Eurofish Magazine 6 2024

FAO GLOBEFISH celebrates its 40th anniversary

SALTED AND MARINATED PRODUCTS FROM FRESHLY-CAUGHT FISH

UKRAINE: A fish farmer and processor soldiers on despite the war 14 28 64

COPEPODS offer multiple benefits as larval feed

Margar sem

Croatian fish farmers enjoyed higher prices in 2023

Farmed seafood production in Croatia comes mainly from the sea—seabass, seabream, tuna, and bivalves are cultivated in signi cant volumes while small quantities of other marine sh and shell sh supplement the total output. Freshwater sh too are farmed and here common carp dominates the production gures accounting for close to two thirds of the total. Production from both marine and freshwater has fallen year on year, but unit values increased more than enough to compensate, page 30

e Conxemar trade show held in Vigo in October showcased several new products and pieces of equipment, and services to a global audience. As be ts a tradeshow about food and one held in southern Europe at that, the event included several seafood cooking exhibitions as well, where guests could watch and taste expertly prepared seafood, page 10

e GFCM organised a eld trip in Spain for participants in a programme about women in aquaculture that highlights the role of women in the sector. e purpose of the programme is to create awareness but above all to improve the position of women by ensuring they get the recognition and the opportunities to rise they deserve. Diversity and gender inclusivity contribute to innovation and sustainability and thereby secure the future of the industry, page 16

e Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition once again paid tribute to the country’s globally recognised quality of its sh products as well as of its machinery for the seafood industry. Other trends such as maximising the yield from a sh were also visible as companies displayed valuable products made from what used to be called waste but is now treated as a resource, page 18

A conference organised in Malmö in connection with the Swedish leadership of the Nordic Council of Ministers went some way towards revealing the many issues facing the use of the sea by a disparate group comprising companies, individuals, the public sector with di erent and often con icting interests. One of the key takeaways from the event was perhaps the need for di erent parties to be kept informed about potential developments in the sea, page 20

e pressure on industrial sh stocks as a consequence of an aquaculture industry that is growing globally has hastened the search for alternative ingredients for sh feeds. Insects show promise and several companies are breeding them. A Croatian research institute has conducted trials with black soldier y larvae with promising results for the cultivation of seabass and seabream, page 23

Microalgae are highly nutritious but high-quality production at a reasonable price is among the factors preventing product development. Another is the taste and smell. A company in Iceland is addressing these challenges in collaboration with a research institution. e product developed is chock-full of nutrients and its cultivation has little or no impact on the environment compared with conventionally farmed products, page 26

Fish production in Hungary is mainly from pond farming and common carp accounts for the bulk of the output. e way it is marketed and sold has gradually been evolving as farmers and processors try to adapt to the demands of a younger generation of consumers for whom convenience is all-important. is calls for boneless portions or value-added products, sh that is easy to prepare, cook, and serve, and that is cheap and nutritious to boot, page 54

A producer organisation for the freshwater sh farming sector, Polski Karp is promoting the consumption of common carp with a deluge of material on tradition as well as new media channels. e campaign extolls the taste, sustainability, and versatility of the sh as well as its freshness and Polish origin. However, the PO is up against some entrenched attitudes regarding bones, muddy avour, and the lack of convenience which need to be broken down, page 60

ree EU agencies, the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), have amended their regulations to enter into a formal cooperation agreement in further support of national authorities carrying out coast guard functions. Fisheries communities stand to bene t through the availability of digital tools such as the integrated maritime service, page 61

6 International News

Events

9 AquaFarm 2025, 12-13 February 2025, Pordenone

A growing synergy with bordering sectors

10 Conxemar 2024, 1-3 October, Vigo

Celebrating 25 years as a hub for the global seafood industry

14 FAO GLOBEFISH turns 40

Celebrating four decades of international cooperation

16 A new wave of opportunity in the Mediterranean and Black Sea

Empowering women in aquaculture

18 Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition, Reykjavik, 18-20 September 2024

Iceland selects the best

20 Closer cooperation between different users of the sea reduces risk of friction

Co-locating marine industries

22 POLFISH 2024: September 11-13, Gdańsk, Poland

Biannual fair showcases Polish fish and seafood industry

Aquaculture

23 Croatian researchers test new feeding protocols for Adriatic farmed finfish

Insect-based protein shows promise

26 Pioneering the future of sustainable food with carbon-neutral microalgae

Nutrients in new packaging

28 The sustainable future of turbot larvae production

Harnessing organic copepods

Croatia

30 University of Zadar contributes to the development of Croatian mariculture

Farmed marine species increase in value

34 Putting novel technology to work for fish farmers

AI solutions for the aquaculture industry

37 Promoting local products to national markets

Valorising bighead carp

39 Eva Sardines: A Croatian brand with a long history

An Adriatic superfood

42 Research institute for the northern Adriatic has a long pedigree

Fifty-year-old data is still useful

45 Warming water and predation present major challenges for shellfish producers

Bivalves from the Lim channel

47 Sister companies produce tuna for export to Japan

Farming bluefin tuna on the Adriatic coast

49 An innovative processing company with strong Croatian roots

Marikomerc’s recipe for success

51 Shellfish from Krka estuary for experience-seeking consumers

A scientific approach to farming

Hungary

53 The CEO of Bajcshal Ltd reminisces about Seafood Expo Global In the margins of an exhibition

54 Marketing common carp through modern strategies and consumer-centric innovation

Convenience is key

56 Artificial reefs and spawning nests support pike-perch stocks in Lake Balaton

Measures benefit both fish and anglers

58 Hungary uses EU Council Presidency to focus on sustainability of aquaculture

Paving the way for aquaculture in the EU

TradeandMarkets

60 Producer organisation uses brains and EU investments to market the king of freshwater aquaculture Polski Karp innovates to enhance carp’s popularity

Fisheries

61 The European Coast Guard Cooperation Joint activities benefit fisheries community

Ukraine

Worldwide Fish News

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

A local legend of Ukraine’s seafood business

China page7

Service

Denmark page7

Estonia page8

Eurofish page8

Greece page6

Spain page6

Türkiye page7

66 Diary Dates

66 Imprint, List of Advertisers

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Greece: Strong consumer support for more humane harvesting practices

A recent study has found that more than eight in ten consumers in southern Europe support the introduction of more humane fish slaughter practices. The study was conducted by the market research firm Savanta. It was commissioned by the Centre for Aquaculture Progress (CAP), a nonprofit group that advocates for the welfare of farmed fish by encouraging producers to adopt pre-slaughter electrical stunning technology. The primary method currently in use for slaughtering sea bass and sea bream in Europe, live chilling in ice slurry, does not meet World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards. Electrical stunning renders the fish unconscious before they are immersed in the ice slurry and is thus thought to reduce the amount of suffering the animals are exposed to.

The CAP study aimed to investigate consumer attitudes towards electrical stunning as an alternative method of slaughter for sea bream and sea bass. It also sought

to determine whether consumers would be willing to pay more for fish that are harvested in a more humane manner. The study received responses from a representative sample of 1,600 people from France, Italy, Spain, and Greece, the primary markets for Greek sea bream and sea bass. Researchers found that the majority of consumers (83) were in favour of pre-slaughter electrical stunning. The report also found that 80 of consumers would be willing to pay an extra EUR 0.05 per 200g serving for humanely harvested fish. The report notes that this modest price increase would easily offset the cost to producers of adopting electrical stunning technology (about EUR 0.02 per serving).

These findings indicate that, as consumers become more conscious in their purchasing decisions, producers may increase their profitability by transitioning to more ethical forms of harvesting technology.

The Greek aquaculture industry has grown significantly, with sea bream and sea bass as key species. However, despite evidence that electrical stunning reduces stress and improves fish welfare, this humane slaughter method is rarely used for these fish.

Spain: Renewing artisanal fleet to drive sustainable fishing and energy transition

The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food have emphasised the importance of renewing the small-scale coastal fleet in order to foster its transition to renewable energy. Speaking at the Third International Congress of Small-Scale Artisanal Fishing in Cádiz in October, Isabel Artime, Secretary General for Fisheries, highlighted the need to restructure the EU funds to support the renewal of Spain’s artisanal fishing fleet. She stressed that this fleet is one of the oldest in the country—with an average age of 39 years compared to the 25-year average of other types of vessels—requires modernisation to advance the energy transition. The artisanal fleet, known

for its low emissions and crucial role in local economies, consumes just 4 of the fuel used by Spain’s fishing fleet but generates 10 of the income. It also employs about one-third of all Spanish fishermen.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food views artisanal fishing as an essential pillar for maintaining Spain’s coastal social fabric. Given that 71 of Spanish vessels measure under 12 meters, the fleet largely operates in local waters supplying fresh products to regional markets and supporting local households and the hospitality sector. This low-emission fleet structure helps stabilise populations in

Spain’s fishing fleet leads the EU in gross tonnage; nearly threequarters of the vessels are small-scale, artisanal boats.

smaller coastal towns, allowing economic development outside major urban areas and contributing to the sustainable

growth of these communities.

The renewal of the artisanal fleet will strengthen both environmental and social sustainability

in coastal areas. Ms. Artime also affirmed Spain’s commitment to scientific practices in fisheries management, to improving the

working conditions of men and women at sea, and to fighting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Denmark: Green Energy Vault invests 67 million euros in energy storage at fishing port

The Danish port of Hirtshals in North Jutland will receive an advanced facility for storing energy under a new agreement with the company Green Energy Vault. The storage facility will be one of the largest in Denmark. It will lead to significant savings for businesses at the port with high energy consumption—supporting charging infrastructure for maritime vessels and helping to reduce their carbon footprint by making green power more readily available. The facility is also intended to relieve peak loads on the power grid, contributing to the stability of the distribution network throughout North Jutland. Green Energy Vault is expected to invest EUR67 million in the project. Construction of the

facility will cost EUR37 million. A further EUR30 million will be spent on running costs over the next 20 years.

With the announcement of this project, the Port of Hirtshals has further signalled its ambition to become one of the greenest harbours in Europe. The port is already home to several wind turbines. In March 2024, port authorities signed an agreement with Norwegian Hydrogen to establish a “hydrogen closed-loop ecosystem” at the harbour. The system will use energy from the wind turbines to produce green hydrogen, to further decarbonise the port. The Hirtshals Green Energy Vault storage facility is expected to begin operating in early 2026.

The Port of Hirtshals boasts a prime location just 20 minutes from the busy sea routes linking the European west coast, Great Britain, Scandinavia, and the Baltics. It is near some of Europe’s richest fishing grounds and in 2022, the value of landings in the port reached EUR56 million.

Türkiye: Future Fish Eurasia was successfully held in Izmir

The 12th Future Fish Eurasia, an international fair for fish imports, exports, processing, aquaculture, and fisheries, took place from October 10–12, 2024, at the Izmir International Fair Centre. Organized by Eurasia Trade Fairs, the event spanned an 11,000m2 hall, featuring products and services from 171 local and international companies across 26 countries, including including Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and UK, as well as leading Turkish companies.

The fair attracted visitors from Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the Far East, and the Turkic

Republics, offering insights into the latest industry trends and technologies. Exhibits ranged from seafood products to processing machinery, aquaculture equipment to feed and vaccines, recirculation systems to logistics solutions, giving attendees a chance to explore new markets and opportunities. Event highlights included expert-led discussions on sustainability, featuring presentations by Dr Kiranpreet Kaur of Aker Bıomarıne, Norway and Dr Tufan Eroldogan from Cukurova University. The second day hosted the aquaculture contact forum, where Andreas Gaarder, the Norwegian Ambassador and others discussed Türkiye-Norway business opportunities, sustainability in fish farming, and aquaculture technology and innovation.

Visitors engage with exhibitors during the Future Fish Eurasia 2024, learning about the latest advancements in aquaculture technology and equipment.

Supported by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Aegean Exporters Association, zmir Chamber of Commerce, Small and Medium Business Development and Support Administration

(KOSGEB), and key industry players, Future Fish Eurasia 2024 welcomed 7,924 trade visitors, offering ample B2B networking opportunities and insights into emerging industry trends.

Eurofish becomes a new member of WEFTA

Eurofish International Organisation was officially approved as a new member of WEFTA (Western European Fish Technologists Association) on 14 October 2024. We are excited about the upcoming collaboration and the opportunity to exchange cutting-edge research, particularly from young scientists, within this vital European research network, said Marco Frederiksen, the director of the organisation. He was speaking at the 52nd WEFTA conference, “Adding value to fish is an investment in the future”, which took place 14-18 October 2024 in Çe me- zmir, Türkiye.

The conference was divided into six sessions:

• Advances in Seafood by Products

• Innovative Uses of Micro and Macro Algae

• Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries Technologies

• Technological Innovations and Uses

• Seafood safety and authenticity

• Seafood Consumption and Consumers

The annual WEFTA conferences are a valuable occasion

for scientists, students, and the seafood industry to meet and present recent research achievements and to share experience. The conference is also an outstanding forum for discussions and networking.

Founded in 1970, WEFTA serves as a key platform in Europe for institutions involved in fish processing, applied food science, aquaculture, seafood technology, health benefits of seafood, and

consumer studies. Its mission is to enhance the safety and quality of seafood in European and global markets through coordinated research efforts. WEFTA’s research activities benefit not only research institutes but also the fishery industry, consumers, stakeholders, and governments. A core focus of WEFTA is fostering collaboration, particularly by bringing together scientists— especially young researchers—to present and share their findings.

WEFTA comprises over twenty European universities and organisations focused on fisheries and aquaculture research across Europe. They represent Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Türkiye— and now, the Copenhagenbased Eurofish International Organisation.

Estonia: Long Distance Fisheries Association joins Europêche

On 5 November 2024, Europêche’s General Assembly voted unanimously to approve the Estonian Long Distance Fisheries Association’s (ELDFA) bid for membership. ELDFA is one of the largest fisheries organisations in Estonia. It represents a diverse range of companies and fishing interests, with primary operations that span multiple fisheries. The association works to advocate for sustainable fishing practices through innovation, enhance safety at sea, improve traceability, and combat IUU fishing. ELDFA’s main fishing grounds

are in international waters governed by the North Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) and the Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), including the Barents Sea near Greenland. The association focuses on species such as northern shrimp, Atlantic cod and Greenland halibut. Both parties hope that ELDFA’s membership in Europêche will further strengthen the collective voice of European fishers, contributing to the balanced and equitable management of resources in the Northeast Atlantic.

In 2023, the catch by Estonia’s distant waters fleet reached over 13,800 tonnes, of which 92% was northern prawn (Pandalus borealis).

Professor Şükran Çaklı from EGE University makes the welcome address at the WEFTA conference.

Reyktal

AquaFarm 2025, 12-13 February 2025, Pordenone

A growing synergy with bordering sectors

AquaFarm, the international conference and trade show focused on aquaculture and the sustainable fishing industry, has announced the dates for its eighth edition. Two previously separate events, NovelFarm and AlgaeFarm, will join this year on the same days and at the same venue. The two events cover, respectively, controlled environment agriculture, and the cultivation of algae and other microorganisms. The events are scheduled for 12-13 February 2025 at Pordenone Exhibition Centre.

The decision to bring together the three events dedicated to innovation in sustainable food production

aquaponics—the cultivation and breeding of fish and plants in the same controlled environment. Aquaponics can also include

nourishment for another, ensuring high food productivity. Fish and algae farming are also increasingly synergetic: just con-

Changes in the environment are a growing threat

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of aquatic habitats due to climate change, human pollution, and the intrusion of new species brought by sea trade, has already made significant impacts on the Mediterranean. These changes include serious losses in the production of shellfish, especially clams, due to the blue crab invasion; and difficulties related to the cultivation of mussels due to high water temperatures in the summer. Farmers, suppliers, and researchers are engaged in a collective effort to mitigate these challenges.

Cultivated algae offer a promising response to environmental changes, enabling the direct production of proteins, fats (such as Omega-3s), and other valuable compounds without the need to rely on higher food chain sources typically derived from the ocean. This approach reduces environmental impact

Conxemar

2024,

and increases efficiency in meeting global nutritional demands.

Technology, food security, the reduction of plastics… and AI

However, not everything will be focused on climate change during the eighth edition of AquaFarm. Fish and shellfish farming guarantee a good, healthy, more controlled environment, as well as a shorter food chain for the species raised locally. Microalgae provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional sources of active ingredients, such as antioxidants and other valuable compounds, for the pharmaceutical, food, and fine chemical industries.

Over the course of this two-day event, farmers, suppliers, researchers, and industry professionals will gather to discuss key topics such as

1-3 October, Vigo, Spain

Attendees of AquaFarm have an opportunity to explore the latest advancements in aquaculture technology, sustainability practices, and industry innovations.

research and innovation, renewable energy, animal welfare, advanced nutrition technologies, and the reduction of plastic pollution. The comprehensive conference program will be complemented by a large international exhibition area. A central theme will be the application of artificial intelligence and

autonomous robotics across various fields, from managing breeding and cultivation environments to genetic improvement. The university area will once again feature an extensive space for scientific poster displays. Lastly, the show’s cooking arena will offer attendees a chance to sample the finest Italian seafood products.

Celebrating 25 years as a hub for the global seafood industry

In the hills of Puxeiros, under a heavy and constant rain, a new edition of the Conxemar fair took place during the first week of October. The fair was held over 37,000 square meters at the Vigo Exhibition Enclosure (IFEVI). Close to 800 exhibitors raised a city of fish and machinery, and 27,080 attendees visited the fair from 110 countries—a new visitor record. The fair displayed the latest advancements in frozen foods and sustainable methods of treating and preserving fish and allowed the attendees to forge new partnerships. Cross-spaces in the venue worked as public plazas, facilitating encounters where guests could discuss the challenges and opportunities of the industry.

While several trends could be discerned at the show, sustainability seemed to be uppermost on the organisers’ minds—at the end of the fair, all the surplus food products were donated to a local food bank to reduce waste.

A

tour of the Conxemar fair

As well as displaying products, the first hall gave an overview of some

of the processing techniques used in their production. Solidus demonstrated an efficient new way to transport fish with their “skin” packaging—which uses recycled cartons and biopolymers to efficiently seal the fish for sale.

Some visitors may have been surprised by some of the products they found in this hall, but as said in Spain, mar y montaña combinan

Conxemar

Over 27 000 people from 110 countries attended the 2024 Conxemar fair, setting a new visitor record.

EXACTASTACK®

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SPIRALSURF®

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The traditional ronqueo (filleting) of a swordfish was a highlight of the second day of the fair.

bien (the sea and the mountain are a good fit). Snails had their own space at the fair; the humble potato, best friend of fish, was also present in many different forms. Agristo’s Sidewinders® fries have a unique shape, almost like a flat spiral. This increases the volume of fries by 40—making them crunchier than their traditional counterparts.

Intricate processing systems and futuristic products

The second hall was not dedicated to products, but to equipment— large machines for the industrial slicing, weighing, preserving, and labelling of fish. Other production equipment was on display, including high-speed cold room doors, with inbuilt biosensors to ensure workers remain safe. The second hall gave the feeling that these complex machines were the real protagonists in the processing industry. Seafood simply would not reach plates without these hidden, intricate technologies.

In between the second and third halls was a display of new and featured products. Some products came from far-flung places, and some seemed to be straight out of science fiction movies. A Proteína Natural (natural protein) line of canned products preserves raw fish in a light brine that does

not alter their taste or texture; the canned yellowfin and white tuna, salmon, or hake taste, miraculously, as though they were just extracted from the sea.

Spanish sea ham and tuna hotdogs

The third hall of the fair was dedicated to Spanish producers. Aquaculture companies shared space with shipowners’ associations, like Gandon, whose members work from the Galician harbour to the waters of Newfoundland, Canada, and even as far afield as Argentina.

One stand attracted a lot of visitor attention. The products were such a vivid and powerful shade of red that they could have been cuts of beef. Instead, they were atún de Almadraba, tuna from the Atlantic waters of Cadiz. The company once again amazed the fair with their “sea ham”, Iberian-style cured red tuna belly, and new products like the “hot tuna”, a seafood reinterpretation of the hotdog.

At another stand, octopuses were dropped into pots for their traditional preparation in boiling seawater. Next door featured shelf-stable cuttlefish ink which does not need to be refrigerated or frozen and can last for several years once opened. The surprising black liquid had an intense, sea-like aroma.

A taste of the world

In the fourth hall, representatives from 46 countries were on hand to demonstrate their fish products. Visitors could sample Irish “fish and chips” (salmon and vinegarflavoured crisps), Korean fish with kimchi, and different recipes made with anchovies and sardines from Morocco. A Spanish company presented a wonderful product made from sturgeon meat, a byproduct of the production process, which had been made to look like real caviar. Notable first-time exhibitors in this hall came from the Dominican Republic, South Africa, Mexico, Indonesia, Namibia, Poland, and Slovenia, demonstrating the importance of Conxemar as an international event.

In the middle of all this, the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry had an enormous restaurant stand. Unsurprisingly, it became very popular around lunchtime. (A special mention should go to its swordfish and octopus balls with Mediterranean gazpacho). The success of this stand demonstrated the fact that Italian cuisine is not limited to traditional fresh seafood but can also make excellent use of newer products.

In the fifth hall, producer associations like ORPAGU

(Organización De Productores Palangreros Guardeses) delighted visitors with tinned fish, swordfish, and tuna burgers paired with Galician beer. The Consellería del Mar (Galician Department of the Sea) was also present in hall 5, highlighting the importance of fisheries and aquaculture to this northwestern region of Spain. Among these producers, the Consello Regulador Do Mexillon De Galicia (Mussels Regulatory Council of Galicia) had a stand explaining the importance of mussels to the region. The stand included several different recipe tastings. (In this writer’s opinion, however, the best way to prepare mussels will always be the very simple method of steaming them).

Showcookings and a swordfish ronqueo

Conxemar was not only about showcasing new products. A vibrant cultural agenda included showcookings, talks, and exhibitions. On the first day of the fair, the so-called chef del mar (chef of the sea), Ángel León, demonstrated three recipes using frozen seafood: prawns a la marinera, hake a la bilbaína (with sliced garlic, chilli, vinegar and parsley), and creamy rice with plankton and squid. León’s restaurant, Aponiente, holds three Michellin stars, and the chef has highlighted the importance of

Conxemar

The Conxemar fair showcased the latest advancements in frozen foods and processing technologies.

frozen seafood products in reducing food waste. On the second day, a showcooking demonstrated the possibilities of Korean seafood, which concluded with a tasting for the audience.

The Spanish national Organizacion Interprofesional Pesquera Interfish España (Interprofessional Fisheries Organization Interfish Spain) attracted a lot of attention during the second day of the fair when they held a live ronqueo of a swordfish. The term ronqueo means ‘snoring’, and it refers to the sound produced when sliding a knife along the spine of a large species of fish. This traditional filleting technique requires tremendous artisanal skill, and the demonstration highlighted the intersection of tradition and modernity within the seafood industry.

One notable talk on the second day of the conference focused on the alarming decline in groundfish species such as cod, haddock, and whiting across European waters—a situation that has had far-reaching implications for the seafood industry. The discussion explored potential solutions to this decline, such as improved fisheries management, greater emphasis on aquaculture as an alternative source of seafood and promoting underutilised species to reduce pressure on traditional groundfish stocks.

