plays in Estonian culture dates back millennia; but today a large chunk of Baltic herring goes to fish farms in Norway and elsewhere. Estonians understandably object to having to pay for problems caused by other industries in other countries. However, the nation’s fishermen and managers are taking a wait-and-see approach to Commission decisions on how to balance the overall Baltic herring mismanagement with spill-over impacts on local fisheries.

Baltic herring (Clupea harengus) is the Estonian national fish and has been around the Estonian coast for about 5,000 years. Because of the brackish water conditions of the Baltic Sea, it is smaller than its Atlantic counterparts and often considered a subspecies of Atlantic herring.