Networking opportunities

The fair included official meetings and networking events. One meeting gathered the members of the FISHINFONetwork, FAOGLOBEFISH and Conxemar representatives to lay the groundwork for future collaborations, with a particular focus on improving data collection and sharing across the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. At this meeting, a presentation

from the EUMOFA (European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products) project emphasised the critical role of data in ensuring market transparency and helping policymakers make informed decisions.

Representatives from the international organisations included Graciela Pereira, director of INFOPESCA; Youssef Ouati, director of INFOSAMAK; Eric Atsé Casi Casimir Akaffou, director of INFOPÊCHE; Gemma Meermans Matainaho, executive director of INFOFISH; and Ixai Salvo, senior project manager from Eurofish. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fishery Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH coordinator, represented FAO-GLOBEFISH. Conxemar was represented by Yobana Bermúdez Rodriguez, general manager; Janne Posti, public policy manager; and José Pol Villar, projects manager.

Responsibility and the future: the 12th Conxemar congress

The 12th Conxemar congress was held on September 30, a day before the official opening of the fair. Titled “Responsibility for the Future”, the congress was centred around key findings from the 2024 SOFIA (State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture) report. The report was presented by Audun Lem, Deputy Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the FAO, and Rosa Chapela Pérez, Coordinator of the Fisheries Socioeconomics Department at the Centro Tecnológico del Mar (CETMAR), and now managing director of CETMAR. The SOFIA report revealed a significant turning point: aquaculture production surpassed capture fishing for the first time in 2022, accounting for 51 of global seafood production. This milestone underscores the increasing importance of sustainable aquaculture

practices in meeting global seafood demand.

The first session of the congress focused on sustainable fisheries resource management, and featured experts like Jean-Louis Meuric (Vice Chair of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Board of Directors) and Javier Garat (Vice President of International Coalition of Fisheries Associations). The conversation emphasised the need for comprehensive management plans that balance the growing demand for seafood with the health of marine ecosystems.

The second session, about policy challenges and opportunities, featured prominent voices such as Alma Rosa García Juárez (Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Baja California) and Carmen do Sacramento Neto (Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Angola). Speakers discussed how policy frameworks can foster innovation while ensuring the responsible use of marine resources. The third session moved to industry and focused on value chain innovations—including more efficient processing techniques, improved supply chain logistics, and sustainable packaging solutions. The session included experts such as Sofia Roca (AZTI) and Miguel López Crespo (Spanish Confederation of Consumers).

The congress concluded with a forward-looking discussion on the role of the media in promoting sustainability. Editors from various international seafood publications highlighted the responsibility of journalists in shaping public perceptions about the industry’s environmental impact.

Final reflections

Attending Conxemar is always a fascinating and deeply enriching

experience. Walking through the exhibition halls, one is struck by the sheer scale of the event, with booths from all over the world demonstrating the passion and commitment of industry professionals. The fair was a celebration of the rich cultural and culinary traditions tied to the sea.

Spain was of course well-represented, and speaking with representatives from many Spanish businesses gave a clearer sense of their concerns and hopes for the future. They spoke about rising costs, the uncertainties of raw material supplies, and the need for innovations that could help make the industry more sustainable while also keeping it profitable. It was interesting to hear firsthand from companies that had weathered disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic and were now navigating issues like inflation and supply chain disruptions.

The event also reinforced the global collaboration that is urgently necessary to secure the future of the seafood industry. Discussions around sustainability were everywhere—on panels, in conversations, and in the products themselves. Innovations in packaging, processing, and logistics all aimed to reduce environmental impact while maintaining high standards of product quality.

Conxemar 2024 was not only a demonstration of products and businesses, but a reminder of the industry’s resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges, and its vast potential. The future of seafood lies in the hands of these exhibitors, who are tirelessly working to balance profitability with sustainability, tradition with innovation, and local practices with global markets.

Ixai Salvo, Eurofish, ixai @eurofish.dk; Trish May, Eurofish, trish@eurofish.dk

FAO GLOBEFISH turns 40

Celebrating four decades of international cooperation

On 18 and 19 September 2024, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of the FAO held a two-day event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the founding of FAO GLOBEFISH. Titled ‘Key Highlights and the Way Forward’, the event brought together representatives from international organisations, governments, industry and academia. It was held at the headquarters of the FAO in Rome.

A global network of information

In the 1970s, a lack of information about prices, regional demands, quality standards and import rules was preventing exporters in developing countries from capitalising on market prospects.1 The GLOBEFISH project was part of FAO efforts to redress this problem. GLOBEFISH was established as a multi-donor project at the FAO’s World Fisheries Conference in 1984. The project was intended to provide up-to-date information and analyses regarding trade and marketing in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

Today, GLOBEFISH facilitates the exchange of information between industry, academia, governments and other stakeholders across the world. It does this through its capacity as coordinator of the FISHINFONetwork (FIN), which links six regional units across 85 countries: INFOPESCA, INFOFISH, INFOPÊCHE, INFOSAMAK, EUROFISH and INFOYU. These regional units deliver technical capacity-building services to their members, as well as organising trade and technical events. GLOBEFISH itself also produces regular publications that provide analysis on

Participants at the event to commemorate FAO GLOBEFISH’s 40th anniversary heard speakers from the public and private sectors discuss a range of topics related to fisheries and aquaculture.

a wide range of species and markets, combining price information from multiple sources, and reviewing topical issues.

Consistent with the goals of the Blue Transformation, GLOBEFISH promotes the sustainable trade of fisheries and aquaculture products. It provides assistance for the growth and enhancement of aquatic value chains—helping producers to mitigate loss and waste, fostering traceability

and transparency, and supporting market access. This multifaceted strategy helps to advance the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and the FAO’s “Four Betters” Strategy: better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life.

Personal histories and institutional memory

The first day of the event in Rome was dedicated to celebrating GLOBEFISH and reflecting on its

1 Hempel, E. 2024. The Legacy of GLOBEFISH and the FISHINFONetwork. Rome, FAO. p. 5. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd2188en

accomplishments as the longestrunning FAO project in existence. Opening remarks were delivered by Manuel Barange, the Assistant Director General of the FAO and Director of the FAO NFI, and an initial address was delivered by Audun Lem, the Deputy Director of the FAO NFI. The Coordinator of GLOBEFISH and Fishery Officer (Markets) at the FAO, Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, discussed the history and current work of the GLOBEFISH project.

©FAO/Cristiano Minichiello

At a session titled ‘Past and Present’, two former high-level GLOBEFISH officers recounted their memories of the early days of the project. Helga Josupeit, former Senior Fisheries Officer and GLOBEFISH Coordinator, spoke about previous projects and discussed GLOBEFISH’s success in helping developing countries to improve their export markets.

Erik Hempel, former Project Director of INFOFISH and INFOPÊCHE and former Director of INFOSA, discussed the origins of GLOBEFISH and his personal role in the project— complete with archival photographs that took attendees back to the 1970s. Hempel has authored a new FAO publication, The Legacy of GLOBEFISH and the FISHINFONetwork , which recounts the history of the project in more detail. This publication will play an important role in preserving institutional memory at GLOBEFISH and was officially launched after Hempel’s speech.

Sustainability and innovation

On the second day of the event, speakers from national and international organisations, industry, and universities discussed pressing issues and emerging trends across the sector. The first session of the day was the ‘FAO GLOBEFISH Dialogue on Cross-Cutting Themes’, which included panellists from the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division.

Stefania Vannuccini, Senior Fishery Officer and Leader – Statistics Team, discussed the crucial role of data and statistics to the entire value chain. As Vannuccini noted, statistics are key to both sound policymaking and to tracking the performance of fisheries and

aquaculture management. The FAO is the only global source of statistics on fisheries and aquaculture, collecting data from different countries and regional official sources, and making predictions where data is incomplete or unavailable. Ms Vannuccini’s presentation explained the significance of the FAO’s ‘FishStatJ’ tool, which functions as a central point to store and disseminate this data. She also demonstrated new dynamic graphs that make it possible to easily visualise important global trends across the industry.

The presentation from FAO Fishery Officer Omar Riego Peñarubia focused the issue of food waste. Peñarubia noted that, while food loss and waste seem to have drastically decreased since 2011, incomplete data from processing at sea, aquaculture, and small-scale fisheries is likely to be hiding the true extent of the problem. Waste can occur at any point in the value chain, and previous attempts to improve the problem have been two-dimensional. The FAO is now working to address the issue using a multistakeholder approach— developing an understanding of what is actually happening on the ground rather than trying to impose a top-down solution.

Another FAO Fishery Officer, Nada Bougouss, discussed the issue of traceability and transparency in fish and seafood products, which has been improving as a result of international legal frameworks designed to combat IUU fishing. Bougouss noted that consumer expectations also have the potential to create change in this area. The FAO’s work to improve traceability encompasses raising awareness in stakeholders, creating standards to verify traceability, and ensuring that these standards and systems can then be effectively implemented. As

part of this work, the FAO has produced important guideline documents and studies, including a review of the ways in which blockchain technology could be used to safeguard traceability in value chains. The FAO has also joined various capacity-building programmes on the issue of traceability, working with governments and other institutions to run workshops and training.

The future of fisheries and aquaculture

A second panel session on the 19th of September focused on the current challenges facing fisheries and aquaculture production, along with future prospects. Speakers were invited to consider two questions. The first asked for strategies that might help to balance the increasing global demand for fish and aquaculture products with the need for environmental conservation and sustainable fishing practices.

In response, Professor Jose Fernandez Polanco, of the University of Cantabria, discussed the difficult fact that sustainability is expensive to implement. In causing prices to rise, he noted, implementing sustainability practices could ironically result in a contraction in demand, as the market would likely turn to less expensive sources of protein. Polanco also noted that climate change will make it increasingly difficult to ensure an efficient supply in capture fisheries. Investing in research and aquaculture will thus be crucial for both ensuring supply and maintaining prices in the coming years.

The Secretary General of Assoittica Italia, Giuseppe Palma, noted that the global consumption of fish is currently being held back by the price of fish and seafood products. In order to meet this demand in the

future, Palma suggested that it will be necessary to use all of the fish catch, create new methods of preparation, and educate the public on the importance of consuming a wider range of aquatic species.

Blockchain and big data

Speakers at this session were also asked how technologies might be used to improve the management, traceability and sustainability of fishery and aquaculture products. Eloy Garcia Alvariza, the President of CONXEMAR, noted that the move towards digitisation is key for the fishing and aquaculture industry to reach its goals. Robotics, satellites, sensors and other technological advances can potentially be used to monitor the evolution of fish stocks on a global level. Blockchain technology will eventually allow the industry to achieve full product traceability, and thus help to control illegal fishing. Big data fisheries mapping, meanwhile, will allow producers to determine demand for and interest in different species by country, optimising export processes.

Ivan M. Lopez Van Der Veen, Chair and Cepesca Executive Committee Member, discussed the importance of extending data collection to all points in the value chain—that is, ensuring that fishermen are consulted and that their expertise is valued in the data collection process.

The role of seaweed

The final session on the second day of the conference was a ‘Seaweed Dialogue’, focused on the current status of the seaweed industry, as well as markets, demand, emerging trends, and technological advancements. Stefania Vannuccini of the FAO was the keynote speaker

in this session, discussing production trends along with key constraints and challenges. Ms Vannuccini observed that governments, industry, the scientific community, and international organisations (including the FAO) will need to continue work together to ensure the sustainable development of the

sector. Innovation is needed to support the resilience of seaweed production in the face of climate change, and the public need to be made more aware of the sector’s environmental, socioeconomic and nutritional benefits.

GLOBEFISH has had a tangible impact across many facets of

the global fishing and aquaculture industry for four decades, supporting the exchange of unbiased, trustworthy market information. The ‘Key Highlights and the Way Forward’ event in Rome marks a significant milestone in the project’s history, celebrating its achievements and the staff who made these

A new wave of opportunity in the Mediterranean and Black Sea

possible. As the world moves towards an uncertain future, the collaboration and transparency that GLOBEFISH fosters will play a crucial part in ensuring the strength, resilience and sustainability of the industry.

Trish May, Eurofish International Organisation, trish@eurofish.dk

Empowering women in aquaculture

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) recently held the third edition of its sustainable programme for young women in aquaculture. This year’s event, titled “Aquaculture Gastronomy and Culture Immersion,” was hosted 8-15 September 2024 by Spain. Building on previous editions in Tunisia and Greece, the programme aims to provide young women from the Mediterranean and Black Sea region with hands-on experience, knowledge, and skill development in aquaculture, while also fostering cross-cultural exchanges.

This latest training session, organised in collaboration with the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) and the Spanish Aquaculture Business Association (APROMAR), brought together 12 participants working in the industry coming from 10 countries (Algeria, Egypt, France, Georgia, Italy, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine) and with different backgrounds. The training programme offered participants an in-depth look at several pioneering companies leading the way in sustainability and innovation in the industry. The agenda included visits to diverse aquaculture operations along the value chain, from fish and shrimp farms to algae cultivation facilities and feed production. The group also visited the IRTA (Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology) research center, the Mercado de la Paz and the Pescadería El Cantil and also attended workshops on topics like aquaculture practices, Mediterranean cuisine,

communication strategies, and the importance of sustainable seafood production.

One of the highlights was Noray Seafood, a standout in sustainable aquaculture, which has set a global example by becoming the first indoor shrimp farm to receive Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification. Committed to eco-friendly practices, Noray recycles 95 of its water, employs a biofloc process to maintain optimal water quality, and relies partially on solar energy, presenting a model of sustainability in shrimp farming.

At BioMar’s Dueñas Factory, participants explored the processes behind one of the world’s leaders in fish feed production. BioMar’s feeds are carefully designed to promote fish health, reduce mortality, and enhance feed efficiency. The factory tour included an inspiring talk from a veterinarian with 30 years of experience in aquaculture, who described her career path and the evolution of

At a netmaker’s facility participants learned of the company’s efforts to support recycling and minimise waste. They also heard how women employees transitioned from making nets to working in the aquaculture industry.

her role in the industry. Another remarkable visit was to Caviar Pirinea, the leading producer of sturgeon and large trout in Spain. Known for its strong commitment to environmental sustainability, Caviar Pirinea has developed premium products such as smoked trout, sturgeon pâté, and caviar, all produced with care

for the surrounding ecosystem. Blauver Food was founded by a pioneer in organic spirulina production, who introduced participants to a unique cultivation process. Essential factors such as carbon dioxide, temperature, and water flow create the ideal environment for spirulina growth, while “phycocyanin music” is

played at a specific frequency to stimulate growth. At Avramar, participants visited a pre-growth facility and offshore cages in Burriana, located four miles from the coast. Discussions centered on the challenges posed by climate change, particularly rising sea temperatures, reduced oxygen levels, and severe storms like “Gloria,” which affected some of the company’s facilities in 2020. The company described its strategies to mitigate these impacts and safeguard its infrastructure and marine ecosystems. In partnership with Avramar, the Gastronomy and Culinary Management Campus (GASMA) hosted a class on zero-waste seafood practices. Participants heard how to use every part of the fish, from heads to bones, with insights into how circularity and waste reduction can be applied to everydaily life. Mørenot Mediterranean provided a glimpse into fiber-based solutions for fisheries and aquaculture. The company’s products support the entire life cycle of nets, from design to maintenance and recycling, helping to minimise waste. In Spain, women make up 25 of Mørenot’s workforce, and some recounted how they transitioned from roles in traditional netmaking for fisheries to positions within the aquaculture industry. At IRTA la Rapita, discussions focused on Integrated MultiTrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) and climate resilience. IMTA combines species like algae, clams, oysters, and mullets in a balanced ecosystem, allowing for sustainable, mutually beneficial interactions among the species while addressing environmental concerns like salination. The programme concluded with a visit to Mercado de la Paz and Pescadería El Cantil, guided by the general director of Fedepesca. Here, participants observed the final

stage of the seafood supply chain, learning from expert vendors about the dedication and precision involved in presenting and preparing to bring high-quality seafood to market.

Underpinning the sustainable programme for young women in aquaculture is the GFCM’s broader 2030 Strategy for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, along with Resolution GFCM/45/2022/1 on empowering women in aquaculture, both of which prioritise gender inclusivity. Through these efforts, the GFCM is committed to building an equitable and supportive environment for women in aquaculture. This commitment aligns with a growing recognition that the future of the aquaculture industry relies on diversity, with women playing a pivotal role in innovation and sustainability.

Now with the conclusion of its third edition, one notable outcome of this programme is the establishment of NOWA (Network of Women in Aquaculture), an initiative born from the second training session in Greece. NOWA is co-founded by four participants of the training coming from diverse sectors within the industry. The network is dedicated to advancing gender equality and supporting sustainability in aquaculture across the Mediterranean and Black Sea region and beyond.

Addressing gender gaps in fisheries and aquaculture

Despite women making up half of the workforce in fisheries and aquaculture, they remain underrepresented in leadership roles and more frequently work in informal, lower-paid positions. According to SOFIA 2024, women hold 25 of aquaculture roles, 15 in marine

fisheries and 28 in inland fisheries, and they represent around 50 of jobs in pre- and post-harvest activities. Women contribute across the value chain, from vessel construction and net repair to harvest activities on board and from shore, as well as post-harvest processing, marketing, and business management tasks. However, their roles are often underreported in official statistics due to the lack of gender-disaggregated data.

In the Mediterranean and Black Sea region, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), the regional fisheries management organisation for these marine waters, is responsible for compiling employment data at the regional level. Its jurisdiction is divided into five subregions—western, central, and eastern Mediterranean, the Adriatic Sea, and the Black Sea—which are further subdivided into 30 geographical areas. To address these disparities, the GFCM’s 2030 Strategy focuses on increasing women’s representation in decision-making, promoting gender-responsive policies, and ensuring equitable access to training, technology, and resources. Collecting and analysing gender-disaggregated data is a key

priority, enabling the GFCM to assess progress and further drive policy changes for gender equity.

Regional Insights into Women’s Roles and Challenges in the Sector

A recent GFCM publication Women in fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region: roles, challenges and opportunities, sheds light on women’s contributions within the fisheries workforce, particularly in postharvest roles where they represent 38 of employment, compared to 16 in pre-harvest and 10 in harvest roles. Altogether, women make up 28 of the approximately 768,000-strong fisheries labour force. The study also highlights regional differences, such as greater involvement of women in pre-harvest activities in the Black Sea and harvesting in the central Mediterranean. Barriers such as limited access to financial resources, restricted mobility, and lack of training further underscore the need for targeted policies to support women in these roles.

A Path Towards an Inclusive Future

As aquaculture expands, so does the demand for innovative

The GFCM’s young women in aquaculture training programme concluded with certificates for the participants.

solutions and diverse perspectives. The GFCM’s young women in aquaculture training programme plays an instrumental role in equipping young women with the tools to lead in this field. By supporting

gender equality and sustainability, programmes like these set the stage for a more inclusive and resilient industry, where women’s contributions are not only acknowledged but actively nurtured.

Through initiatives like NOWA, data-driven research, and strategic partnerships, the GFCM is charting a path toward gender equity in fisheries and aquaculture—a vision that ensures a sustainable and

Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition, 18-20 September 2024 Reykjavik, Iceland

Iceland selects the best

prosperous future for the sector in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions.

Francesca Barazzetta, Eurofish, francesca@eurofish.dk

The Icelandic Fisheries, Seafood & Aqua Exhibition (IceFish), Iceland’s longest-running international fishing event, celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. Launched in 1984, IceFish has grown into a premier showcase of the global fishing and seafood sectors. In September, the 14th edition welcomed 12,387 industry professionals from a record 60 countries.

As a nation deeply connected to the sea, Iceland derives around 40 of its export value from fisheries. Known for its pristine waters, topquality fish and seafood, cuttingedge equipment, and innovative technologies, Iceland sets high standards in sustainable fishing and by-product utilisation. An exhibitor at IceFish must bring really outstanding products and solutions to meet the demands of this discerning market.

A country where everybody knows everyone

Latvian automation and robotics solutions provider Peruza is no stranger to Iceland, having previously collaborated on multiple projects in the country. Automation is essential here, where high labour costs drive demand for solutions that minimise manual work and maximise return on investment. However, entering Iceland’s competitive market is challenging due to strong competition among equipment manufacturers. Get your first project, advises Intars Puri š, head of regional sales at Peruza. Deliver your best work—even if it means

some initial losses. Build a solid reputation, and in a country where everybody knows everyone, word will spread. When Iceland is your top priority market, exhibiting at IceFish sends a clear message: we’re here and we’re ready.

Danish company Uni-Food Technic specialises in machines for descaling, heading, filleting, pinboning, skinning, salting, slicing, and by-product handling, with a strong focus on the expanding salmon market. The Icelandic market is important for the company. To support our customers here, we’ve established the Uni-Food Technic Iceland ehv. facility and office, enabling us to provide not only sales but also local service, explains Sigurjón Gísli Jónsson, CEO of the branch. Our team is on the ground, engaging with customers daily to enhance and optimise their systems, right here, locally.

Iceland also holds appeal for local suppliers. The DNG brand of Slippurinn Akureyri, based in northern Iceland, manufactures a wide range of fishing industry equipment, including grading, tub-handling, bleeding and cooling solutions, onboard vessel systems, complete processing

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, IceFish 2024 marked a milestone as a key event for global industry professionals, showcasing innovations and fostering collaboration. This year’s exhibition honoured its legacy of excellence and progress in the fisheries sector.

systems, and aquaculture equipment. Iceland is an ideal environment for product development, says Hilmar Guðmundsson, sales and marketing manager at Slippurinn/DNG. The industry here is incredibly forward-thinking. It is a luxury situation to be located here, to have Iceland as a home market. While we sell internationally, there’s great satisfaction in collaborating locally and seeing familiar faces at this trade show.

The first-magnitude star of Icelandic aquaculture

Anyone describing Icelandic aquaculture would emphasise

“Icelandic salmon” and “rising star”. At the first IceFish edition in 1984, the country’s production of Atlantic salmon was 107 tonnes only, while total farmed fish production reached 167 tonnes. Last year, salmon made up more than 45,500 tonnes of a total volume of 49,600 t. The leap started in 2015, when farmers were awarded with the licences for production in fjords, and investors with experience and knowledge entered. Such impressive growth has not remained unnoticed by the environmentalists, who oppose the sector’s expansion due to recent escapes, sea lice contamination,

Eurofish

and a negative view of aquaculture in general.

Arnarlax, the country’s largest producer of salmon, has had to cope with a dual task: to keep customers satisfied and environmentalists calm. The fish are grown and processed in the Westfjords and from there they are exported fresh to Europe, the US, and sometimes Asia. Some fish travel by air, but the majority is delivered by cargo vessels. It might seem like a long delivery time for fresh products, but in fact, after nine days of the trip the fish in the containers are still covered with ice and the customers get the best quality product. We grow our salmon sustainably, says Silja Baldvinsdóttir, quality manager at Arnarlax. We implement the latest technologies to monitor the fish, its welfare, growth, and sea lice contamination. Healthy fish grown sustainably is our top priority.”

It is estimated1 that in the bestcase scenario, combined production from Iceland’s fjord farms and land-based facilities, as well as from potential offshore farming will reach over 400 thousand tonnes of fish (primarily Atlantic salmon and other salmonids) in less than a decade. Though the government is still working on the legal framework and has recently revoked several licences due to environmental concerns, the prognosis creates a lot of optimism among investors.

Zero waste as a top priority

According to a report by the World Economic Forum, about 23.8 million tonnes (or nearly 15) of edible aquatic foods in 2021 were lost or wasted globally. Increasing yields is becoming a priority for the

industry. For example, a cod fillet accounts for only 35 to 45 of the weight of the fish, the rest being the head, bones, skin, and intestines. Strict regulations have driven Icelandic fisheries to innovate, developing profitable methods to utilize these by-products. Today, Icelandic cod processors make use of about 80 of the raw fish.

The Iceland Ocean Cluster’s “100 Fish” project pushes this even further, aiming to inspire the seafood industry to maximize fish utilization, add value, spark innovation, and boost employment. The cluster, a network of over 70 companies across the blue economy—including aquaculture, marine technology, biotechnology, and cosmetics—showcased recent product innovations at its joint booth, with products ranging from drinks and snacks to cosmetics, vitamins, medications, and more.

The Ocean Cluster was also one of the leading supporters of the 5th Fish Waste for Profit conference

held alongside the trade show. The event brought together speakers and participants from around the globe, providing a platform where they could exchange views, share experiences, and join forces in fighting fish waste.

Reflections on the decades with IceFish

Marianne Rasmussen Coulling has been the director of IceFish for the past 30 years. Describing how the Icelandic fisheries sector has evolved in that time, she says she sees a lot of consolidation: companies are getting bigger, they are merging to become more efficient. We see aquaculture massively on the rise, both land-based and in the sea, and salmon farming in particular. Salmon is now the second largest export after cod, which no one would have believed when I started three decades ago. More and more focus is placed on utilising the fish—how to maximise the yield. If before you would get two fillets from a codfish leaving

the rest as waste, now it is literally right down to the final gram that you’re trying to get. But now it doesn’t stop there anymore, it’s about what else can we use.

This year’s edition of IceFish, she continues, can boast 57 exhibitors that have never exhibited before. It might be that they will never exhibit on their own next time, as most of them probably came to the show to get an agent. This is because it is difficult to run the business solely from your home country—you need a man or a woman on the ground.

Marianne Rasmussen Coulling has officially announced that she is stepping down as the director of IceFish. This year I finally managed to see the Northern Lights, she says with a smile.

The next edition of IceFish will take place in 2027, dates to be announced.

Aleksandra Petersen, Eurofish, aleksandra@eurofish.dk

1 “The State and Future of Aquaculture in Iceland” report by the Boston Consulting Group prepared for the Icelandic Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.

Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdóttir, Iceland’s Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, speaking at the opening ceremony.

Closer cooperation between different users of the sea reduces risk of friction

Co-locating marine industries

How should the tourist industry react when a pristine view of the sea is marred by fish-filled cages? Or what should fishers do when they cannot deploy their trawls because of the presence of wind turbines? These, and others like them, are real issues that ocean users within and outside the EU are facing as the marine economy develops and evolves.

According to the 2024 edition of EU Blue Economy Report, an annual publication, turnover in the EU-27’s blue economy in 2021 was EUR624bn. In 2009, in the EU-28, the figure was just under EUR530bn. This turnover is generated from a wide range of activities including coastal tourism, maritime transport, shipbuilding and repair, ports and warehousing, oil and gas, and fishing and aquaculture.

Managing sea use becomes increasingly necessary

Some of these sectors compete for the same physical areas in the water. The requirements of other demands placed on the sea, such as by offshore energy, offshore aquaculture, pipe and cable laying, aggregate extraction, and defence, may also conflict with each other. Managing a diverse assortment of commercial, security, environmental, social, and cultural interests is clearly becoming ever more important at national and regional levels. Under the Swedish presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, a body that fosters inter-governmental cooperation in the Nordic region, the Swedish Board of Agriculture, Nordic innovation and the Swedish Rural Network, a platform for organisations and authorities engaged in rural development, jointly organised therefore a conference on colocating marine industries. The

objective was to describe some of the opportunities, challenges, and potential solutions related to the use of marine spaces by different users.

Based on a report commissioned by the Swedish Energy Agency in 2022, Christian Schell from RISE, a Swedish research institute that carried out the study, told the audience that a turbine’s interference with fishing depended on its foundation. Fixed foundations appear in different variations for example, monopile, gravitation, or jacket foundations are all types of fixed foundations. Floating foundations, which can take the form of a barge, spar, or tension-leg platform, on the other hand, require anchor chains that reach far out from the foundation making it riskier to use trawls. The study was conducted in collaboration with different stakeholders—producer organisations, authorities, and offshore wind companies—and from the fishers’ point of view the tension-leg platform was the preferred type of floating foundation. Pelagic trawls can be huge structures, Mr Schell said, and the vessels towing them up to 90 m long. Such a vessel could be pulling 1,000 m of gear with the mouth of the trawl 200 m wide and 150 m high. These will be impossible to tow in a wind farm. But vessels, of 20-30 m, with correspondingly smaller gear could operate there as turbines will be around 1.2 km apart and have a 50 m buffer zone.

Detailed policies jointly developed by stakeholders could mitigate risks

Fishing gear getting caught in cables is one risk, another is of vessel allisions with turbines or collisions with other marine traffic, while yet another comes from underwater cables which may not be adequately buried under the seabed. The study found the risk of allision with turbines to be low. Moreover, vessels tend to fish singly or in pairs; fishing in groups of vessels is increasingly uncommon, so the chances of collisions between vessels are remote and even if two vessels meet while fishing in a wind farm there are protocols guiding how they react to prevent damage to the gears or the vessels themselves. Mr Schell’s recommendations included the development of policies by the government to guide fishing in wind farms that go into details about the type of vessels and gears. These policies could be published in easy-to-read handbooks that are

jointly produced by all stakeholders. When designing farms, he suggested keeping the fishing sector involved from the outset, building bigger and fewer turbines, placing them on obstructions that fishers would avoid in any case, and ensuring that fishers receive training on safety specifically related to operations in a wind farm. Insurance schemes for fishers should include a training in standard procedures in case of an incident. If, for instance, their gear gets caught in a turbine the fisher should know when to let it go and not try and save it rather than risk damage to his vessel or the turbine.

Dialogue and data lead to better coexistence

More generally, Sweden is looking to boost the possibility of offshore wind, of which there is a total of 100 gigawatts at various stages of development, according to the industry association, Svensk Vindenergi. All large complex developments must contend with various regulations,

Emil Gejrot and Thordur Reynisson from Nordic Innovation, one of the co-organisers of the event.

directives, and laws at different administrative levels, and wind farms are no exception. Moreover, the open-door system for applying to build an offshore wind farm in Sweden leads to less certainty and less possibilities to prescribe multiuse, said Jonas Bjärnstedt, from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management. He added that coexistence with other offshore activities should always be explored when considering an offshore wind farm project. Some fishing activities such as catching with passive nets are more suited to wind farms than active gears like trawls. Furthermore, trawling, if possible at all, can only be considered in wind farms where the turbine foundations are fixed rather than floating, he said. Dialogue between wind farms and fishers may mitigate some of the challenges of coexistence as will more granular data on Swedish fishing patterns, and affordable insurance for both parties to cover damages in case of an accident. Offshore aquaculture is another activity that could have an impact on wind farms (and vice versa) but combining the two is still very much at the experimental stage. There are significant gaps in knowledge about building, operating and decommissioning combined installations so the relevant legislation has not yet been developed and there are challenges related to the technology, operation, and safety as well as to finance and insurance. Finally, in terms of their impact on conservation, offshore wind installations need to be compatible with conservation objectives, and should not interfere with environmental monitoring. He also suggested that wind farms may in fact contribute to some environmental goals, for example, by promoting biodiversity.

Clear incentives make collaboration easier

The need for collaboration between the different users of marine space

to jointly develop solutions that work for them all was reinforced by an intervention from Alexandra Leeper, CEO of the Iceland Ocean Cluster. Founded in 2011, this organisation brings together fishing companies, entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers and has grown from 11 members when it was established to some 70 today. Collaboration between members has contributed to the goal of adding value to every part of a fish and has been so successful that a single Atlantic cod that used to be worth USD12 now brings in a value of USD5,000. This development was not overnight but went step by step from simple initiatives that built on existing infrastructure (for example, to begin exporting cod heads to Africa) to more complex ideas that required more investment, more research, and were more risky. But the point Dr Leeper emphasised was that executing complex ideas leads to ways to working in partnerships and that these were critical to the overall increase in value that Icelandic fish now enjoy. Cross-disciplinary or cross-sector partnerships were more likely to form, she said, if the partners learned at the outset what they would gain from the collaboration. The value for them could be economic, social, environmental, or even marketing, but it was clear what they would gain and encouraged them to work and even collocate in some instances. Collaborating also fostered trust which she said was critical especially when different perspectives, needs, and wants were represented in the group. She also said that addressing a shared challenge is easier when there is evidence making a case for the need to work together. An example she gave was of waste in the fisheries supply chain. The data substantiating this waste came from the World Economic Forum and showed at which part of the chain the most waste occurred. Knowing this allowed partners to precisely

target their shared efforts to reduce the waste.

Offshore wind in Norway set to increase dramatically by 2040

Increasing collaboration between different users of the ocean to prevent conflicts is also the Norwegian approach. Kari Grundvig from the Directorate of Fisheries reminded the audience of the importance of both the oil and gas industry and the fishing and aquaculture sector for the nation’s economy. The former is responsible for two-thirds of total Norwegian exports and the latter for nine percent. Although Norway has a lot of marine space the demands placed on it come from oil and gas, fishing and aquaculture, shipping, defence, environmental protection, carbon storage, extractive industries, offshore wind, and cables and pipelines, among others. The contribution from Norwegian fishing and aquaculture to exports meant that offshore wind energy was not viewed altogether favourably by the industry which felt that fishing and fish farming would not be feasible inside wind parks due to the fleet structure, fishing gear, and feeding technology in use today. The directorate’s position therefore was to avoid having wind farms overlap with the most important fishing grounds, said Ms Grundvig, and to ensure effective use of space in the areas earmarked for offshore wind. In 2023, 20 areas were screened for their suitability for wind farms and, to Ms Grundvig’s satisfaction, 19 of these conformed to the wishes of the directorate.

Technical reports expected to answer most questions

Currently, several technical reports are being prepared by specialised institutes for these 20 areas that will analyse the impact of wind

farms placed there on different interests—shipping, the environment, fisheries, aquaculture, and so on. The data from the reports will be layered in a GIS system to give an overview of the overlaps between the various commercial and other interests in the areas. The report on fisheries will answer questions about safe distances, whether fishing grounds will be lost, transit corridors, restricted zones, compensation measures, and the use of passive gears inside wind farms, among other topics. Ms Grundvig pointed out that the 20 areas occupy a much larger space (ca. 54,000 sq. km) than is needed for the 30 GW of offshore wind power that is planned to be completed by 2040, which will require between 4,000 and 8,600 sq. km depending on the size of the turbines and the type of anchoring system. Existing wind farm developments illustrate the impacts turbines can have on fishing, Ms Grundvig noted, knowledge which can be put to good use when planning and implementing new wind farms. She used the example of Hywind Tampen, an offshore wind farm, that over the last 10 years has significantly displaced fishing activity from the vicinity of the turbines. Despite this and other examples of wind farms hindering

Alexandra Leeper, CEO of the Iceland Ocean Cluster, an industrial grouping that stands behind a geometric increase in the value of a single cod, Iceland’s most important marine export.

fishing and marine aquaculture, Ms Grundvig was positive about possibilities for cooperation between different users of marine space, for example, in building

joint early warning or accident warning systems.

Like other vast infrastructure projects offshore wind farms face a number of technical and environmental challenges. The conference showed that collaborating with other marine users from the outset could flatten some of the hurdles that wind farm developers face when planning and building turbines in the sea.

POLFISH 2024: September 11-13, Gdańsk, Poland

Biannual fair showcases Polish fish and seafood industry

The 17th edition of the Polfish International Fish and Food Fair brought together representatives from the Polish and international fish and seafood industries to exchange knowledge and forge strategic partnerships. The fair is one of the largest of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. Exhibitors came from 99 companies and 8 countries, while 1,245 guests from 26 countries attended. It took place at the AMBEREXPO Congress and Exhibition Centre in Gdańsk.

Among the exhibitors were Polish leaders in fish and seafood imports and processing, displaying a wide array of products— fresh, frozen, canned, smoked, marinated, deli, and convenience foods. Chefs delighted visitors with exciting fish dishes prepared from Polish ingredients. A popular new feature at this year’s fair was the ‘wine zone’, where attendees could sample products from vineyards in the Czarnorzecko-Strzy owski Landscape Park in south-eastern Poland. Wines from Portugal and the Balkan Peninsula were also on show.

The aquaculture section of the fair included fish farming companies specialising in carp and trout. The technology sector was represented by producers and distributors of machinery and equipment for seafood processing, including smoking equipment, cooling, and packaging systems. Attendees could also find providers of comprehensive design services for process technology lines and production system implementations, along with waste disposal equipment. The event showcased HoReCa and store equipment, as well as suppliers of containers and packaging for both

the processing industry and catering companies. There were also manufacturers of fish feed, systems for fish storage and transportation, as well as fish farming equipment.

Panel discussions and debates

The 2024 edition of Polfish also hosted a number of panel discussions and debate sessions, featuring entrepreneurs, experts, and others involved in the industry.

One panel featured the windsurfer and Olympian Paweł Tarnowski speaking on the topic ‘Sport in business, business in sport’. Another, titled ‘From trawler to consumer”, saw experts discuss challenges and opportunities relating to the future of fishing in Poland. Key topics included the sustainable management of Baltic resources, the role of technological innovation in the sector, and the need to educate consumers on how to consciously choose fish products.

A particular highlight for many attendees was the panel ‘Wine for fish’. Polish sommeliers Michał Krypa and Dawid Sojka walked the audience through the ins and outs of

Three days at Polfish were an excellent opportunity to meet, consult, train, review trends in the fish and seafood processing sector, establish business contacts important for the future development.

choosing the perfect bottle of wine to pair with different types of fish.

Best products in the industry recognised

The Mercurius Gedanensis prize was once again awarded to the best products and technologies in the industry. The judging panel was made up of representatives from the Medical University of Gdansk, the Polish Department of Fisheries, and the National Marine Fisheries Research Institute (MIR) in Gdynia.

This year the Grand Prix prize went to the EvraFish High Protein

Asian protein salad. The winner in the technology category was the National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, in partnership with the Koszalin University of Technology, for the development of a device to cut fresh and frozen fillets into strips.

Planning for Polfish 2026 is already underway

After the immense success of the 2024 Fair, many vendors have already committed to return in two years’ time. The 2026 Polfish Fair is set to take place in Gda sk from the 9-11th September.

Croatian researchers test new feeding protocols for Adriatic farmed finfish

Insect-based protein shows promise

Aquaculture is recognized as a key solution to meeting the growing demand for animal protein: it can produce nutritionally high-quality food in a more sustainable manner than traditional agriculture.

Aquaculture is the fastest growing animal protein sector of the food industry. As the public becomes more aware of the importance of a healthy diet, consumer interest in fish and seafood grows. In 2012, aquaculture production surpassed beef production (66 million vs. 63 million metric tons) for the first time. Aquaculture now accounts for 52 of global seafood consumption.

Massive increase in Mediterranean farmed fish projected

According to the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the vision of the European Aquaculture Technology Platform (EATiP), aquaculture production in the Mediterranean is expected to

increase by 112 by 2030—that is, by around 600 000 tons. Feed represents the highest operating cost in aquaculture production. To promote the development of a strong and competitive aquaculture

sector that can provide sufficient quantities of nutritionally highquality products for human consumption, a high-quality and environmentally friendly approach to feed for farmed fish needs to be

developed. Of particular concern are estimates that by 2040, demand for fish meal and fish oil will exceed supply, underscoring the need to find suitable ingredients to replace limited marine resources. Although great efforts have been made to find alternative protein sources for fish feed, an optimal substitute for fish meal and fish oil has not yet been found, especially for carnivorous fish species.

Thus, the challenge for European aquaculture lies in maintaining a balance between the increasing demand for fish production and the need to alleviate pressure on industrial fish stocks. One of the obstacles to the adoption of sustainable aquaculture is the lack of sustainable fish feed ingredients. Many researchers are therefore focused on finding alternative, sustainable protein sources that can still provide optimal nutrients for the farmed fish.

Experimental setup for pilot-scale and farm feeding trials

Results of growth performance and feed conversion ratio (FCR) following feeding trial of gilthead seabream, together with sustainability indicators of tested feed formulations.

Protein in feeds comes from a variety of sources

Over the years, numerous plant ingredients (including soybean, corn, wheat, canola and pea) have been tested as alternative sources of protein and oil. The aim was to have these function as partial substitutes for fish meal without having negative effects on the survival and growth of farmed carnivorous fish species. However, the use of terrestrial plant proteins has several disadvantages, including an insufficiently attractive taste, inadequate fatty acid profile, the presence of antinutrients, and the absence of the amino acid taurine, which is necessary for the growth of carnivorous fish species. Animals with simple stomachs (that is, carnivorous fish species) have difficulty digesting plant fibres (cellulose). This results in the reduced intake of energy, protein, minerals and other nutrients, severely limiting the introduction of plant derivatives into feed for carnivorous species. In addition, crop production is associated with deforestation, high water consumption, and the use of fertilisers and pesticides. Despite

these drawbacks, plant proteins are now an established component in commercial fish feed formulations; they still represent a more sustainable solution than fish meal/oil, enabling feed producers to reduce the proportion of fish meal in feed formulations.

Other alternative sources—such as processed animal proteins from non-ruminants (most commonly poultry), which were re-approved as a legal ingredient in feed for farmed fish in 2013 (Commission Regulation (EU) No. 56/2013)— have been shown to be a more suitable alternative to fish meal. Their increased suitability is due to their high content of proteins, essential fatty acids, and minerals, but also to their more acceptable taste. The use of poultry by-products (PBM) also supports industrial sustainability and circular economy principles. However, reduced levels of certain essential amino acids such as methionine and lysine and increased levels of monounsaturated (MUFA) and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), as well as reduced levels of n-3 PUFA (such as eicosapentaenoic acid

Alternative protein sources for seabass and seabream feed

The Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries in Split, Croatia, recently participated in the project entitled Enhancing Innovation and Sustainability in Adriatic Aquaculture (AdriAquaNet), funded by the INTERREG V-A 2014-2020 Italy-Croatia program. The project aimed to develop sustainable feed formulations based on alternative protein sources for farmed European seabass and gilthead seabream.

EPA and docosahexaenoic acid DHA), are often cited as reasons for reduced growth and significantly higher feed conversion in certain species.

Given this reduced growth, new feed ingredients such as macroalgae, unicellular organisms (microalgae, bacteria, and yeasts), and insects have been intensively tested. Insects have attracted the interest of animal nutritionists due to their easy digestibility and high content of protein (up to 60), vitamins, and minerals. In addition, insect farming is also environmentally sustainable thanks to insects’ ability to convert organic waste into high-quality protein, which means that they can be grown on biowaste. However, the fatty acid content of insect meal can vary depending on the composition of the substrate on which they were raised, the stage of development, and the type of insect. Compared to fish meal, terrestrial insects contain higher levels of n-6 PUFA but insignificant amounts of EPA and DHA, which is often a limiting factor in the use of insect meal in fish feeds because fish have a lower ability to synthesize EPA and DHA.

The aim of the project was to test the potential of poultry by-products and partially defatted pupae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), as one of the seven insect species whose use in aquaculture has been approved by the European Commission (EU Regulation 2017/893). For this purpose, two types of fish feed formulation were developed and tested: one based on vegetable protein (VEG) and one based on animal protein (FISH), i.e. fish meal and fish oil. In the plant-based feed formulations, different proportions of plant proteins were replaced by black soldier fly meal alone (VEG + INSECT) or in combination with proteins obtained from poultry by-products (AVI + INSECT), while the fish-based formulations were enriched only with proteins obtained from pupae of the black soldier fly (FISH + INSECT), partially replacing the plant components.

The experiment lasted 147 days, after which the effect of the test feed formulations was evaluated through an analysis of the growth, muscle tissue composition, skin colour, gut morphophysiology, digestive enzyme activity, and gut bacterial community composition of the fish.

Pilot-scale trials

The results of the pilot-scale trial conducted on seabass subadults suggested that a plant-based diet supplemented with black soldier fly pupae meal, both independently and in combination with a meal derived from poultry byproducts, has the potential to be an alternative feed for farmed European seabass. We found that, when supplemented with the pupae meal, this feed does not affect cellular homeostasis, growth, and overall fitness, and that it even providing some beneficial effects. The results of the study were published in ‘A plantbased diet supplemented with Hermetia illucens alone or in combination with poultry by-product

meal: one step closer to sustainable aquafeeds for European seabass’ (Pleic et al. 2022).

Similar results were reported also by our Italian project partners from the University of Udine, who conducted the pilot-scale trial on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) subadults. This trial also supported the potential of these new feed formulations.

The importance of farm trials

We have also tested the most successful formulation after a pilot-scale trial (a plant-based formulation supplemented with combination black soldier fly pupae meal and poultry

by-product meal, named AAN for the farm trial), in two commercial farms—one producing European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). During the farm trials, we measured growth performance, mortality, overall biomass gain, feed distributed, and FCR of tested fish.

The outcomes of the pilot scale trials were corroborated by the farm scale trials, which offered final proof of the quality and the potential of our new feed formulation. More importantly, by giving farmers the chance to try out newly-developed feeds that have been experimentally validated, we sought to pave the way for a smoother and faster transition

towards sustainable aquaculture based on circular economy principles. Their feedback has been of the utmost importance in further creating and developing new alternative feeds for farmed fish.

Current projects and future perspectives

In our laboratory for aquaculture, we are constantly developing new feeding protocols for farmed finfish by introducing and evaluating alternative and sustainable sources of protein. Our overall aim is to improve both the well-being and quality of farmed organisms. As part of the ongoing project ‘Environmentally sustainable aquaculture - fundamental issues and

THE WORLD OF AQUACULTURE

practical applications, SUSTAINAQUA’ (National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021 - 2026), we are evaluating the potential of

using extruded food based on more sustainable protein sources as an alternative food for farmed bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus).

In cooperation with Cromaris d.d., a company that produces and processes high-quality Mediterranean fish, we are evaluating

Pioneering the future of sustainable food with carbon-neutral microalgae

Nutrients in new packaging

the potential of more sustainable feed formulations with a reduced proportion of fish meal and oil, and with the addition of circular protein sources for farmed meagre (Argyrosomus regius) as a native first-class white fish.

In the future, we will continue to search for more sustainable forms of protein—especially animal-proteins such as fisheries and aquaculture by-products—in our attempt to develop sustainable feeds and feeding protocols that support the principles of the circular economy. We hope that our work will have a positive impact on both the fish and the final consumers.

Ivana Lepen Pleić, PhD Laboratory for aquaculture Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries Croatia, Split 21000 Šetalište Ivana Meštrovića 63 Tel.: +385 21 408 009 http://www.izor.hr

Microalgae combine high levels of nutrients with environmental benefits and may come to play an important role in feeding a growing population.

The world faces intensifying challenges in food security and environmental sustainability as the global population is projected to soar to nearly 10 billion by 2050, necessitating an extraordinary 60 increase in food production to meet the nutritional needs of all. Yet, conventional agricultural practices are already contributing significantly to environmental issues, including soil degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, agriculture is responsible

for around 21 of global greenhouse gases and significant reductions in soil organic carbon. Microalgae cultivation has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional farming practices, offering an incredible nutritional profile and substantial carbon-capturing abilities.

Algae for a healthier, more sustainable future

Microalgae, with their rich nutritional benefits, are especially

well-suited to address dietary needs in a sustainable manner. Certain strains of microalgae contain over 60 protein with a protein yield up to 20 times higher per acre than soybeans; these organisms offer a nutrientdense, environmentally friendly option for global food systems. However, despite their promise, microalgae are not found currently in many marketable products. Several reasons are behind this fact. Many microalgae are grown in open ponds so

their composition and quality is unstable. Other microalgae are cultivated in closed system giving more stable quality but also a higher price. Therefore, microalgae products are often considered niche, expensive, and inaccessible to mainstream consumers. Another drawback has been sensorial properties of microalgae that are often in dark colours and harbour a strong and unpleasant taste. From the customer’s viewpoint, the variability in composition and

Researchers conduct biometric measurements in the field.

An Icelandic company is collaborating with Matis, a research laboratory, to improve the nutritional qualities and enhance the sensorial properties of products based on Spirulina that the company grows.

undesirable sensory qualities of algae-based food ingredients (smell and taste), coupled with contamination risks, are major concerns. The food industry, renowned for its commitment to biosafety and reliability, finds itself challenged by the potential liabilities inherent in traditional algae cultivation. Processing of proteins and other ingredients from microalgae are also challenging as their strong cell walls often demand harsh extraction techniques.

Europe currently imports the majority of its algal biomass, producing just 0.6 of the world’s algae supply. To integrate microalgae into Europe’s protein plan

and meet diverse market needs, substantial scale-up initiatives are required, if microalgae are to be a part of European sustainability goals such as the European Green Deal and the Bioeconomy Strategy.

Vaxa Technologies

One of those initiatives comes from the Icelandic company, Vaxa Technologies. The company’s journey began with a vision to bridge the gap between technology and sustainable food production. By 2018, it had already achieved a production milestone of 0.5 tons, establishing its first facility in collaboration with ON Power (Orka Náttúrunnar) to

harness green electricity, natural CO2, and water. ON Power runs a geothermal powerplant close to Reykjavík and produces and sells electricity in a responsible and environmentally friendly manner.

Vaxa has pioneered a breakthrough microalgae cultivation technology, addressing the challenges of production costs, sustainability, and ensuring consistent, high-quality nutritional value in their algae products. The company operates their algae production facility in Iceland, in the zero-waste zone uniquely integrated with ON Power’s geothermal power plant. Their pioneering approach and technology, backed by 49 patents, leverage

the natural by-products of the Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Station. They utilize geothermal waste streams, specifically, captured natural CO2, as a key feed for their microalgae, transforming this waste and clean energy into sustainable food products. This unique concept uses 100 clean electricity to support LED-lighting and downstream processing, cold and hot wastewater streams for thermal management, and natural CO2 for biofixation—all directly from the power plant. This synergy provides all essential resources for efficient and sustainable algae growth, underlining Vaxa’s commitment to innovative, environmentally responsible food production.

One of the microalgae that is promising as an alternative protein source is Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina). Spirulina is a cyanobacteria that is wellknown for its high content of phycocyanin (CPC), a phycobiliprotein that presents many interesting properties. The phycobiliproteins are deep-coloured and water-soluble proteins that can be found in most cyanobacteria and microalgae.

Vaxa’s nutrient-rich Spirulina biomass features a consistent composition providing highquality proteins (essential amino acids 10.2 g/100 g), active B12 (1.8 mcg/100 g), and bioavailable iron (30 mg/100 g), thus offering three-dimensional nutritional parity to beef. Every replacement of 1 kg of beef by Vaxa Spirulina saves ~300 m2 of land, ~1,000 m3 of fresh water, and ~100 kg CO2e.

The Vaxa Spirulina also contains 12 vitamins (including E & K), essential minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc), and antioxidants/carotenoids (betacarotene, lutein, zeaxanthin). To tackle the challenges associated with algae-based food ingredients, Vaxa Technologies has developed an innovative solution. This breakthrough stands as the first and only certified carbon-negative algae-based food ingredient manufacturing process. Their innovative approach ensures the delivery of superior nutritional values, while making ingredients with indiscernible smell or taste in the end product. The high nutritional quality means that only a minimal inclusion rate is required to obtain tangible nutritional and functional benefits, which encourages widespread adoption for

the first time of algae-based food ingredients.

Pioneering sustainable food solutions through innovation

Matis is a leading food research and innovation institute in Iceland with broad know-how in product development, quality assessment, consumer studies, environmental and sustainability assessment. The institute has pilot plant facilities including centrifuges, filtration units (ultra, micro and osmosis) and driers for development and production of high value ingredients from biomass. Matis is a national reference lab running microbiological and chemical analysis laboratories as well as sensory analysis. Vaxa and Matis have worked on several research projects in relation to utilisation of Spirulina with the aim to increase

The sustainable future of turbot larvae production

even further the nutritional, bioactive and functional properties of products as well as their sensorial properties. These include use of enzymes and other processes with good results. As an example, the use of enzymes has made it possible to increase the antioxidant properties of Spirulina products, and has a positive effect on their sensorial attributes. Vaxa, Matis and the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) along with Icelandic and Danish food producers have joined forces in projects such as Iceblue and Ultra-B12 funded by Eurostars where the aim is to bring products to the market with exceptional nutritional properties. Microalgae promises to be at the forefront as an accessible, nutritious, and cost-effective alternatives to traditional food sources.

Margrét Geirsdottir, Matis, mg@matis.is

Harnessing organic copepods

The aquaculture industry has witnessed a paradigm shift towards sustainable practices in recent years, driven by the need to address environmental concerns and the growing demand for high-quality seafood. One of the most promising developments in this sector is the organic production of fish larvae, particularly the European turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus ), a highly valued flatfish species. The research project ORACLE-FISH explores the innovative use of the organic copepod Apocyclops royi as live feed for turbot larvae, highlighting its potential to enhance growth, survival rates, and overall health in aquaculture settings.

Understanding turbot larvae and their nutritional needs

Turbot larvae are particularly sensitive during their early developmental stages, requiring specific nutritional inputs to ensure optimal growth and survival. As carnivorous fish, turbot larvae rely heavily on live feed, which

provides essential nutrients, including fatty acids, proteins, and vitamins. Traditionally, rotifers and Artemia have been the mainstay of live feeds in aquaculture; however, these organisms often fall short in meeting the specific nutritional needs of turbot larvae.

The transition from yolk sac to exogenous feeding is a critical period in

the life cycle of fish larvae. During this phase, the larvae must quickly adapt to external food sources, and their ability to thrive is closely linked to the quality and nutritional composition of the live feed provided. Consequently, there is a pressing need to explore alternative live feed options that can better support the growth and health of turbot larvae.

The role of copepods in larval nutrition

Copepods are small crustaceans that occupy a pivotal role in aquatic food webs. They are known for their high nutritional value, particularly in terms of essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, which are crucial for the development

of fish larvae. Among the various copepod species, Apocyclops royi has emerged as a particularly promising candidate for use in aquaculture.

Apocyclops royi is a brackish water copepod that possesses several advantageous traits for larval fish nutrition. Its small size, high reproductive rate, density tolerance and ability to thrive in various environmental conditions make it an ideal live feed organism. Furthermore, the nutritional profile of A. royi contains a balanced composition of proteins, lipids, and essential fatty acids, which are vital for the growth and development of turbot and other marine fish larvae.

Organic production of turbot larvae

Organic aquaculture in the European Union is increasing and in 2020 accounted for 6,4 of the total EU aquaculture production. Nevertheless, the main driver of increased organic production is the production of organic blue mussels whereas the production of organic finfish is stagnant. Organic finfish production is limited by technical difficulties in producing under the organic scheme, hence the availability of especially juveniles. If one wants to produce an organic fish EU regulations state that: “All organic fish must be fed with feed approved for organic farming from hatch to harvest”. Hence, we need to be able to feed with fish with organic food from the start. This is currently not an option, for most marine fish larvae, since we simply do not have an appropriate organic live feed alternative for the first feeding of fish larvae.

This presents a unique opportunity for the incorporation of new organic live feed concepts, that could potentially increase organic larvae and juvenile production. In the project ORACLEFISH a new production system and feeding concept has been developed to produce organic copepods. The organic copepod concept has been developed and tested on turbot larvae from first feeding until weaning to pelleted feed, in close collaboration with Aquamind and the Danish National Aquarium ( Den Blå Planet ). By utilising organic A. royi , aquaculture producers can ensure that their fish larvae are not only receiving high-quality nutrition but are also raised in an environmentally responsible manner. The organic production of turbot larvae using A. royi as live feed aligns with the principles of sustainability, promoting biodiversity, and reducing the ecological footprint of aquaculture operations.

Preliminary results from fish trials have shown that turbot larvae fed with organic copepods perform equally well in terms of survival as larvae fed with rotifers and Artemia . Further investigations will reveal if turbot larvae using the copepod Apocyclops royi as live feed harness a significant improvement in growth rate and general health. As the demand for sustainably sourced seafood continues to rise, the integration of organic live feeds like A. royi will play a crucial role in shaping the future of aquaculture.

In conclusion, the exploration of innovative feeding strategies, such as the use of organic copepods, not only supports the health and growth of fish larvae

Researchers at Denmark’s Roskilde University are experimenting with copepods as a feed for turbot larvae (pictured). The copepods are a better source of nutrition than conventional live feeds.

but also aligns with the broader goals of sustainability and environmental stewardship in aquaculture. As research in this area continues to evolve, it is imperative that aquaculture practitioners remain informed and ready to adapt to new developments in the field.

Per Meyer Jepsen, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Denmark pmjepsen@ruc.dk

Support from Danish grant programme

The project ORACLE-FISH (J. no. 34009-22-2029) is part of the Organic RDD 8 programme, which is coordinated by the International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems (ICROFS). It has received grants from the Green Growth and Development programme (GUDP) under the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.

University of Zadar contributes to the development of Croatian mariculture

Farmed marine species increase in value

Croatian aquaculture production is overwhelmingly dominated by marine species with output from freshwater farms playing a supporting role.

The main marine-farmed species are European seabass, gilthead seabream, and bluefin tuna, followed by Mediterranean mussels and oysters. In addition, farmers produce small volumes of several other species including meagre, toothfish, rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, goby, scallop, and sea sponge. In 2023, overall production was stable in relation to the year before. Reductions in volumes of tuna, seabass, and mussels were compensated by increases in seabream, oyster, and other species. In value terms, however, the total climbed 14 thanks to increases in value of all the individual species and in particular of tuna which showed a 30 hike (Table 1). Seabass and seabream are grown to the larval stage in hatcheries, before being placed in nurseries, and then transferred as juveniles to floating grow-out cages in the sea. The entire process is carefully controlled from the broodstock to the harvest-ready fish. Cultivation takes place in almost all the coastal counties with the bulk of the production coming from Zadar county. Farmed white fish is sold mainly on the domestic market and exported to Italy. Production has grown over the years following growth in demand on the domestic and EU markets, improved technology, and investments in capacity. Another

important species is tuna which is caught in the wild at 10-12 kg and carefully brought back to ongrowing cages to be fattened to 30 kg and above. Almost the entire production is shipped to Japan, though recently markets have opened in the US, the EU, and other Asian countries.

Increase in value compensates for decline in volumes of freshwater farmed fish

Production of freshwater farmed species in 2023 slipped by more than 10 compared with 2022 to 3,700 tonnes. This was influenced by a 40 reduction in the production of white and grey mullets, the second most widely produced species after common carp. Production of common carp, the species that accounted for 62 of total freshwater aquaculture production in 2023 fell by over 7. Grass carp and trout both recorded small increases and a group of other species including tench, bream, catfish, African catfish, Siberian sturgeon, grayling, saw almost a doubling in output from one year to the next, but from a low baseline figure of 55 tonnes. As with the marine farmed fish, freshwater aquaculture production too recorded a significant increase in value compared to the previous year. Carp sales by value increased 46

an associate professor at the department, feels that industrial fish resources and climate change pose a severe threat to the aquaculture sector.

and all other species went up by between 10 and 28 percent. The only group to buck this trend was that of the “other” species whose value declined by 6 (Table 2). Carps are warmwater species and are bred in large earthen ponds that lie along river basins in the continental part of the country. They are farmed in polyculture with other carp species like grass carp, silver carp, and bighead carp as well as European catfish, pikeperch, pike, and tench. Producers supplement the natural feed

in the ponds with cereals so that production is classified as semiintensive. The coldwater salmonids are usually raised in concrete raceways in mountainous regions where the water is the right temperature and available in abundance. Rainbow trout is the most farmed species and production is often fully integrated starting with broodstock and culminating in market-sized fish. Production takes two years and the fish are fed with commercial feeds since the water is devoid of natural

Lav Bavcevic,

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Table 1 Marine aquaculture in Croatia

Table 2 Freshwater aquaculture in Croatia

4,117,56310,625,6982.583,675,56813,486,8703.67

*Tench, bream, European catfish, African catfish, Siberian sturgeon, grayling and others Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

fodder and growth rates are critical to commercial success. Freshwater fish is sold mainly on the domestic market though in recent years a small part of the production has been exported to other EU countries. Farmed freshwater production, both warmwater and cold water has been declining over the years. The Croatian National Aquaculture Strategy to 2027 attributes this to disruptions in water supplies, predation, and the lack of systematic monitoring and prevention of diseases on fish farms.

A department for blue and green subjects

Started in 2011 the Department of Ecology, Agronomy, and

Aquaculture is one of the newer of the 27 departments at the University of Zadar. It is split into “blue” and “green” parts, the former covering agronomy, while the latter offers an undergraduate programme in underwater science and technologies, and a graduate programme in sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems. The undergraduate programme was developed with Plymouth University in the UK and is interdisciplinary with emphases on marine biology, archaeology, social science, and aquaculture— essentially everything related to the sea both above and below the surface, says Ivan Zupan, the deputy head of the department. That said, the programme also covers freshwater aquaculture,

though to a lesser extent. Students can choose the direction in which they want to go, aquaculture, production, or management of aquatic resources, for example. The university is also part of Conexus, a network of coastal universities in the EU, which offer a joint master’s programme in marine biotechnology. Students spend semesters at universities in France and Spain, and in Zadar they can participate in an aquaculture and seafood processing track. Scholarships are available but the rules stipulate that only one or two from the same country can be granted aid which results in a very international group of students. Students from outside the EU are also eligible to apply and the possibility of winning a

scholarship makes it particularly attractive for students from Asia and Africa; last year some 450 applications came in for 20 seats. The participating universities also benefit from the networks created by hosting foreign students.

Not everything looks rosy for the aquaculture sector

Studying aquaculture may not be the best career option in the future, according to Lav Bavcevic, an associate professor at the department. He feels that the constraints on the raw material needed to produce fish feed as well as the increase in temperature brought on by climate change will inhibit the growth

of the industry. The challenge will be to retain what has been created and not lose it. Growing fish deeper in the water column may be an option but it demands complex and expensive technological solutions which will push up the price of the fish beyond the reach of ordinary consumers and reduce the size of the market. The issue of climate change is one that severely affects the Mediterranean. The Atlantic so far is less threatened, but Dr Bavcevic thinks that population density along the coast and the pressure from competing users will prevent the development of aquaculture there. Offshore technology may be an option, but that too is expensive to develop, build, deploy, and run on a day-to-day basis. He cites FAO data that show that global production of carnivorous species has stagnated the last 15 years which he attributes to limitations in the supply of fishmeal, and fish oil, and soy for fish feed production. He sees some prospects in alternate sources of fish raw material such as waste streams from the fish processing industry, as well as in greater efficiencies when using fishmeal and fish oil to produce feed, but these, he feels, will not make a material difference to the situation. Growing carnivorous fish on land will face the same constraints and is unlikely to improve the production figures, though from an environmental and technological perspective this development is interesting, he says.

In Croatia, marine-farmed fish production has increased over the last decade to some 20,000 tonnes today and is likely to increase further. The company behind much of the growth has another site where the environmental impact assessment has been concluded and production can begin once they obtain a

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licence, says Dr Zupan. The site has a capacity of 5,000 tonnes and he expects production to go ahead despite the demanding logistics. Another company is looking at producing offshore in the open sea where they will test a new cage design to produce trout at a depth where the water is cold enough for the fish. This is already being attempted in the Velabit channel by another firm, says Dr Zupan, but there were mortalities because of the temperature. The company switched from trout to salmon and has now tested a submersible cage which reduced mortalities but is more complicated to service. In the Black Sea, Turkish companies are growing trout on land till the fish reach 500 g or so and then introducing them into cages in the Black Sea for six months in the winter period where they grow to 3-4 kg. In theory, this could be done in the Mediterranean too, says Dr Bavcevic, but the challenge is finding a source of freshwater close to the coast for the initial

growth phase. Other species are also being farmed in Croatia though production is still minor. These include species like meagre and common dentex. The latter is a new species and the price on the market is high because production is not yet very efficient, but this will

change in the future as knowledge about the fish increases. Seabass and seabream have been on the market for 50 years and there is a large body of research devoted to these two species and the same can be expected of common dentex, Dr Bavcevic expects.

Different strains of microalgae are being grown as feed for bivalves to see if it will encourage them to spawn more often than they do in the wild.

The department laboratory is equipped with machines to monitor fish health by testing the blood.

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Increasing bivalve production is an important research topic

Bivalve production is also a subject of interest for the department where researchers are working to increase and improve the production. We are looking at some new species of bivalves, Dr Zupan says, and at how to improve the current technology. He has just concluded two projects supported with European money in which researchers worked on oyster feeding trials and with the Mediterranean scallop which is an interesting species from a market perspective. The department has one Ph.D. candidate working on the reproduction of these species, collecting them from the wild and trying to get them to reproduce several times a year rather than one or two times as in the wild. Several types of microalgae are needed for these trials as feed for the bivalves which researchers are trying to produce in a big industrial bioreactor, the only one of its kind in Croatia. Identifying the right algal feeds for the bivalves and the proper sediment are important parameters to encourage them to spawn which could ultimately be the foundation for establishing a hatchery. Commercial bivalve production in Croatia depends entirely on the collection of spat from the wild rather than from growing it in hatcheries. The Adriatic like the rest of the Mediterranean is quite oligotrophic and the only nutrientrich parts are those areas near the mouths of rivers. The main production areas are Novigrad and the Lim channel in Istria, at the Krka river near Zadar, and Mali Ston bay near Dubrovnik, where bivalves have been produced for centuries. But production is limited because these areas are often in nature reserves

The high meat quality of the Mediterranean scallop (Pecten jacobaeus) makes it an interesting species to try and farm particularly as the population in the wild is estimated to be declining.

or parks, predation by seabream is a challenge, and there is competition with other industries like tourism.

Mussel rafts from Galician rías are tested in the Adriatic

The industry is also highly fragmented with an estimated 200 producers producing an average of 10-20 tonnes, with the odd farmer reaching 100 tonnes. The small volumes preclude the use of technology and most of the work is done manually. There is a lot of scope for greater efficiencies and higher productivity, and researchers at the department brought a mussel raft from Galicia to test it in the production zone near Zadar. The raft allows the farmer to exploit 15 to 20 m of the water column rather than two to three metres they use currently. This would allow them to expand production three or four times from the same area. The researchers also tested longlines as used in New Zealand, which again

is a more intensive production, but that did not elicit interest among investors. The imported rafts were not the traditional wooden structures but made with reinforced concrete. They have a much longer life, but are also quite expensive. A new 24 m x 24 m raft made of concrete is about EUR120,000.

Dr Zupan says some farmers from Istria showed an interest in the rafts in part because they could use nets to protect the mussels from seabream predation. The different trials that are ongoing with respect to bivalve farming should at some point result in an increase in the production of these molluscs.

Scientific inputs to coastal zone management

Fish cages in the sea occupy 0.05% of Croatia’s internal coastal waters, says Rina Milosevic, a Ph.D. student at the department, who used a new method to calculate the surface area of the farms. This information could be useful for management as areas with more cages could be avoided when planning farming sites in the future. The work also spotlights the fact that although the area occupied by farmers is relatively large, production is low, and this is a challenge that needs to be addressed.

Putting

novel technology to work for fish farmers

AI solutions for the aquaculture industry

A Croatian company has developed a series of products to help aquaculture famers estimate biomass, reduce feed waste, monitor cage infrastructure, and detect holes in nets, among other solutions.

Ana Bedalov was educated as an astrophysicist and twenty years ago was part of the team that discovered the first direct images of planets around stars other than the sun. Her speciality was understanding the sensors, the cameras, and doing the image processing. After a stint in academia, she decided to move on to solving real world problems using her skills in computer vision and the use of machine learning in image processing.

Microscopy

images from biologists were the first to be analysed

This was the start of her company, BlueDataB, which initially processed images generated by biologists’ microscopes. The work consisted of writing custom scripts to measure thousands of points on each image and of building tailor-made solutions to analyse thousands of images generated by microscopes. Her clients included big life science laboratories that were growing different types of cells. These solutions were software solutions where Dr Bedalov’s team would work with clients to understand the problem and the hypothesis and then develop software that could measure something significant to prove or disprove the hypothesis. Dr Bedalov feels that her background in science enabled her to understand the real

needs and objectively create the measurements and the scripts needed to analyse thousands and even millions of images.

Everything came to a halt, however, with the pandemic in 2020. Scientists (unless they worked with covid) could not visit their

labs and the company’s contracts dried up. It was a question of survival, so Dr Bedalov decided to find another field where her company’s skills, methodology, and people could be deployed to create solutions but where measurements were not taken by humans but by machines. Very soon,

she says, we were working with images taken by drones. Then she heard about remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) that were used by salmon farmers in Norway and about cameras installed in the fish cages monitoring the fish and cage infrastructure. Of course, analysing this footage manually is

Ana Bedalov, the CEO of BlueDataB, a company that specialises in advanced aquaculture data analysis using machine learning, neural networks, AI, and video image processing.

hugely expensive and Dr Bedalov saw this as an area with potential for her company. She read a lot of papers and books and talked with a lot of people, asking all kinds of questions. Finally, she invested in a trip to Norway to visit fish farmers and the inspection companies that had the robots and the cameras and started the first collaborations to detect and solve the problems. At this time, some three years ago, the companies that were using image processing and AI in aquaculture were the few that had their own stereo camera hardware and were processing biometry data from Atlantic salmon. Rather than develop her own hardware in the form of very precise stereo cameras, Dr Bedalov preferred to use existing cameras that were already installed in the cages and were taking recordings on a daily or weekly basis.

Assessing biofouling on cage nets

The first solutions she developed showed the development of biofouling on the cage nets. Since the inspection company’s ROVs were already scanning the whole net looking for a breach, BlueDataB realised it would have to offer another kind of service. It, therefore, developed a complex algorithm that detected the net, the thickness of the rope, the extent of algae growth, and the presence of plants and other biofoulants. The algorithm also removed other things that could show up in the field of view such as fish, ropes, and debris (such as bird feathers or uneaten feed). Developing the software took a year and resulted in a complete map of the cage based on a single inspection video looking for holes. The map showed the intensity, on a scale of one to ten, green to red, of the biofouling

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allowing the farm to clean when and where it was needed thereby reducing the expenses of net cleaning and the associated toll on the environment. Today the footage is streamed from Norway to Croatia where BlueDataB carries out the analysis. To optimise the footage Dr Bedalov worked with the inspection company to make some modifications to their hardware and even to slightly change the way the inspections were carried out, for example, by filming from certain positions with a different level of light or to come closer to or move further away from the net. This may prolong the inspection by a few seconds but these small changes in the inspection protocols enable BlueDataB to reach very high efficiencies with the machine learning, something that would otherwise take terabytes of video, or a much longer time to reach.

At the time the company did not have the capacity to develop a good stereo camera without which it would not be possible to achieve the precision it had managed using footage from the inspection company’s ROV. But Dr Bedalov discovered that less sophisticated cameras were in use to measure biometry. Snapshots are taken in the cage and the images are processed by measuring the lateral points on the fish and then calculating the biomass of the cage. So, her company developed the software to automate this task too. At the same time, it collaborated with another Croatian company to develop four stereo cameras which could take images of the fish laterally and from beneath the fish. These images could then be processed precisely with the software. BlueDataB now sells this software solution and teams up with the hardware manufacturer to sell the cameras on the Croatian market

as a bundled product. Dr Bedalov emphasises, however, that her company deals purely with software and plays no role in the manufacture of hardware.

Face to face meetings necessary to convince potential clients

Finding clients for the solutions has been an evolving process. Initially, it was by calling people to find out if they knew somebody who might know somebody in the

Norwegian aquaculture sector. This approach got Ms Bedalov in touch with the inspection company that was working for several farms in the Bergen area. She then invested a lot of money and effort in building a website and marketing her services online. This generated lots of visits to the website and even telephone conversations, but no contracts. The reason, she found out, was that decision makers were reluctant to buy her services online. One must meet and speak with

Company staff test the cameras before taking tuna biometry readings.

them, she says. Now we have partners in Norway as well as in Chile who represent us and can physically pitch our services to potential clients, building trust. Once we have gained their trust it becomes much easier, and we can get new clients by word of mouth. So far, the company, since starting with salmon farms, has also worked with tuna, as well as with seabream in the Adriatic. Regarding the Mediterranean, where there are many large producers of tuna, seabream, and seabass, particularly from Türkiye, Dr Bedalov says she needed first to find hardware that was built for the Mediterranean. Initially, the thought was to use cameras that were deployed by the Norwegian salmon industry, but it turned out that those machines were optimised for conditions using artificial light as it was so dark in the cages, the fish they were counting were much smaller (salmon vs tuna), the water was much clearer, and the average distance between fish and camera was different. Moreover, all the extra gadgets on the camera, for example, to prevent reflection, or lasers to measure the distance between camera and fish in the North Sea’s turbid water are superfluous in the Mediterranean. New cameras therefore had to be developed that were customised for conditions in the Mediterranean.

Solutions applied internationally

Today the company works with farms in Norway, Chile, and Mexico, apart from Croatia. Sometimes the farms are so remote that there is no internet coverage, and the counting must be done manually. There are some advantages to this; although the software can do things 100 times faster, sometimes conditions under the surface are difficult for the software

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to predict or be trained for, and in such situations a person is useful. At the same time, Dr Bedalov points out, humans are not infallible, so it is very hard to identify the golden standard. Software does not have the accuracy of a human with lots of time, on the other hand it is constantly getting better, it is many times faster, and it does not get tired after five hours of counting. In theory, Dr Bedalov says, she could develop software to carry out the biometry of any species. With a camera configured for that species a solution would take some time and some testing, but it would be feasible. However, for the moment the company will focus on developing solutions for the tuna and Mediterranean sea bream, because the hardware exists, the software just needs to be adapted, and competition in this market is limited. Another interesting area is cage inspections using ROVs, because the software can also detect which parts of the cage the ROV might have missed. Holes in the net can also be detected with the software, she says, which is

very interesting. But in the Mediterranean the use of ROVs to inspect cage infrastructure is less widespread, because divers can safely carry out the inspections. In the North Sea, it is more dangerous, demanding, and expensive for divers to inspect cages.

Environmental data from cages—another product for fish farmers

The company has faced some resistance to the solutions they provide, as workers feel it could make them redundant. In Dr Bedalov’s view, her solutions will either help them become better at the tasks they do, or free

BlueDataB

Bedalov d.o.o. Tomislava Antunovi´ca 17, 21212 K. Su´curac, Croatia

info@bluedatab.com https://bluedatab.com/

CEO: Ana Bedalov

them from the drudgery of clicking the nose and tail each time a fish appears on the screen and allow them to work at something else. BlueDataB also offers fish farmers another service which is to compile satellite data from public and private sources and provide data on water temperature from the surface to a depth of 10 m, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and chlorophyll levels. This information can warn fish farmers of changes in the environments and enable them to take remedial action if necessary. The variety of solutions provided is likely to see demand for these services expand to several other countries in Europe in the foreseeable future.

Activity: Advanced aquaculture video analysis

Fish species: Salmon, tuna, sea bream

Employees: 10 (applied physicists, programmers, engineers)

Markets: Croatia, Norway, Chile, Mexico

Among the services provided is one that provides data on several parameters measured below the surface.

Promoting local products to national markets

Valorising bighead carp

Freshwater aquaculture in Central and Eastern Europe is dominated by the farming of carps and other species which are grown together in polyculture in large earthen ponds. Common carp, grass carp, bighead carp, and crucian carp are farmed with carnivorous species like pike, pike-perch, perch, roach, and tench.

Different species farmed together in freshwater ponds feed at different trophic levels and so can coexist in the ponds. Common carp is the most popular species among consumers and tends to dominate the production. In many countries, however, carp consumption has been stagnant for years and a variety of reasons are attributed to this lack of interest. Among them is the presence of a large number of bones, an occasionally muddy flavour, the fact that many consumers associate the fish with religious festivals and eat it only at these times, the presence of more convenient fish products on the market, the price, and the lack of value-added, easy-to-prepare products made from carp.

A new idea for a company takes form in Vukovar

In Croatia freshwater fish farmers must contend with additional challenges. In the coastal part people tend to eat marine fish; consumption of freshwater species is largely restricted to continental Croatia. In Vukovar, in the continental part of Croatia, Goran Terzic and Miroslav Balaz, two entrepreneurs, felt there was a niche in the market for fish products that they wanted to occupy. Mr Terzic has a background in the telecommunications business, a role that involved travelling all over the world implementing telecom solutions. Having done this for 30 years he had reached

the point when he was ready to start something else. Shortly after came the pandemic when everything stopped and then he met Mr Balaz, an economist by profession, through common acquaintances at a conference in 2023. It turned out that both were from Vukovar and were keen that whatever they started should also be in Vukovar where they could employ local people and promote the city itself creating a story that looked to the future. Mr Balaz was keen on doing something with freshwater fish and presented this idea to Mr Terzic and Jugoslav Holik from the Croatian Chamber of Economy in Vukovar. He also presented the products he had been working on and the net result was that he and Mr Terzic joined forces to create a processing company, Istar-Agro, manufacturing high value products made from bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis).

Made from a mixture of carp meat, some vegetables, and fat, the products have been very successful and, following a competition, the company has been selected by a supermarket chain, to supply it with frozen burgers. The company currently operates out of a small processing facility in the middle of Vukovar, where four employees are responsible for the production. However, Mr Balaz has ambitious plans to extend the company’s activities into the primary processing of fish, start working with local fishers, develop proprietary retail outlets, and expand the range of

Balaz, the company CEO

and Goran Terzic promote IstarAgro’s products as part of a supermarket campaign.

products. This will also call for a move to a larger facility as the existing one cannot be expanded. Currently, the raw material is obtained from a fish farm which carries out the primary processing and supplies the company with bighead carp fillets. The facility started operating in spring 2024 and for the first few months Mr Terzic and Mr Balaz concentrated on optimising the recipes and the production procedures. A HACCP plan is already in place, but Mr Terzic feels it needs to be finetuned to reduce the amount of paperwork and to eliminate what he feels is duplication of some of the routines.

Three flavours and four shapes

The burgers are now made in a machine which is much faster and more accurate than making them

by hand which was how they were made for a few months before they got the machine. Once they are formed, they are flash frozen at minus 35 degrees, and then packaged in vacuum bags. Currently, the products are available in four shapes, round burgers, fish-shaped burgers intended for children, sausages, and kebabs, which are rectangular blocks roughly the size of fishfingers. They are also available in three flavours—chili, Mediterranean spices, and classic, which is without any additional flavouring. The three are labelled respectively Piccante, Aromatico, and Classic and sold under the brand name Panonica. The ability to add flavours was behind the decision to work with bighead carp, as this fish has a very mild taste and so the meat lends itself to being flavoured. The products were designed by Mr Balaz, who used a process of trial and error to work out the

Miroslav

(left),

ingredients and the proportions in which they should be combined. Some challenges were solved by a food technologist who, for example, suggested a different casing for the sausages so that they did not fall apart. Another issue was when the products were cooked. Being primarily fish, they do not tolerate high temperatures, but should be cooked slowly at low heat, information that is useful for the consumer to have. Once the products are formed, frozen, and packaged, they are placed in a small storage facility. We will soon have to expand the storage because with the space we have there is no room for a buffer, says Mr Terzic, now whatever we produce is delivered almost immediately.

Major promotion campaign by supermarket

The arrangement with the supermarket started when Istar-Agro applied to participate in a contest for start-ups. The contest selects one startup in different food categories and Istar-Agro was chosen in the fish category. The winners in the different categories are promoted on television and the Internet and in the stores. While this is beneficial for the company, it is not altogether altruism that drives the supermarket. As Mr Terzic explains, the promotion creates interest in the product and if there is sustained buying by consumers then the product can be launched in the rest of Europe. The products are branded with Panonica, Istar-Agro’s own label, and are also sold by the supermarket under this brand. Although in theory it was possible to apply for a grant to support the investment, in reality the procedure was so slow that owners ended up taking a loan instead. They were, however, supported by the Croatian Chamber of Economy. For Mr Holik from the chamber, the

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project aligned well with the Ministry of Agriculture’s and the chamber’s priorities to promote the consumption of Croatian fish particularly among younger consumers as the fish-shaped burgers are likely to prove popular with children in kindergarten or at primary school. According to Mr Terzic no other fish processor makes similar products and to expand the market further they are considering getting a halal certification. There are several angles to the story that are attractive, Mr Holik feels. The product is made with a very high proportion of fish meat with all the health benefits that arise from omega-3 fatty acids and healthful proteins. It adds value to the raw fish, which is a goal of national and European strategies to boost incomes from pond fish farming, and it is a source of inspiration for other members of the fishing and aquaculture organisation in the Chamber of Economy. Consumers may also appreciate that

purchasing these products supports the environmental services provided by pond farms.

Social media platforms will host promotional content

The supermarket has arranged for Mr Balaz and Mr Terzic to be filmed at regular intervals in different settings over the last three months and the clips will ultimately be released on social media, where they will form a narrative about the company. The campaign is

ISTAR AGRO d.o.o.

Sajmište 110 32000 Vukovar

Croatia

Mob. +385 911 513623 miro@istar-agro.hr www.riba-panonica.hr

intended to promote local entrepreneurs and products. Mr Balaz and Mr Terzic are no strangers to promotion having tried it themselves at an event in Vukovar in 2023 where they fried the sausages and gave them away so people could try them. They also asked for reactions to the products— were they tasty, enough seasoning, good consistency—and based on the feedback they adjusted the recipes. Since then, the company has come a long way in a short period and hopes are high that this rate of development will continue.

CEO: Miroslav Balaz

Director: Goran Terzic

Activities: Processing of bighead carp Products: Frozen sausages, burgers, kebabs Brand: Panonica

The burgers look good and are healthful too!

Eva Sardines: A Croatian brand with a long history

An Adriatic superfood

Rovinj, a popular tourist city on the Adriatic coast in Croatia, is also home to the fish factory producing a popular Croatian brand of sardines, Eva. The factory, owned by Podravka, a food and pharmaceuticals company, has processed sardines since 1877, when it was opened by a Frenchman. Its facilities are located close to the sea enabling fishers to bring their catch directly to the site. Sardines are then processed and packaged in Dingley cans without the use of preservatives beyond salt and olive oil.

The Eva brand was founded in 1965 and will celebrate 60 years on the market next year. The primary markets for Eva-branded products are Croatia and neighbouring Balkan countries like Slovenia with a smaller fraction exported to Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland, Ukraine, Australia, USA. The Rovinj factory produces about 70 of the Eva line of products, while the remaining 30 is outsourced.

Sardines remain the biggest sales category for Eva, but other canned products including hake, mackerel, tuna, and tuna salads are also marketed under the brand. Anchovies, a popular Croatian product, are absent from Eva’s range. According to Tamara Blažekovi , Lead Category Manager in the Business Unit Fish, this is a strategic decision. Anchovies require a lot of manual labour to process; additionally, the market for anchovies is strongest in Italy,

where Eva has little presence or brand recognition.

Eva is synonymous with the particularly high quality and nutritiousness of its Adriatic sardines, which is due to the cleanliness, temperature, and salinity of the water. Imported products at a lower price point from China, Tunisia or Morocco are now readily available in Serbia and Croatia. This means that Eva has had to position its own sardines as a

premium product to justify their relatively higher price—challenging the longstanding idea that sardines are simply a low-cost, budget-friendly source of protein.

Developing new products

The Eva brand regularly releases new, innovative fish products. The Business Unit Fish at Podravka closely monitors trends in the sector, and members of the unit regularly brainstorm interesting new

From left, Tamara Blažekovi’c, Lead Category Manager; Jadranka Seles, Lead R&D Technologist; Zvjezdana Hunjadi, Marketing Manager; Mirela Vugrinec, Category Manager

ideas based on input from different markets. Podravka’s research and development department then creates recipes, which are tested and adjusted for flavour. Once a recipe is agreed on and the price proposed, the company designs packaging, either in-house or in collaboration with an agency. New products are typically launched in the first quarter of the year to take into account the launching schedule of one of the top food retailers in Croatia.

The Podravka group is known across Europe for its food products

The Podravka group is one of the largest food production and pharmaceutical companies in Europe with a lengthy and storied history. The company was founded by two brothers in 1934. Initially a producer of fruit and fine jam products, it was nationalised in 1947, before becoming known for its line of instant soups. Its most famous and iconic product, however, is Vegeta. Invented by chemical technician Zlata Bartl in 1959, Vegeta is a seasoning made from salt, dehydrated vegetables, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). It enhances the umami flavour in food, and is widely used in Balkan and Eastern European cooking.

Today, Podravka produce a wide array of food products in addition to soups and seasonings—including sweets, baby foods, cereals, and baked products. Fish production makes up about 3.7 of the group’s portfolio. The Podravka brand is trusted by consumers in the Adria region, who associate it with high-quality products. The group operates many factories in

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Croatia, most of which are located in Koprivnica, about 70km northeast of Zagreb, where the company has its headquarters. The group also operates factories in Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Šime the Walrus

Morž Šime (Šime the Walrus) has been a recognisable part of the Eva brand since the mid1960s. The character was originally designed by the celebrated Croatian advertising agency, Ozeha1 and continues to appear on Eva packaging and to play an important part in marketing and communications for the brand.

Šime the Walrus is funny and hardworking—a brave sailor with

tusks, a flowing white moustache, and a Breton-striped shirt.

A series of cult television commercials featuring the character, aimed at children, were produced in the 1960s and 70s. The commercials are heavily reminiscent of classic American cartoons like Tom and Jerry or Popeye. When Šime eats his sardines at a critical moment, he gains the strength to (for example) defeat a wolf who has stolen a little girl’s toy car, or beat up a bearded weightlifter. These advertisements were groundbreaking when they were first produced, using humour and lightness to create brand recognition without mentioning the manufacturer’s name. The character was immensely popular across former Yugoslavian

territories, and he remains iconic in the region.

A few years ago, Šime the Walrus was given a makeover. When Podravka acquired the Eva brand from Adria in 2006, they revived the character. His appearance has been softened and modernised. He now appears in TV spots, and is an important fixture on the brand’s social media pages.

Strong focus on sustainable production

The Podravka group has implemented a sustainable business plan which includes transitioning to 100 renewable energy produced in the EU by 2030, and reducing its carbon emissions

1 Ivana Peri , “Bolji od Popaja, ja i nego Chuck Norris” (“Better than Popeye, stronger than Chuck Norris”), 18/08/2020. Libela.org, https://libela.org/sa-stavom/bolji-od-popaja-jaci-nego-chuck-norris/

Innovative new products are created based on inputs from different markets and by closely following trends in the sector.

by 40 overall in the same timeframe. Solar cells were installed at the Rovinj factory in 2022 as a way of working towards this renewable energy goal.

Podravka’s business plan also emphasises the need to ensure that fishing is sustainably managed. The fishers contracted by Podravka follow EU regulations, which allow Croatian vessels to fish for sardines in the Adriatic for 144 days per year. However, quotas are shrinking year on year, and fish stocks in the Adriatic must be shared between Italy, Croatia, and Albania. As a result, it has been difficult for the Rovinj factory to consistently meet demand. Frozen sardines are used when the fresh catch is not sufficient, and Adriatic sardines are purchased from other companies rather than sourcing non-Adriatic sardines from further afield. This helps to keep transportation costs low and to ensure that the quality of their product remains consistent.

In terms of environmental impact, the Eva brand carefully manages wastewater from the Rovinj production facility. Wastewater is purified on-site before being released to ensure that it does not damage surrounding ecosystems. The production facility also implements circular economy principles, selling waste streams created through the fish processing to a third-party company that processes it into animal feed.

Packaging is another element of Podravka’s sustainability efforts. The group aims to have 100 recyclable packaging for its food products by 2030. Eva channels on YouTube and other social media play an important role in communicating sustainability information to

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consumers—including information about the role of fish in a healthy and sustainable diet, recipes aimed at fighting food waste, and instructions for how to recycle or reuse different components of Eva’s packaging.

Climate change poses threats both direct and indirect

Climate change has been causing difficulties for the company’s production of Adriatic sardines. In the summer of 2024, a sudden increase in the water temperature, likely combined with an excess of nutrients from rainfall or agricultural runoff, led to an unprecedented algal bloom in the Adriatic Sea. The water became covered in slimy mucilage, colloquially known as “sea snot”, as unicellular organisms built up on the surface.

While unpleasant for tourists visiting Croatian beaches on their summer holidays, this bloom was devastating for fisheries. The algal biomatter consumes oxygen, leeching it from the lower layers of the water and affecting fish stocks. The mucilage also causes problems with fishing nets and boat engines, making it difficult for fishermen to operate. In combination, these challenged Eva’s factory in Rovinj to adjust. The factory therefore temporarily switched to tuna and mackerel processing.

Like other small pelagic fish, sardines are highly sensitive to changes in temperature and environmental conditions. As global temperatures continue to increase, the Adriatic is becoming more tropical—species accustomed to warmer waters are invading, and pelagic fish are at risk. Algal blooms will likely

Eva-branded products from the Business Unit Fish in the Podravka Group are marketed with the help of Šime the Walrus, a well-known character from the 60s, whose image has been softened and modernised.

also become more frequent and severe. It seems clear that the summer of 2024 will not be the last time sardine production in the region is driven to a crisis point. If

Podravka Group

Ante Starˇcevi´ca 32

48000 Koprivnica Croatia

proizvodi@podravka.hr podravka.hr

Business Unit Fish

Lead Category Manager: Tamara Blažekovi´c

Products: Fish in round, Dingley, and club cans

sardine processors are to survive into the future, they need to have adaptation strategies to hand.

Trish May, Eurofish, trish@eurofish.dk

Brands: Eva, Mirela, Arena, Rovinj

Species: Adriatic sardines, tuna, mackerel, salmon, hake

Markets: Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ukraine, USA, Australia

Research

institute for the northern Adriatic has a long

pedigree

Fifty-year-old data is still useful

The Centre for Marine Research (CMR), part of the Ruder Boskovic Institute since the 60s, has been dedicated to the study of the northern Adriatic for the last 130 years.

The Centre for Marine Research is in Rovinj on the eastern coast of the northern Adriatic, a location that gives researchers direct access to hotspots of bio- and habitat diversity, according to a monograph1 on the centre published in 2021 to commemorate its 130-year anniversary. This diversity as well as its accessibility (it is less than 50 m deep) make the northern Adriatic an exciting subject for marine researchers both local and international. The centre fosters this collaboration by offering the necessary infrastructure and facilities as well as a community of local experts.

The northern Adriatic influences the entire Mediterranean

Fragile yet dynamic, the northern Adriatic is the most productive part of the Adriatic Sea thanks in part to the river Po which is the second largest Mediterranean river and an important source of nutrients. These influence primary production in the northern Adriatic which in turn has an impact on blue fish stocks, sardines and anchovies, and by extension on the local fishing community. A fleet of some 30 vessels based in the area targets these species. The northern Adriatic is a small sea heavily influenced by meteorological conditions, says Daniela Maric Pfannkuchen, a senior researcher at CMR. For example, a strong

Bura wind, a northeast wind blowing in the winter, cools the surface water making it dense and with a huge production of phytoplankton, so it is a very good oxygenator. The cool water sinks and feeds the deep water of the entire Mediterranean with oxygen, so it is ecologically very important, she says. The Eastern Adriatic Current is another significant oceanographic feature of the Adriatic that brings highly saline water from the southern Adriatic and the Levantine Basin in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and is rich in biodiversity but poor in nutrients. It travels up the Croatian coast and loops back down the Italian side where it is called the Western Adriatic current. This current is different as it is affected by the freshwater inflows from the Po and is richer in nutrients and lower in salinity, characteristics that can be seen on a satellite map showing chlorophyll concentrations. Unexpected behaviour of the currents this summer resulted in a mucilage event which could be tracked using satellite data. For these reasons, among others, Dr Maric Pfannkuchen says that the northern Adriatic is an interesting area to research, and more so because the centre has environmental, planktonic, oceanographic, and biological data sets that date back to the Croatian scientific programme for monitoring the northern Adriatic that began some 50 years ago. This means when anything new or unusual is discovered thanks to new methodologies, it

researchers study the molecular life

can be compared with data from the past.

A critical role in the development of seabass and seabream farming

In the 70s, under the leadership of Zelimir Filic, the Mariculture Laboratory at CMR established the practice of artificial insemination of seabass and seabream, and successfully raised the fertilised eggs to adult fish. This work was critical to laying the foundation for the bass and bream farming

industry around the Mediterranean, a billion-dollar industry today. The centre also has a long history of working with phytoplankton and ecotoxicology and is also well known for its molecular laboratories and molecular models. Among the projects researchers are working on is Aliena, an Interreg project with five Italian partners and two Croatian that seeks to create common knowledge and a joint monitoring system to enhance biodiversity protection against non-indigenous species. CMR has a pilot area in

Daniela Maric Pfannkuchen, senior researcher at the Centre for Marine Research, and principal investigator on the ADRILIFE project, where

of Adriatic Sea phytoplankton.

1 130 Years of Sea Caring, 2021, Centre for Marine Research, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Rovinj

the sea at Rovinj, while the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (IZOR), the other Croatian partner, has a pilot area in the sea off Split, where it is based. Many species enter the Adriatic brought by ballast water in vessels and because climate change makes the Adriatic more habitable for species from warmer waters. This year lionfish and puffer fish, both tropical species, were seen in Croatian waters. The former was observed for the first time four years ago near the island of Vis but this summer it was seen much further north near the northern end of Dugi otok (island), while the latter was caught in the Medulin bay near Pula. Apart from fish, several other organisms are invading Croatian waters, like algae, blue crabs, and Mnemiopsis leidyi, a small ctenophore which is a major threat to fishers as they eat the eggs and larval stages of all the animals in the sea. The techniques used by CMR researchers in the Aliena project include eDNA analysis, and in the Croatian science foundationsupported ADRILIFE project, where Dr Maric Pfannkuchen is the principal investigator, they use the transcriptome not just to identify the species but also to see which genes different species are activating in different environmental conditions.

Climate change encourages the spread of alien organisms

The last years have seen very hot summers in the northern Adriatic which enables alien species from warmer waters to survive. Normally the temperature is eight or nine degrees in winter thanks to the strong winter winds that cool the water, while in summer it is 25 or 26 degrees. This year, however, summer temperatures were 30 degrees or more and the

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temperature started to increase already in April. These conditions attract organisms from warmer waters that are not native to the Adriatic, but also have an impact on the local fauna, which cannot migrate further north. However, Dr Maric Pfannkuchen cannot say whether local species are actually disappearing from the northern Adriatic as it is difficult to prove scientifically. We cannot monitor all the species and if we do not see them for one or two years, we cannot conclude that they have disappeared for good. Some plants may not show up in samples because the timing of the high temperature was not favourable, but they could grow again next year. So, much research must be done before the disappearance of a species can be confirmed. Physically bigger species like fish or the bivalve, noble pen shell, are easier to monitor. The noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis) suffered mass mortalities caused by a pathogen that wiped out almost the entire population in the Mediterranean. Some 15 or 20 live specimens that were still reproducing were found in the Adriatic. But the imposing size of these bivalves makes them relatively easy to see and identify. This is not the case with many other species which complicates monitoring efforts.

Non-native species can be marketed to consumers

Ways of dealing with invasive species vary from country to country. In Croatia, lionfish may not be killed by divers, while in other countries it is permitted. On the other hand, blue crabs can be caught and marketed by fishers and, along with other invasive species, are the subjects of campaigns to popularise them among consumers. Another species, bluefish (Pomatomus

saltatrix) is native to the Adriatic but was never found so far north. It is an aggressive fish that bites other fish as well as fishers when caught, and more and more are caught each year. They also grow to large sizes and are popular among anglers. This again makes them easy to monitor, while plankton or other tiny organisms can only be monitored with tedious microscopy and good eDNA. When a new species enters the northern Adriatic, it is less of a threat if it is not toxic, but if it is toxic then it needs to be carefully monitored for obvious reasons, says Dr Maric Pfannkuchen. CMR also has a focus on plastic, an area that Mirta Smodlaka Tankovic, a senior researcher at CMR and coordinator of the national monitoring for the northern Adriatic, is responsible for. Monitoring started in 2016 as a pilot project and since 2019 has been carried out regularly throughout the Adriatic together with IZOR in Split. CMR is responsible for the monitoring up to Zadar and IZOR from Zadar to Dubrovnik. The monitoring of the last five years shows that plastic pollution in Croatian waters is at about the same level as in other European countries, Dr Smodlaka Tankovic says. The

problem is that the Adriatic is a semi-enclosed sea with a retention time for water of 4-5 years. Any litter coming into the Adriatic stays for about five years. Moreover, the sea is relatively shallow and the currents not as strong as on the Atlantic coast of Europe, so there is less fluctuation that would help to remove litter.

Plastics are a challenge in more ways than one

With reference to microplastic counts Croatia is not much above other European countries. But because microplastic is so heterogenous is it difficult to decide whether it is polluting or not, says Dr Smodlaka Tankovic, so we just monitor the levels to see whether they are always elevated or only at certain points in time. One parameter is the level of microplastics seen in living creatures and this is measured by IZOR. Dr Smodlaka Tankovic has, however, participated in projects where she has had to monitor microplastics in fish and mussels and has found that levels are higher today than they were five years ago. She cautions however that this could be due to better monitoring rather than an absolute increase in

Mirta Smodlaka Tankovi’c is a senior researcher at the Centre for Marine Research and focuses on plastic pollution. She is coordinator of the national monitoring for the northern Adriatic.

microplastic levels. CMR monitors sea surface microplastics which is a standard measure to assess the load of microplastics in the sea, as well as microplastics in beach sediment to see how much plastic enters or exits from the sea. One source is clothing, more and more of which is made of synthetic materials, which when washed generate microfibres that end up in the sewage and then in the sea. Removing microplastics from the sea is not feasible, but Dr SmodlakaTankovic says that scientists are not sure what microplastics do to organisms that ingest them. Larger pieces of plastic that are ingested may result in mechanical damage to tissues, but a bigger threat may be from the adsorptive property of microplastics. This causes chemicals to stick to these microparticles. If such a piece is ingested by an organism it could face an indirect threat from the chemical. A further problem arising from larger pieces of plastic is that they can carry organisms that hitch a ride on them over long distances contributing to the spread of alien species.

Data from forty years ago provide a useful baseline for contemporary readings

Inflows from the river Po, for example, are associated with higher levels of plastic. The Po brings a lot of material both organic and inorganic which makes the northern Adriatic an interesting area to work in from a researcher’s point of view, says Dr Smodlaka Tankovic. We call it a natural laboratory because it is shallow, we can go from one side to the other in a day, and there is a historical transect which goes from Rovinj almost to the mouth of the Po along which we have been taking readings each month for the last 40 years. Findings today can be compared with this historical data, which is very

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valuable. For example, if when working with one phytoplankton genus a researcher discovers three new species in that genus, then she can liken it with the situation 40 years ago. Metrics for parameters like salinity, temperature, or biodiversity can be compared with those from decades ago to give an idea of the way the situation is evolving. Research institutions taking these long-running readings are part of a European project, LTER (long-term environmental research) a network of research networks that help understand environmental change. One of the challenges of comparing current readings with data from decades ago is that the tools and techniques used to take those readings are different from those used today. The readings may thus not be strictly comparable. Dr Smodlaka Tankovic mentions the Secchi disc, a tool used then to measure the turbidity of water. She explains to each new batch of her students, that although there are newer and more convenient ways of measuring turbidity, with a Secchi disc measurements made today can be directly compared with those from the 80s.

Outreach efforts an important part of CMR activities

Recycling nets and plastic gear is a good idea in principle to tackle plastic, but better perhaps would be if nets were built to last as they were in the past when a net would be passed from father to child. Nets are cheaper today and shorter lived, and therefore get discarded sooner and more often. When nets are lost, they are easily replaced promoting a culture of consumption. Today, fishers are more aware of the consequences of abandoning nets, and of the alternatives available to discarding them at sea. Authorities too are initiating

actions, such as clean-up drives, to encourage the responsible management of nets. This has the double benefit of cleaning as well as of awareness creation among fishers. But it is also the public that is the target of these measures. CMR scientists are involved in outreach efforts to inform citizens of the plight of the marine environment including the impact of climate change, plastics, pollution, rising temperatures, and alien species, among other challenges. These efforts to inform pay back in the form of citizen science, where fishers, citizens, or tourists, contact CMR if they wish to report something or ask a question, for example, whether a jellyfish is harmful or not. This interaction has become much easier now with the advent of the mobile phone. Citizens can take a picture and send it to CMR with a question. Sometimes it can be answered quickly, but there are also times when the scientists need to spend some time before answering the question accurately, Dr Smodlaka Tankovic says, while the person posing the question expects an immediate response. This can be trying, of course, but in the projects CMR is involved in, dissemination is always an important part of the activities. This is not restricted to

An experiment about finding suitable surfaces to grow macroalgae which are then used to repopulate the sea.

informing scientific circles about the project results but also the wider public. CMR therefore collaborates closely with the local community, tourist board, and schools in its outreach activities. These include opening the centre and the laboratories once or twice a year to the public, organising night museums, and holding open days for children. The point is to stir an interest in the children for the environment, its biology, physics, and chemistry and to make them aware that the centre is a source of reliable information.

Centre for Marine Research

Ruder Boskovic Institute

G. Paliaga 5 52210 Rovinj Croatia

Head of Centre: Martin Pfannkuchen

Senior researcher: Daniela Maric Pfannkuchen

Senior researcher: Mirta Smodlaka Tankovi´c

Activities: Basic and applied oceanographic research

Laboratories: 4

– Laboratory for Evolutionary Ecology

– Laboratory for Marine Ecotoxicology and Bioremediation

– Laboratory for Benthic Ecology

– Laboratory for Marine Nanotechnology and Biotechnology

Permanent scientists: 21 Doctoral and postdoctoral positions: 13

Research vessels: 3

Warming water and predation present major challenges for shellfish producers

Bivalves from the Lim channel

Climate change, parasites, predation are contributing to reduced harvests of European flat oysters and Mediterranean mussels for a producer in the Lim channel.

Croatia has a long tradition of cultivating fish and shellfish in the Adriatic. In fact, it was one of the pioneers in the farming of seabass and seabream in terms of the use of broodstock, fertilisation of eggs, and the successful hatching and onward development of the larvae to adult fish. Among shellfish species, Mediterranean mussels and European flat oysters are commonly farmed, while others like the grooved carpet shell, warty venus, striped venus clam, and Mediterranean scallop are harvested from the wild.

Shellfish farming is based on the collection of spat from the wild using collectors, devices that are suspended in the water in the breeding season to accumulate the freely floating spat. The collectors with the attached spat from oysters and mussels remain in the water for about six months, according to Ana Gavrilovic1 and her coauthors in a paper, after which they are placed in growout installations where they reach adulthood. Growing bivalves is simpler than the intensive cultivation of fish and shrimp which call for expensive feeds, and, in the case of some fish species, vaccination of the juveniles, all of which is time consuming, labour intensive, and costly. Bivalves, in contrast are filter feeders that extract their nutritional requirements from the water, mainly zooand phytoplankton, dissolved

minerals, and organic matter, and so do not need to be fed. However, if the water harbours pathogens or chemical pollutants there is a risk that they accumulate in the meat of the animal causing illness in the consumer. This risk can be mitigated by regular monitoring of the water and depuration of the bivalves after harvesting.

Pandemic years prove to be lucrative

In the Lim channel north of Rovinj, Emil Sosic and his business partner have established a bivalve farming site where they cultivate oysters and warty venus clams. The company, Istrida, dates back to 2005 when the partners were cultivating Mediterranean mussels and European flat oysters and harvesting clams by diving. In 2012 they were given a concession in the Lim channel that extends to 2032, the longest period for which these concessions are available. Over the last years there have been plenty of ups and downs, Mr Sosic says, as the Lim channel is a protected area with plenty of predatory fish and, in addition, it is a closed area forming a long and narrow inlet that stops at the end. In the last couple of years the impacts of climate change on the channel have been discernible. These are exaggerated because it is closed, Mr Sosic feels. There are many challenges for us—farming in this area is like a lottery,

sale to restaurants, fish markets, and hotels.

you invest the money and never know when or whether there will be a reward. Some years are good and some bad. In the two decades that we have been doing this, the best year for production and sales of our products, he says, was during the pandemic. During the two corona years when people were stuck at home, Mr Sosic requested the police for permission to continue harvesting. Five people harvested the

bivalves and waited for the season to start sales. There were no losses to predators, those only started in 2022, water temperatures were lower than they are today, so those two years were very good.

The biggest challenge today, even more than the temperature of 28 and 29 degrees, is predation from seabream, according to Mr Sosic. Each year he has

Emil Sosic, director in Istrida, a company farming European flat oysters and Mediterranean mussels in the Lim channel and fishing for warty venus clams for

1 Gavrilovic, A., Jug-Dujakovic, J., & Skaramuca, B. (2015). Shellfish farming and preparation for the market.

suffered significant losses due to seabream, the species responsible for 90 of the losses. But that is not the only issue affecting production. In the last two years, in addition to mortalities from predation, bivalve producers must also contend with higher temperatures. In 2024 the temperatures started rising unusually from 1 July. Until then mortality was at its usual level and was primarily due to predation, but from 1 July onward mortality started to climb from 10 to 15 percent of the production to 80 percent by the end of the season. The elevated temperatures also affect the production of oysters by weakening them and making them more vulnerable to a parasitic worm that burrows into the animal and consumes it. The problem is not restricted to the Lim channel. In Ston bay near Dubrovnik where some 50 small family-owned companies grow mussels and oysters, the high temperatures have caused mortalities among the mussels, claims Mr Sosic. Oyster production is suffering from mortalities too, but he thinks that the culprit is the parasitic worm rather than elevated temperatures. The solution, he thinks, lies in taking up the baskets in which the oysters grow, removing the individuals killed by the worms, cleaning the basket thoroughly, and placing the living oysters back in the basket. Moreover, the dead oysters should not be thrown into the sea but disposed of on land. The reason is that the worm has a short reproduction cycle and even if only one oyster out of 100 is colonised, the worm breeds and spreads.

A year’s earnings are taken in three months

Because the selling season is so short, about three months, it is

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also very intense, and operators often do not have the time for parasite management. But without it not only do they jeopardise their earnings for the current season but also for the next, as the worm also causes mortalities in the young oysters that are meant to be harvested the following year. For now, Mr Sosic sees only one way out of the situation and that is to raise his prices until his customers refuse to pay what he asks. We have to do this, he says, because, unlike the overwhelming majority of other producers, we are not a family-owned company, where family members do all the work—we have employees, and they need to be paid each month. We can handle a single bad year, but not a series. Besides, a colleague from a research institute in Italy has told him that the situation with climate change, far from improving, is only going to get worse. Mortality among bivalves caused by temperature is a problem that affects all Mediterranean countries, which means that farmers cannot import bivalves from other countries to make up for shortfalls in their own production.

On the concession Mr Sosic owns, he is allowed to capture warty venus from the wild, and to put up 4 km of long lines to produce 100,000 oysters and 50 tonnes of mussels which is the rated capacity for that concession. In theory he could produce more if he were granted permission, but in practice it is not feasible. In December, January, and February, he explains, the water temperature is low (11-12 degrees) and losses from predation are minor. But already in March losses from predation start to mount. He has tried different solutions to stem these

losses such as by wrapping nets around the growing mussels. But, ultimately, the only way to a good, meaty, fast-growing product is to leave the mussels free in the water. With oysters it is the same; the best products are achieved when the oysters are free in the water cemented to a rope. But then they are vulnerable to predators, so Mr Sosic uses a covered basket to hold the oysters. This technique has the disadvantage that the density in the basket is higher than on the ropes, so the oysters grow more slowly and are smaller at harvest. On the other hand, mortalities from predation are contained.

An exclusive product is liable to get more expensive

The company has four employees, a number that does not go up in the season as seasonal workers take too long to learn the job. Mr Sosic says training people takes so long that he may as well do the work himself. Even among his fulltime staff are people who have worked for two years and are still not fully capable, so workers who come for two to three months in the year do not stand a chance. Instead, he has invested in an on-board

Istrida d.o.o

Bruno Valenti 61

52440 Porec Croatia

Director: Emil Sosic

Tel.: +385 98 414512 emil_sosic@net.hr

Activity: Farming European flat oysters, Mediterranean mussels, capture fishing for warty venus

machine to clean the mussels which takes a fifth of the time of manual cleaning. Because the season is compressed into just three months, time is of the essence. The entire harvesting and sales process must be entirely free of glitches. The company has therefore invested in five cars just to pre-empt a slowdown in deliveries in case one car breaks down. The car will only be repaired at the end of the season. It is the same with the vessels, if one is out of order there are spare vessels that can be used instead, so that the men can go to sea every day during the season. The harvest is delivered to restaurants, fish markets, and hotels, while individual customers can buy on site, though they make up only a small minority of the clients. Customers who buy regularly throughout the season get favourable prices compared to those who purchase only infrequently. Other customers are those who want to make an oyster trip and taste the oysters, and they come from all over Istria as well as from outside Croatia. But, Mr Sosic warns, oysters are going to get more expensive and more exclusive, because developments in the environment mean producers will have less production over which to spread their costs.

Capacity: 50,000 mussels; 100,000 oysters

Infrastructure: Four km long lines for mussels, oysters

Number of lines: Seven from 400 m to 800 m

Depth of water: 25 m

Number of employees: 4

Sister companies produce tuna for export to Japan

Farming bluefin tuna on the Adriatic coast

Croatia has a quota for catching and fattening bluefin tuna (1,058 tonnes in 2023) half of which goes to two companies, Pelagos Net Farma and Jadran Tuna.

Pelagos Net Farma and Jadran Tuna are sister companies located, respectively, in the cities Zadar and, 30 km to the south, Biograd na Moru. Although they are two separate entities, there is some overlap in their ownership, and the two companies operate together during crucial periods of the year. Their primary activity is Atlantic bluefin tuna farming, with the coveted fish processed using traditional Japanese techniques before being exported to Japan. Pelagos also produces anchovies and sardines at its facility in Zadar.

Exploiting synergies between fattening tuna and fishing small pelagics

Pelagos and Jadran conduct their fishing operations in the Jabuka pit, a depression of up to 270 m in the Adriatic Sea. The area is named for the small, uninhabited volcanic island of Jabuka, located nearby. Small pelagic fish are drawn to the clean water and strong currents; in turn, these fish attract schools of bluefin tuna during the catching season. The tuna are caught when they weigh between 8 and 20 kg, under supervision from ICCAT (the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas). Stereoscopic cameras are used to monitor the transfer of the fish from the nets to the towing cages,

Paula Klarin,

and the fish are then moved by tugboat to the farm for fattening. The farm cages are located about seven nautical miles off the coast. The production cycle of the farmed tuna lasts about 18 months. During the farming period, the tuna are fed with small pelagic fish (sardines and anchovies) caught using the company’s vessels. A recent shortage of bait fish led Pelagos to partner with a Danish company, meaning that the farmed tuna are also fed with herring from the North Sea. The water conditions in the farm are carefully monitored to

ensure the health of the tuna, and to ensure that bait fish are not lost in the current and wasted.

As tuna caught in the Adriatic are generally much smaller than those caught in the Mediterranean, they need to remain in the farm for longer to reach the size expected for export. Pelagos and Jadran operate under a derogation from ICCAT, which regulates the bluefin tuna fishery. The derogation, issued in 2009, allows them to catch fish that are 2 kg smaller than is permitted in the Mediterranean. According

to Nenad Horvat, a Pelagos board member, the need to keep the tuna in the farm for longer before sale actually improves the quality and taste of the fish, as it makes for a higher fat content. The quota for tuna farming in Croatia is shared between Pelagos, Jadran, and two other companies. Jointly, Pelagos and Jadran own 8-9 of the 14-15 vessels registered for tuna fishing, and process 50 of the commercial Croatian tuna quota. Fishing operations are strictly limited; as well as operating under a quota, the tuna catching season runs for

Head office and ICCAT administrator; Nenad Horvat, Director; and Ivona Kuzman, Production manager

a 30-day window between May and June or early July. Due to these limitations, the four companies fish jointly and then divide the catch equally between them.

Japanese techniques used to slaughter the fish

When the tuna are ready for harvesting, they are caught from the cage. A traditional Japanese technique, known as ikejime , minimises fish stress during harvesting. A spike is driven into the back of the tuna’s head, blocking the nerves and preventing the release of lactic acid into the meat. This process is thought to reduce suffering to the animals, while also resulting in a high-quality product suitable for sashimi or sushi.

The fish are then immediately transferred to a Japanese vessel, to be filleted and superfrozen at -60˚C. The superfreezing process prevents the formation of ice crystals in the fish, meaning that the cellular structure remains intact. The fish is preserved in its fresh state and can be stored this way with no impact on quality for up to two years. This process also ensures that parasites are eliminated, meaning that the fish can be safely consumed raw. The majority of Pelagos’ and Jadran’s tuna catch is exported to Japan, where it sells for a high price. Increasingly, however, as demand for fresh tuna increases across Europe, some is held back by Pelagos for sale on the domestic and EU markets.

Salted and marinated small pelagics

In addition to tuna farming, Pelagos also produce small pelagic fish. Croatian vessels are limited to no more than 20 consecutive

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days of fishing for the small pelagic fish, and each vessel can catch 100 tonnes per month. Pelagos operates year round under these restrictions. Its vessels leave the port before sunset, anchoring overnight. Spotlights are used to attract the schools of sardines and anchovies, which are then caught in traditional purse seine nets. At the production facility in Zadar, anchovies and sardines are readied for the market, processed on the same day they are caught. Pelagos’ facility has the capacity to salt, marinate, and freeze fish, and has been in operation since 2018. In the summer period, from March or April to September, the production facility is mainly focused on salting the fresh catches of anchovies. In the autumn and winter, the focus changes to sardines, which are salted or frozen. According to Mr Horvat, Pelagos’ operation of the tuna farms gives their sardine and anchovy production an edge over their competitors. If part of their catch does not meet the quality standards the company imposes, Pelagos is not compelled to process this for the customers, but can simply use it as tuna bait.

Maturation for a year gives the anchovies special sensory properties

The process Pelagos uses for salting anchovies is complex. The only ingredients are the fish and salt: no preservatives are used. The anchovies are salted and layered in barrels, and a weight is applied on top. Employees monitor the liquid solution that develops as the salt removes moisture from the fish, checking for taste and appearance. The liquid is replaced first after fifteen days, and then every month or two. When salted, the yield of the fish shrinks to about 66 of its original

weight. Anchovies need to spend a minimum of four months in the salt solution before they can be used for cooking. However, longer is better, and Pelagos prefer to salt the fish for about a year to ensure that the quality is at the standard their customers expect. Pelagos Net Farma currently employs about 170 people. As the business has expanded, they have found it necessary to look for staff from outside Croatia, as there are not enough people in the region to meet staffing demands. The company now has about 18 employees from the Philippines working at the pelagic fish production facility in Zadar.

Investments to lower carbon footprint

Environmental impact assessment studies have confirmed that Jadran and Pelagos’ process of farming tuna has no negative impact on the surrounding environment. However, Pelagos are currently in the process of implementing energy-saving measures to reduce their carbon footprint. The cold storage system at their processing facility uses carbon dioxide, a more environmentally friendly alternative than other refrigerants. The company further plans to secure funding from the EU to install solar cells on the roof of their processing facility.

Pelagos Net Farma

Gazenicka 28b 23000 Zadar

Croatia

Tel.: +385 23 638 291 info@pelagos-net.hr

Director: Nenad Horvat

Head office and ICCAT

administrator: Paula Klarin

Pelagos are also considering ways in which they might convert the byproducts from processing the tuna and small pelagic fish into other high-value products. However, Nenad Horvat notes, there would need to be significant investment if a project like this were to go ahead, as it would be necessary to produce a large quantity in order to interest external buyers. At present, Pelagos brings the tuna harvest remains ashore and sells the processing byproduct to companies that produce pet food. The need to develop an alternative use for the byproduct is therefore not pressing.

Annual April festival promotes local fish and wine

Pelagos and Jadran Tuna jointly sponsor an annual “Tuna, Sushi and Wine” festival in Zadar as a way of showcasing their products. Held over five days in April, the festival partners with local restaurants and attracts a large number of tourists. The Croatian Ministry of Tourism and the Japanese Embassy are patrons of the event. For the companies, the event celebrates their commitment to the local community and is an opportunity to share some of the rewards they have earned from their commercial activities.

Trish May, Eurofish, trish@eurofish.dk

Production manager: Ivona Kuzman

Activity: Tuna fattening, anchovy and sardine processing

Cold store capacity: 1,600 tonnes

Purse seiners: 2 (40 m and 31 m)

Employees: 170

An innovativeprocessing company with strong Croatian roots

Marikomerc’s recipe for success

Marikomerc is a seafood processing company located in the Dalmatia region of Croatia. The company produces seafood products for the local and European markets, balancing traditional processing with modern convenience.

Vice Kata i , technical director of Marikomerc, has a deep love of seafood, and has worked across all aspects of the seafood value chain for over 20 years. He enjoys angling and cooking himself—and even jokes that his astrological sign is Pisces.

Marikomerc offers a range of different seafood products, including tuna, cuttlefish, octopus, hake, and shellfish. Its products are designed for both retail sales and the Horeca sector. While some of the seafood they process is Croatian in origin, the company also imports seafood from across Europe, given the instability of supply in the Adriatic. The company owns a fleet of trucks which it uses for international and national distribution. It ensures that the trucks do not conduct journeys while empty: they take either Marikomerc products or those from a third party for delivery abroad to countries like Spain or the Netherlands and return with raw materials for processing.

Croatian traditions meet modern convenience

Mr Kata i notes that globally, companies are moving towards producing more processed seafood products. However, for now, Marikomerc focuses chiefly on creating convenient and easy-to-use products for both home cooks and Horeca. Processing at its facility aims to cut out the unpleasant or time-consuming tasks associated with preparing seafood. We always consider how we can help people avoid this work

that is done in the kitchens, says Mr Kata i . For example, Marikomerc produces cuttlefish cleaned and cut into cubes. We deliver it to the restaurant, and then at the restaurant they can immediately cook it. They don’t need to cut it, to clean it, so they don’t have to deal with problems of waste or garbage. The company also sells these cuttlefish cubes together with cuttlefish ink in supermarkets, making it easy for customers to prepare a traditional black risotto.

Another of the products that the company produces is dried cod, which is traditionally eaten in Croatia in the lead-up to Christmas and during Easter. To prepare this fish, customers would normally need to soak it for two to three days—which, aside from being inconvenient, can create an unpleasant smell in smaller kitchens. Marikomerc’s production of this fish does not subject

it to any processes that home cooks would not perform in their own kitchens. The cod is soaked at a controlled temperature, cleaned, filleted, and vacuum sealed—meaning that it is immediately ready for customers to cook with.

Marikomerc’s ready-to-cook products allow its customers to save time while still preparing dishes from scratch. Mr Kata i believes that ready-to-eat products have less potential to become popular in Croatia due to a strong culture of cooking at home, I think Croatia is maybe one of the rare countries where you can eat better at home than at a restaurant, he says.

Innovative partnerships with academia

Marikomerc regularly partners with the University of Zadar to develop and refine new processing

methods. Their super-frozen oysters are a result of this partnership. The idea was to be able to freeze oysters at their best, so that customers can enjoy them any time of the year. Oysters are harvested from the best micro locations in the Mali Ston Bay, a widely recognised area for the production of European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis). They are certified to the European protected designation of origin (PDO) standard and are only harvested in zones with the highest sea water quality (Zone A) during March, when the oysters have the best meat quality and taste. The entire production process, from harvesting to freezing and storage is done within a few hours, resulting in the superior taste of the oysters. The oysters are frozen first in liquid nitrogen and then stored at -60˚C. This extreme temperature prevents large ice crystals from forming, which would destroy the delicate texture of the oysters. The oysters

Vice Kataˇciˇc, technical director of Marikomerc (left) and Ivan Zupan, University of Zadar. The company partnered with the university to develop superfrozen oysters allowing customers to enjoy them at any time of the year.

are frozen in the shell and sold in boxes of 30 pieces. QR codes on the packaging direct the customers to instructions for how to defrost and safely consume the oysters. The freezing process actually relaxes the muscles of the shell, meaning that they can be opened much more easily than fresh oysters.

The development of the freezing process has been beneficial for oyster producers, who would ordinarily not have any revenue outside the harvesting season. If they sell in one shot, they don’t need to think about sales, Mr Kata i clarifies, whereas if they do it seasonally, a producer would need to work every day for 5-6 months. He needs to go to sea, get it out, and bring it back. It is also common for oysters to experience a 60-70 mortality rate after two summers. Producers will be able to avoid this by selling the oysters in bulk quantities for freezing earlier in the season.

In addition to developing new processing methods, Marikomerc also collaborates with the University of Zadar to offer hands-on experience to students studying fisheries and aquaculture. Mr Kata i hopes that this collaboration allows students to imagine their future in the industry, keeping expertise within the region.

Labour challenges

Marikomerc has faced staffing challenges at its processing facilities in recent years. While Mr Kata i would gladly employ local people from the Dalmatia region, it has simply not been possible to recruit enough workers to meet demand. Partly this is a result of traditional working patterns in the region, which limit the available labour force. A further challenge is posed by the growing tourism industry in the Dalmatia region. Young workers can find

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more lucrative positions in the service industry during the busy summer months, and by investing in property, they can ensure a yearround income. Given the importance of the tourist season in the Dalmatia region, the workforce at Marikomerc fluctuates seasonally to meet increased demand in the summer. Maintaining full employment during the off-season is thus also challenging for the company.

As a result of these staffing challenges, Marikomerc was forced to look further afield. It now has about 25 international employees, coming from countries as far away as Nepal and Sri Lanka. While many of these international workers were trained by the company, some were already skilled fishery processors, and their expertise has given Marikomerc the opportunity to further develop new products.

Making the most of invasive species

Like many seafood producers, Marikomerc has faced challenges brought about by climate change, which impacts the reproduction cycles of species like hake, and thus affects the stability of supplies. Warming temperatures have also brought invasive species to the Adriatic, creating further uncertainty. One particularly problematic newcomer is the blue crab, an aggressive predator that consumes a wide range of marine organisms, including molluscs, fish, and other crustaceans, while also disrupting the sediment on the seabed.

However, Marikomerc has managed to turn this threat into an opportunity. Recognising the commercial potential of the crab, the company now process them for sale and consumption. It’s a good story, says Mr Kata i . The crabs are caught in trawling nets or fish traps. They are complex to

process—after being blanched, the meat must be extracted manually, which is time-consuming. The meat is then packaged and frozen for sale. So it’s a little bit expensive, he says, but very tasty.

Investments in automation are likely in the future

Because of the strength of the tourist season in the area, and because of its well-established logistics infrastructure, Mr Kata i feels that it is not necessarily a priority to grow the export arm of the business at this stage. At present, about 10 of Marikomerc’s turnover is generated through exports. The company is IFS-certified, which ensures its rigorous quality control, traceability, and food safety standards, and puts it in a strong position to eventually expand internationally. Every year there are opportunities, because we are located in the middle of Europe, Mr Kata i states. For example, the company

has exported its frozen oysters to Montenegro. The frozen oysters are also potentially attractive for cruise ships, who want to ensure premium ingredients for their customers but must remain extremely cautious about food safety, as the super-freezing process kills potential contaminants.

Looking ahead, the company is seeking to automate more of its processes—many of which are still performed by hand. This is due to the fact that there are about 60 different products across the company’s catalogue. Once a product becomes popular enough to increase the quantity produced, automation becomes more realistic, but the company cannot yet do this for all of its products. For example, we have a fish burger made from hake and prawn, Mr Kata i explains, since we’re not producing big quantities, we don’t have the machine for it— we make the patty by hand.

Trish May, Eurofish, trish@eurofish.dk

Grabi 54 23241 Policnik Croatia

Tel.: +385 23 630458

info@marikomerc.hr marikomerc.hr

Technical director: Vice Kataˇciˇc

Activities: Seafood imports, processing, and distribution

Warehouses: 4

Fleet: 28 trucks

Certifications: MSC, ASC, ISO 9001, IFS

A fish burger made from hake and prawn is one of the company’s signature products.

Marikomerc

Shellfish from Krka estuary for experience-seeking consumers

A scientific approach to farming

The founders of Dalmatia Seafood were originally project managers for EU-funded projects intended to benefit other bivalve-farming companies. Two and a half years ago they decided to plunge into the production of mussels and oysters themselves.

Bivalves, such as oysters and mussels, have long been produced in Croatia. Some areas, such as Mali Ston bay north of Dubrovnik, have a history of oyster production that goes back centuries. Today, production amounts to about 1,000 tonnes of mussels and 100 tonnes of oysters spread over some 400 sites in all the country’s coastal counties. The sector, however, is highly fragmented as suggested by the fact that production is modest yet there exist hundreds of sites.

Farming in protected areas gives certain advantages

At the Krka river estuary 6 km from Sibenik, a city some 80 km south of Zadar, Kresimir Kovac and Matija Bumbak have bought up several small shellfish farms to create their company, Dalmatia Seafood. The mussels and oysters are farmed mainly in Natura 2000 sites which prohibits activities that can disturb species or habitats in these areas. For Dalmatia Seafood this means that the shellfish are harvested by divers rather than by machine. Among the companies taken over by Dalmatia Seafood was one that was 40 years old that was doing everything in the most traditional way, says Mr Kovac. We, on the other hand, are trying to introduce some science and new technologies and new ways to culture the shellfish. In the last two and a half years that we have had the company we have made very satisfactory progress,

farming mussels and oysters in the Krka estuary.

he adds, though a lot of time was spent clearing up the existing mess, preparing the site, and finalising all the paperwork. The location is quite unique with some specificities that need to be taken into consideration, says Mr Bumbak, when farming shellfish.

Devising solutions to challenges nature throws at one

For example, because the area is an estuary there is always a certain inflow of freshwater from the river Krka. In the middle of winter, however, there is a particularly large inflow of freshwater that creates a layer up to 6 m in height which can kill any shellfish if they are suspended in it for more than a few days. The lines holding the shellfish need therefore to be lowered beneath the danger zone as freshwater is

denser than saltwater and floats above it. Moreover, because it is devastating for the spat, we need to find a new method of collecting it. A further issue is predation by seabream, he says. Whatever measures we deploy to prevent the shellfish from being attacked, the fish quite quickly find a way around them. It is a constant battle to stay a step ahead. Another factor that complicates farming is the water temperature in the summer. The lack of rain stopped the inflow from the river resulting in a surface temperature of 30 degrees C and each year, Mr Kovac says, this warm water penetrates deeper and deeper necessitating the shellfish lines to also be suspended lower and lower in the water column to prevent mortalities. Lowering the lines to greater depths comes at a price though. The shellfish certainly survive, but growth is much

slower because the nutrients on which they feed are present just beneath the freshwater layer. At the very bottom is where the sea enters bringing mainly zooplankton which is not ideal for shellfish.

Interpreting the data is as important as collecting them

Fortunately, the depth at the site is 30 m so the entire water column can be used for shellfish cultivation, but normally the growth rate and the meat condition are best at the surface. The two entrepreneurs are using a scientific approach to find out more about the conditions in the estuary so that they can optimise their cultivation. Sensors in the water record the temperature and logger data for August and September show that at a depth of 25 m there is a steady increase in temperature to 21.5 degrees, which

Matija Bumbak and Kresimir Kovac, directors in Dalmatia Seafood, a company

is quite high for that depth. The partners are using sensors to vertically profile all the parameters such as chlorophyll, temperature, and oxygen, to see how they change with seasons and with extreme weather events and will use this information to place the shellfish in the optimal position. The current of freshwater going into the sea is compensated for by currents of saltwater entering the estuary so the whole area is very dynamic, says Mr Kovac, and an excellent ecosystem for shellfish, but it is not easy to understand what is happening. And if we have to factor in predation by seabream and other issues, then it is challenging. One problem that the company had to deal with earlier was outbreaks of E. coli from city sewage entering the estuary. This has now been solved with the commissioning of a sewage system and regular monitoring with weekly reports. Today the water in the estuary is classified as grade A, so shellfish need not be depurated before coming on to the market.

Fresh seafood is the company’s strong suite

Freshness is a key selling point for the company. From a mobile shop called Oyster 22 close to the Sibenik bridge high above the estuary, Dalmatia Seafood offers tastings of freshly hand-picked mussels and oysters. Divers gather the shellfish from the company’s lines in the estuary below and it arrives at the shop 20 minutes later. Customers sit under umbrellas in the open, enjoy the spectacular view, drink a glass of wine, and sample the shellfish. As Mr Kovac points out, no value chain could be more aligned with the EU’s farm to fork strategy, which seeks a low environmental impact of primary production, nutritious and safe food, and a fair return to farmers. The

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shellfish are at their best in September and onwards. This is after the peak tourist season, so for some producers and processors it may make sense to freeze the product so it can be thawed and served in the summer months when Croatia is heaving with tourists. Freezing is particularly handy for the Horeca sector as they can plan better with frozen products as opposed to highly perishable fresh food. Croatia is, however, a Mediterranean country and will always have a strong fresh seafood market, opines Mr Kovac. For Dalmatia Seafood, fresh shellfish represents a competitive advantage. We cannot compete on the frozen shellfish market where Spanish and Chilean producers produce and ship large volumes of individually quick-frozen bivalves to countries around the world, he says. But shellfish fresh from our lines in a grade A site offer a flavour of the sea, and with a dash of lemon the taste is completely different from that of frozen products, and that is our unique selling point.

New science centre to solve challenges facing industry

The company plans a science centre where researchers will study potential new species and novel technologies for farming, harvesting, and processing. The research will be applied rather than theoretical and will also focus on solving the challenges the industry faces in Croatia and the wider Mediterranean. The centre is envisaged as part of another institution that will focus on underwater technologies and robotics.

Dalmatia Seafood

Oyster 22 (oyster bar)

D8 8, 22000 Sibenik

Croatia

Raft 22 (farm site)

Kanal Luka

22000 Sibenik

Croatia

Director: Kresimir Kovac

Director: Matija Bumbak

Dalmatia Seafood’s role will be to provide testing facilities, staff, and operational support when needed but primarily to serve as a link between the industry and research, and to ensure that solutions for practical problems are developed. The concept is that of the European Digital Innovation Hub, a structure that seeks to support companies in responding to digital challenges and becoming more competitive. We feel there is a need for this, Mr Kovac says, because there is still a lot to learn about fish and shellfish farming here in the Mediterranean.

kresimir@dalmatiaseafood.com

matija@agrifoodcroatia.com

dalmatiaseafood.com

Site area: 40,000 sq m

Activity: Line-grown mussels and oysters

Projected production: Mussels, 100 t; oysters, 80,000 pieces

Products: Fresh shellfish

Market: Croatia

The oyster bar where the shellfish is sold lies some 65 m above the farm site in the Krka estuary. It takes minutes for the harvested bivalves to reach the bar.

The CEO ofBajcshal Ltd reminisces about Seafood Expo Global

In the margins of an exhibition

Bajcshal Ltd. is one of the leading aquaculture and fish processing companies in Hungary. The company processes nearly 2,000 tons of fish annually, 80% of which is produced within the firm (together with V-95 Ltd.).

The most important sh species farmed by Bajcshal are African cat sh, carp, silver carp, trout; among the more valuable species are pike-perch, sterlet, Russian sturgeon, Siberian sturgeon, and striped bass. Bajcshal has been active in the sector for more than 70 years, and in addition to fresh pre-refrigerated sh, also o ers a wide range of ready-to-eat products. Important developments and innovations include smoked sh products and the sh juice range, as well as pâtés, salads, and sturgeon caviars.

Constant improvement is necessary to survive

Since 2008, the company has been using European Union funding to develop the infrastructure and operational background for our sh production and processing. We intend to continue to do so in the future because, without improvements, we will very quickly nd ourselves at a competitive disadvantage, says Gábor Szilágyi, the CEO. Our main objective is to improve productivity, reduce our ecological footprint, and get the use of byproducts close to 100—so we have plenty of work to do!

As the CEO of the company, I have long planned to expand beyond the local market to the international arena. e Euro sh International Organisation was very helpful in this respect by giving us the opportunity to exhibit

at the Seafood Expo in Barcelona. I prepared for the event with ambivalent feelings; it had been more than 25 years since I last exhibited at an international fair. Over the last 10 years I have become less and less attracted to this type of event, even as a visitor. On arrival, the weather and some technical di culties added to my uncertainty.

Exhibiting internationally was a demanding experience

en came the three days of the exhibition, when I could hardly breathe from the amount of information coming at me. ree of us from our company attended the event, so we were able to share the tasks between us. ose three days went through me like a roller coaster. On the one hand, we wanted to show ourselves to everyone who was interested and tell them as much as possible about what we do. On the other hand, it was very important to visit the exhibition to see where our competitors were and what the machine manufacturers and other service providers had to o er.

It took me about 10 days after the show to get back to normal, and this wasn’t simply because I was tired. I had so much new information that I needed time to process it. I’m sure that this trip will continue to be inspiring for years to come. I am very glad that I took the next generation with me, because I saw my children, Dora and Balázs,

who are also my colleagues, gain a lot of new experiences and make important new contacts.

Unqualified endorsement of the event

An exhibition like this requires a lot of follow-up work, and a lot of information takes months or years to have a positive impact. At the exhibition, I already felt—and it has been reinforced since—that our presence would be important for our development, even if we did not close any concrete deals. Fortunately, this was not the

case: in addition to gaining a lot of inspiration, we also built new relationships.

I can only recommend that everyone visit similar events as often as possible. I will de nitely return to the Seafood Expo again in the near future, if not as an exhibitor, then as a visitor. I can’t thank Euro sh and my colleagues enough for their support. Without their encouragement, I would never have made the e ort!

Gábor Szilágyi, CEO, Bajcshal Ltd., Hungary

Seafood Expo Global was a challenging but useful event, says Gábor Szilágyi (right), CEO, Bajcshal Ltd, here with his daughter, Dora, and son, Balázs, who both work for the company.

Marketing common carp through modern strategies and consumer-centric innovation

Convenience is key

Pond aquaculture has a deep-rooted history in Central and Eastern Europe, where fish production methods have largely remained unchanged for centuries. In this region, pond-raised fish—especially common carp—is typically harvested in the autumn and early winter, with the majority reaching the market around Christmas. Traditional practices have emphasised seasonal supply and the sale of live fish, with limited focus on diversifying products or extending availability year-round.

Shifting consumer preferences and evolving market dynamics are pushing the pond aquaculture sector toward change. Consumers increasingly expect sh products to be available consistently throughout the year and in forms that t modern lifestyles. Many people, particularly younger consumers, prefer meals that are convenient to prepare, as they tend to spend minimal time cooking. When they nd a product they enjoy, they expect it to be readily available; otherwise, it can easily fall o their radar. With this in mind, pond sh farmers are increasingly adopting a value chain approach that integrates processing and marketing innovations to better meet market demands, rather than relying solely on traditional production cycles.

e pond aquaculture sector is also facing economic and environmental pressures that require greater exibility. Rising costs for feed, electricity, and transportation are challenges that call for adaptable production methods. Additionally, demand-side development is critical. Fish from pond aquaculture is nutritious and has the potential to adapt well to climate change, yet these bene ts mean little if consumers aren’t interested in eating it. erefore, market demand must grow alongside advancements in production to ensure a sustainable future for the sector.

Overcoming market barriers and perceptions around common carp

In European pond aquaculture, common carp is the primary species raised, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Despite its nutritional value and environmental bene ts, carp faces certain perceptions that limit its appeal to consumers. It’s often seen as “bony” and having a “muddy” taste, yet these are misconceptions that more exible, modern production techniques are aiming to overcome. Carp is actually a nutritious, avorful, and environmentally friendly option when raised with sustainable methods.

Expanding product diversity for changing consumer preferences

e pond sh sector is beginning to recognize the importance of a year-round supply of high-quality carp products that cater to evolving consumer tastes. Innovations in processing, like removing intramuscular bones from carp, are helping to make this sh more appealing to consumers. Furthermore, consumers in Eastern Europe are generally more price-sensitive than those in Western Europe, making it essential for producers to o er both premium options and a ordable choices that t within a range of budgets. To retain relevance in both markets, the pond sh sector must prioritize both cost-e ectiveness and quality while ensuring products are readily available and easy to prepare.

e European freshwater aquaculture sector is adapting to new consumer preferences by diversifying product o erings. Many younger consumers, who often have little time or inclination to prepare complex meals, are more likely to choose quick, convenient food options. In response, sh producers are developing easy-to-prepare, ready-to-eat carp products that t seamlessly into fast-paced lifestyles. Additionally, organic and boneless carp options are being introduced to target premium markets, while traditional “table carp” (1.5-3.0 kg) remains available for more conventional consumption habits.

Some producers are also adopting innovative production methods that combine recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) with traditional ponds, enabling the production of “portion carp” (500-600 g) and “XL carp for angling” (4-5 kg). is diversication allows producers to cater to a broader range of consumer needs—from family dinners to recreational angling markets— thereby expanding the consumer base for carp. A reliable, diverse selection of carp products is key to meeting consumer expectations for consistent availability. If consumers enjoy a product, they’re more likely to become repeat buyers, but only if that product

The image of common carp needs to be reimagined to represent a product that is contemporary, environmentally friendly, tasty, and easy to prepare.

remains on store shelves. To build lasting demand, the sector must adapt to ensure that desirable products are always accessible to the public.

Market growth through value chain concept and flexibility

A more consumer-focused approach is essential for expanding demand for pond-raised sh. Many pond sh farmers are now adopting a value chain model that prioritises processing, distribution, and consumer engagement. is model not only enables producers to better understand market demand but also supports greater resilience in the face of external challenges, such as rising operational costs.

In a rapidly changing environment, exibility has become crucial. e sector must be prepared to respond to uctuating prices for feed, electricity, and transportation, which impact the entire aquaculture value chain. By leveraging value chain concept, producers can explore alternative sales channels, like direct sales and partnerships with tourism or public institutions, to stabilize market access and broaden the scope of product distribution. ese strategies can help mitigate the impacts of rising costs while supporting a steady revenue stream for sh producers.

Promotional e orts like Poland’s "Pan Karp" and Hungary’s “Fish Friday” are examples of campaigns that have aimed to increase consumer interest in pond-raised sh. Yet for these e orts to be successful, they must go hand-inhand with product development and re ect real consumer needs. Promotions should focus on educating consumers about the environmental bene ts of pond

aquaculture, the convenience of ready-to-eat carp products, and the availability of a ordable options. By promoting the value of carp as a sustainable, healthy, and tasty choice, these campaigns can help reshape consumer perceptions and drive demand.

Targeted marketing and niche opportunities

Beyond traditional markets, the pond aquaculture sector can tap into niche opportunities. New markets in countries and regions with low sh consumption o er potential, as do ethnic communities and recreational angling sectors. In addition, European consumers are increasingly valuing environmentally friendly products, providing a unique opening for pond aquaculture to position itself as a sustainable choice.

Promotional campaigns should also focus on young consumers, who are more likely to try new products and adopt environmentally conscious choices. To make a lasting impact, these campaigns should highlight the environmental bene ts of pond-raised sh, particularly carp, which is produced in line with circular economy principles and supports biodiversity in pond ecosystems. Encouraging younger generations to incorporate sh into their diets can help build a stronger, more sustainable consumer base for pond aquaculture.

Sustainability and innovation in production

e future of freshwater aquaculture in Europe relies on a balance of sustainable practices and innovative solutions. By adopting advanced production systems like RAS combined with traditional ponds, producers can optimize resource use and minimize waste.

is approach aligns with Europe’s growing focus on sustainable food systems, in which production, processing, and distribution are designed to support both environmental and consumer needs.

Processing advancements also play a critical role in the sector’s evolution. New technologies allow for the production of boneless carp products and ready-to-eat options, making carp more appealing to a broader audience. ese innovations not only address consumer demand for convenience but also support the long-term goal of reducing waste and optimizing resource use in aquaculture. Sustainable practices in freshwater sh production can also help address the challenges posed by climate change, as pond aquaculture has the potential to adapt to varying environmental conditions and maintain stable production levels.

Reinventing common carp for younger consumers

e European pond aquaculture sector, especially for common carp, stands at a pivotal moment. As it faces rising operational costs and

shifting consumer preferences, a exible, innovative approach is essential. e value chain concept, diversi cation of products, and focus on sustainable practices will allow the sector to thrive in a changing market.

With younger consumers seeking convenience, a ordability, and environmental responsibility in their food choices, pond aquaculture has the opportunity to reinvent common carp as a modern, healthy option that ts contemporary lifestyles. By strengthening market demand through consistent product availability, education, and targeted promotions, the pond sh sector can secure its place in Europe’s sustainable food future.

Ultimately, aligning production advancements with consumer needs will be key. By building a resilient value chain, addressing cost pressures, and prioritizing both product diversity and availability, the pond aquaculture sector can ensure that common carp remains a relevant and desirable choice for generations to come.

Emese Bozanne Beke , HAKI, Bozanne.Beke .Emese@uni-mate.hu

Pond fish farmers that vertically integrate their operations to include carp processing and marketing are likely to win customers among a younger generation looking for convenience.

Artificial reefs and spawning nests support pike-perch stocks in Lake Balaton

Measures benefi t both fi sh and anglers

With a surface area of 594 km2 and an average depth of approximately 3.3 m, Lake Balaton, located in Hungary, is the largest shallow lake in Central Europe. The fish stocks of the lake are no longer self-sustaining, mainly due to significant pressure from angling.

Natural recruitment cannot replace the sh biomass removed from Lake Balaton by anglers, since earlier water regulation measures (the construction of the Sió- oodgate in 1863-64, and the draining of the surrounding wetlands) eliminated a considerable part of the natural spawning grounds (Figure 1.). e spawning of native sh species subjected to heavy angling pressure can still take place under suboptimal conditions—for example, on the sheltered rip-rap (stony material placed along shorelines to prevent erosion) habitats of harbours (Figure 2.). Altogether, 97 di erent harbours were built in Lake Balaton. ese harbours could therefore be an important habitat type for the sh fauna.

Fish stocking is crucial to maintaining the sh stock structure expected by anglers. To improve sustainability and reduce the costs associated with this shery management practice, recently EU-funded projects have established arti cial reefs and spawning nests on Lake Balaton.

Fishery management of Lake Balaton and the importance of pike-perch

Lake Balaton has a long history as a shing ground. e rst decades of the 20th century can be considered its “golden era”. During this period, pike-perch (Sander lucioperca) from the lake were exported to France, Germany

and Austria, serving as a famous ingredient in ne dining. Later, along with the eutrophication of the lake and intentional introduction of non-indigenous sh species (e.g. European eel, Asian carps), the target species of shermen changed. e activity of commercial sheries was completely stopped in 2013. From that

Fig. 1. Map of the recent (light blue) and pre-draining (darker blue) shorelines of Lake Balaton

Fig. 2. Bream (Abramis brama) spawning on the rip-rap of a commercial harbour in Lake Balaton

Fig. 3. Pike-perch (Sander lucioperca) from Lake Balaton

Fig. 4. Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) a North-American invasive catfish species

Prof.

point onwards, the main purpose of shery management of the lake has been to develop and maintain the sh resources according to the necessities of anglers, and to develop angling tourism while considering ecological constraints.

Pike-perch (Figure 3.) is one of the most important apex predators of the lake’s sh community as well as one of the most important target species for anglers. Consequently, the pike-perch population has a key role in the ecosystem of the lake but is subject to high and constantly increasing pressure. To prevent the further overexploitation of pike-perch population, two projects were initiated between 2016 and 2020.

Artificial reefs:

the old-new solutions

Water level regulations were initiated in Lake Balaton in 1963. Around the same time, wetlands along the southern shoreline were drained and canalised. Commercial shermen were the rst to realise the negative e ects of these processes. e shermen knew that sh, especially pike-perch, use reefs and riprap habitats as places to rest and spawn. As a result, the shery

management numerous arti cial reefs of red sandstone were established throughout the lakebed. ese structures were periodically renewed until the 1970s.

While no scienti c survey of these structures was ever carried out, shermen had continuously o ered positive assessments regarding the sh population structure and biomass in surrounding areas. Based on this, recent shery management decided to establish nine new arti cial reefs on sandy or muddy bottoms of Lake Balaton in 2020. e new habitats were rapidly colonized by aquatic organisms; however, the fauna composition was strongly dominated by non-indigenous species.

Role of non-indigenous species in the life of artificial reefs

Biological invasions are often facilitated by disturbances. e construction of an arti cial reef is a signi cant disturbance to the original bottom-dwelling community. e colonisation pattern is presumably similar to the wellstudied nearshore structure of harbour rip-raps. e rst inhabitants are macroscopic invertebrates of Ponto-Caspian origin,

such as killer shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus) and river nerite ( eodoxus uviatilis). Initial sh assemblage of these habitats is also dominated by invasives. Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas; Figure 4.), monkey goby (Neogobius uviatilis) and pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) are the most abundant species.

Monitoring results suggest that the abundance of invasive species may decrease in time, however, they usually cannot be completely eradicated. ese species may have a negative e ect on the spawning success of native species such as pike-perch, including egg and fry predation. In short, while arti cial reefs are indisputably attractive for pike-perch and other native species, they strongly enhance nonindigenous biodiversity.

Spawning nests to enhance the pike-perch population

Spawning nests have long been used to support pike-perch stocks. However, previous applications used organic materials, such as spruce or juniper bundles, which were suitable for only the given spawning season. In the case of Lake Balaton, a more sustainable option was necessary. Altogether, ten spawning nest prototypes were tested, considering di erent bottom conditions. A round nest covered in arti cial grass,

measuring 80cm in diameter, proved to be the most e ective, with a mean number of 380 000 eggs produced per nest (Figure 5). Over 2,200 nests were produced based on these results. ese nests have become an important element of pike-perch stock maintenance in Lake Balaton, without any known side e ects.

Conclusions: the necessity of detailed research

While arti cial reefs and nests are both useful tools in shery management practice, there is a gap in the knowledge regarding their e ects. Obligatory monitoring activities and tracking of project outcomes often cannot provide spatiotemporally relevant information on the colonisation processes and annual habitat usage of commercially important sh species. Additionally, very little information on the potential e ects of architectural complexity (e.g. material, size distribution, emergence etc.) of arti cial reefs is available.

If these questions could be addressed, arti cial structures could potentially contribute to local biodiversity maintenance, without promoting biological invasions.

Two funding programmes support research

This work was supported by the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences (GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00004: Establishing the sustainable, angling-aimed fishery management of Lake Balaton) and the Széchenyi 2020 programme (MAHOP-1.2.1-2017-2018-00012: Constructing new artificial reefs to support the fish biodiversity of Lake Balaton).

1 Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő

2 Balaton Fishery Management Nonpro t Ltd., Siófok

Árpád Ferincz1, Gábor Nagy2, Zsolt Szári2, Béla Urbányi1

Fig. 5. Artificial nest with pike-perch eggs

Gábor Nagy

Hungary uses EU Council Presidency to focus on sustainability of aquaculture

Paving the way for aquaculture in the EU

In July 2024, Hungary once again took the helm of the EU Council Presidency, a role it last held in 2011. The six-month rotating Presidency allows EU Member States to set the agenda and shape legislative priorities, and plays a crucial role in facilitating discussions and building compromises to ensure continuity in the EU’s agenda.

In the sheries sector, most of the Hungarian Presidency’s duties include routine—if important—tasks like setting sheries quotas, giving mandates for international negotiations, and renewing expiring implementation protocols of international sheries partnership agreements. Still, as every Council Presidency, Hungary can also choose its own priorities to put into focus during these six months. Hungary decided to highlight a critical yet often overlooked issue— sustainable aquaculture.

With global sh stocks under pressure, Hungary advocates for a stronger role for aquaculture in the European food systems. e goal is to make marine and freshwater aquaculture more competitive, in line with the European Commission document, Strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture. To drive this agenda forward, Hungary organized two key events: an informal meeting of EU directors-general and attachés for sheries, and an industry workshop on the future of EU aquaculture.

Informal meeting of directors-general and attachés for fisheries

In July 2024, EU directors-general and attachés for sheries met

on the shores of Lake Balaton in Hungary to discuss the role of aquaculture in the European Union. Keynote presentations by representatives of Hungarian professional organisations (HUNATiP, MA-HAL) and DG MARE set the scene for the subsequent discussion, organised on the basis of discussion material prepared by the Hungarian Presidency.

e participants agreed that, while aquaculture was gaining global momentum, the sector in the EU was falling behind. ere was a consensus that the European Union should raise the level of ambition of EU aquaculture, also taking into account its social and environmental dimensions. Some Member States suggested that the EU should promote aquaculture as a strategic sector.

The delegations acknowledged the critical role of aquaculture in enhancing food security by providing a sustainable and affordable source of protein. They also recognised the diversity of aquaculture systems in the EU and agreed that the efficient and sustainable development of such a diverse industry would require a holistic approach addressing all the main challenges of the sector and integrating aquaculture development with other sectoral needs, such as spatial planning,

nature restoration or raw material supply. Integration and diversification of the sector were seen by many as a key to its longterm economic sustainability. Most Member States agreed that the attitude towards aquaculture needed to be changed in the EU in order to maintain and improve the global competitiveness of the sector. They also stressed that EU policies must better support the sector and its integration into broader food systems, and expressed their wish to see clear objectives on aquaculture in the future Common Fisheries Policy.

Fish farming must be environmentally friendly

One of the key focus areas of the discussions was environmental

sustainability. Aquaculture was seen as an essential contributor to achieving the EU’s green goals, and many participants called for better recognition and improvement of this contribution. The delegations encouraged investments in eco-friendly technologies, and underlined that only environmentally sustainable aquaculture investments should be supported in the future. Aquaculture was seen as one of the best options for combining economic opportunity and environmental protection, but regulatory obstacles and high costs were also highlighted as barriers to the growth of the sector.

e meeting also emphasized the importance of innovation, research, and attraction of new

Logo of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU

talent, which could all contribute to a climate-neutral circular economy, while technological development could also improve the attractiveness of aquaculture to young farmers. e delegations underscored the need to identify technological gaps along the blue value chain and to prepare an action plan to address them. e participants also highlighted the need for the sector to explore new market opportunities and noted that aquaculture could o er new income opportunities for traditional shers through recreational shing and eco-tourism.

Workshop discusses aquaculture’s role in the European sustainable food system

Building upon the results of the above political-level meeting, a workshop organized in October 2024 by the Hungarian Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (HUNATiP) under the auspices of the Hungarian Presidency brought together stakeholders from EU institutions,

industry, and Member States to chart a course for the future of aquaculture.

Speakers from DG MARE, FAO, AAC, FEAP, EATiP, and EMPA, as well as Poland as the incoming Council Presidency, discussed the role of aquaculture in EU policy, emphasizing its important place within the global aquatic food system as well as the in FAO’s Blue Transformation Roadmap. ey underscored the growing gap between the explosive growth of global aquaculture and the stagnating EU sector and stressed the need for the urgent reform of EU aquaculture policy, as well as highlighted the innovation priorities essential for future development. Producers shared insights on adapting to the evolving EU aquaculture landscape, with a special focus on the contribution of shell sh farming and multifunctional aquaculture to sustainable development. e representative from Poland underlined that aquaculture would remain a priority of the upcoming Polish Presidency.

A roundtable discussion highlighted that effective policy execution, political will, and a level playing field were essential for enhancing the competitiveness of EU aquaculture. The participants emphasized the need for scientifically backed environmental standards and applying sustainability measures for imports and domestic production alike. Innovation in production technologies and public perception were both deemed vital for the success of sustainable intensification, particularly in systems like pond farming, which provide important ecosystem services. Challenges like space, water quality, animal welfare, and market access were discussed, including in shellfish farming. Participants also called for a coherent and scientifically based system of sustainability indicators, which would take into account the diversity of EU aquaculture systems, as well as a stronger focus on food security and animal welfare, and improved communication about the benefits of the sector.

Aquaculture needs more innovation, less red tape, and a better image

As the Hungarian Presidency enters its nal weeks, the country remains committed to ful lling its duties in sheries management, while also advocating for a stronger focus on aquaculture. e Presidency plans to summarise the conclusions of the policy and industry views expressed during the two aquaculture events and submit them to the new Commission as a call for action. As of now, the message seems to be clear: in order to keep pace with global aquaculture growth, the European Union must streamline its regulations, foster innovation, and improve the public image of the sector.

Aquaculture holds a vast potential to support the European food system, but it requires comprehensive support and a coordinated strategy to overcome its challenges. Hungary envisions its e orts laying the groundwork for future presidencies, ensuring that aquaculture thrives and becomes a central pillar of the European sustainable food system.

Family photo of the informal meeting of EU directors-general and attachés for fisheries held in Balatonfüred, Hungary (8-10 July 2024) with a spotlight on aquaculture.

Producer organisation uses brainsand EU investments to market the king of freshwater aquaculture

Polski Karp innovates to enhance carp’s popularity

The Polski Karp association, founded in 2012, was created in response to the growing demand for premium-quality carp, bred according to traditional methods and welfare standards. In 2016, the association gained official recognition as a Producer Organisation; today, it encompasses nearly 80 farms focused on carp breeding and processing. In addition to carp, the association offers a variety of freshwater fish such as grass carp, silver carp, catfish, sturgeon, crucian carp, tench, and pike.

Joint actions give the Polski Karp association a much stronger negotiating position with suppliers and customers—including fish processors and retail chains. We understand that only by working together can we cope with certain challenges which sometimes are too big for a single fish farm, explains Dawid Tarasiewicz, President of the Management Board of Polish Karp. Only together, operating as a Producer Organisation, can we keep the promotion activities at a level where they will have a notable impact on the market.

Carp deserves a promotion

Though carp is considered a tricky fish to sell due to its bones and sometimes muddy taste, it is the most recognisable and favoured fish in Central and Eastern Europe. Carp is an essential component of Christmas Eve dining, and Christmas sales peak in Poland more than anywhere else in the region. The Polish market for carp has been stable for many years, but it is difficult to attract young consumers, as live, wholeround carp can hardly be called a “convenience product”. The preparations needed to cook it and the large number of bones can turn this fish into a real puzzle for an inexperienced chef.

Polski Karp’s marketing role is to promote carp as not only a Christmas treat, but a delicious, healthy, and easy-to-cook product suitable for consumption any day of the year. The association offers attractive products to consumers—for example, fillets or notched fillets paired with inspiring cooking suggestions. Polski Karp also educates consumers, promoting carp production as the most sustainable form of farming. Carp production supports biodiversity by retaining natural water bodies and creating habitats for birds and freshwater invertebrates. In many ways, carp is worth the effort spent on promotion.

Generating consumer awareness and interest

Thanks to European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) support, says Mr Tarasiewicz, we have the opportunity to run a large promotional campaign in 2024-2027, which includes both national and international activities. In Poland, these activities will include TV advertising, internet promotions, billboards, presence on screens in shopping malls and fitness clubs, POS (point of sale) activities, as well as field activities—cooking shows and tastings of innovative dishes using carp. The campaign’s slogan

is: “Carp—Healthy by Nature” and it emphasises the nutritional value of carp and its farming method—a 3-year production cycle in earthen ponds, in conditions close to natural. Promotions outside Poland include participation in international trade shows, such as the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, where Polski Karp facilitates a culinary show at Poland’s national pavilion.

Markets are evolving in different directions

Post-COVID financial instability, worsened by Russia’s

invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has led to an increase in carp prices in recent years. To some extent, this has hampered the development of value-added products, with Polish consumers looking for cheaper forms of carp. However, Mr Tarasiewicz is convinced that the market will get back on track. We observe that consumers are increasingly expecting high-quality ultrafresh (not refreshed) fish. They also want a guarantee that the fish is produced in Poland, or comes from a specific region in the country, or even from a specific farm.

The Management Board of the Polish Carp Producers’ Organisation at the Polfish trade show in Gdańsk. From left: Dawid Tarasiewicz (Chairman of the Board), Daria Kabiesz (Board Member), and Tomasz Siwiec (Vice Chairman of the Board).

Polski Karp

While retail chains still dominate carp sales, short-supply chains are also gaining traction. Customers can visit fish farms directly to purchase the highest quality carp, and they are often willing to pay a premium for it. The market is evolving in multiple directions, requiring Polski Karp to meet the diverse expectations of different consumer segments. As a Producer Organisation, they foster strong relationships with fish processors, while also investing in modernising the members’ own processing facilities with new equipment for efficient fish processing and packaging to stay competitive.

Polski Karp’s aspirations for the future

First of all, explains Mr Tarasiewicz, we wish that the EU and Polish legal regulations will allow us to develop fish farming, and that the authorities would appreciate that it is a sustainable activity that requires support in exchange for the water-treatment and environmental services provided. We want the administrative and legal barriers to access EMFAF subsidies to be reduced. And we would wish that fish consumers are not only guided by price but also appreciate other advantages of the product—its local origin, sustainable production, freshness, and nutritional value.

[ FISHERIES ]

The EuropeanCoast Guard Cooperation

Joint activities benefit fisheries community

The primary role of the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) is to coordinate and support national control and inspection activities, ensuring the effective implementation and compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) is approaching its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of dedication to effective and uniform fisheries control, inspection, and compliance. The agency’s work significantly enhances sustainable fisheries by ensuring adherence to conservation and management measures, benefiting both current and future generations. Additionally, EFCA fosters a level playing field across

Europe’s fishing industry, guaranteeing that European obligations are uniformly observed and that all sectors receive equal treatment, regardless of their location.

EU institutions agreed to establish a European coast guard cooperation to further support national authorities carrying out coast guard functions. For that purpose, three European Union agencies, the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), the European Maritime Safety Agency

Executive directors of the three agencies, from left, Susan Steele, EFCA; Maja Markovčić Kostelac, EMSA; and Hans Leijtens, Frontex share a handshake to signal their cooperation with regard to coast guard activities in support of Member States.

Carp dishes can perfectly accompany any occasion, any celebration, any event.

Polski

Karp

(EMSA), and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) amended their regulations in 2016. A tripartite working arrangement (TWA) was agreed to define the modalities of the cooperation between the three agencies. The aim is to support national competent authorities in the implementation of coast guard functions cross-sector and cross-border. The interagency cooperation has become part of the daily work of the three agencies.

As a result, EFCA, EMSA, and Frontex maintain and deepen their cooperation in the five areas defined by the common article in the respective founding regulations: information sharing, surveillance and communication services, capacity building, risk analysis, and capacity sharing. Since 2017, EFCA is tasked with cooperating with the other two agencies to support the Member States’ competent authorities.

A significant segment of EFCA’s work is its support to national authorities responsible for various coast guard functions including fisheries control.

The activities agreed by the three agencies cover a wide range of issues:

- Cooperation with coast guard fora

- Implementation of the European Union Maritime Security Strategy

-Sharing of information

- Surveillance and communication services

-Capacity building

-Risk assessment

-Sharing of assets

The implementation of these actions is based on the annual strategic plan agreed between the three agencies, (EMSA,

Adriatic Sea Search and Rescue Exercise 2024 tested the operational readiness of maritime rescue centres in Croatia, Italy, and Slovenia.

Frontex and EFCA) under the TWA. It includes cooperation actions between agencies in support of Member State authorities, comprising the organisation of seminars and workshops. EFCA also involves Member State authorities and promotes the implementation of multipurpose maritime operations in the areas where a joint deployment plan (JDP) is implemented. The cooperation with EMSA and Frontex was evaluated positively and is carried out effectively by the Independent Evaluation of EFCA (2017-2021).

EFCA is implementing a DG MARE dedicated project (2022–2027) to promote coast guard cooperation. A web portal has been developed that hosts the practical handbook on European cooperation on coast guard functions. Available at coastguard.europa.eu it is also adding joint activities and outcomes of coast guard cooperation. The project also caters to the exchange

1 https://www.emsa.europa.eu/we-do/digitalisation/maritime-monitoring.html

programme for national authorities implementing coast guard functions that was launched last year under the coast guard project implemented by EFCA in close cooperation with EMSA and Frontex.

Through this programme, this year 21 coast guard authorities and entities from nine Member States (Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain) and Iceland offered a total of 128 places as hosts. There are 28 different types of exchanges offered. that cover all coast guard functions, sea and air activities.

It is important to note that the programme is intended to promote the exchange of knowledge, experience, best practices, and lessons learned. This is a very relevant topic today, bearing also in mind the high number of authorities that have responsibilities related to coast guard functions in Europe.

Positive effects on the fisheries community

Of direct benefit to the fisheries community is the availability of digital tools the European Coast Guard cooperation enabled, such as the integrated maritime service (IMS) for EFCA, which is dedicated to the fisheries control community, and which has been developed in cooperation with EMSA. The IMS1 for EFCA is an operational fisheries control geographical information system available for the fisheries control community in Member States, for EFCA staff and DG MARE users. The system is managed and hosted by EMSA and developed in close cooperation with EFCA. The system, using data in the general IMS system managed by EMSA, displays and stores different sources of vessel position data going back up to five years. There are around 1,300 users from the fisheries community. Another benefit is the availability of satellite imagery for fisheries control

purposes. The Copernicus satellite imagery for fisheries authorities provided more than 1,300 images as well last year.

EFCA supports national authorities in carrying out coast guard functions by, among other things, sharing capacity by planning and implementing multipurpose operations and by sharing assets and other capabilities, to the extent that those activities are coordinated by those agencies and are agreed to by the competent authorities of the Member States concerned. Three vessels were therefore chartered for fisheries inspection and control as a primary task but were also able to serve as a multipurpose platform, in coherence with the mandate of EFCA to support the European coast guard initiative and provide added value to the national authorities in charge of coast guard functions. EFCA’s fleet consists of three offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) chartered, namely Ocean Guardian, Ocean Protector, and Ocean Sentinel. These vessels have been assigned as fisheries inspection platforms for joint deployment plans in line with the JDP planning (Western Waters, North Sea, and Mediterranean JDPs).

2023 were deployed in the framework of the Baltic Sea (14 flights), North Sea (15 flights), Western Waters (23 flights), and the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (58 flights) joint deployment plans, and within the multipurpose maritime operation Adria, all coordinated in cooperation with the Member States concerned. Procurement for flights is shared with Frontex. All these examples show an integration of activities that make operations more efficient and cost effective.

different systems supporting the operation.  EMSA provided remotely piloted aircraft systems on board the patrol vessel and the maritime picture via the agency’s integrated maritime services. Frontex was supported by Croatia with three coastal patrol boats.

A model for collaboration with other agencies

The activities of EFCA´s offshore patrol vessels also benefit from the European Coast Guard cooperation. The remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) services from EMSA are available to the different communities and the service provided by the airplanes chartered through the cooperation with Frontex for maritime surveillance also serves the fisheries control community. It is worth adding that, besides fisheries control tasks, the EFCA’s patrol vessels are made available to multipurpose tasks in the framework of European cooperation on coastguard functions, such as assistance and pollution response operations, in cooperation with Member State authorities, Frontex and EMSA. The latter provided Ocean Sentinel and Ocean Guardian with oil dispersant spray booms, and an oil recovery trawl, to neutralise oil spills. This pollution response capacity was available to the EU Member States at their request.

In terms of operational cooperation with Frontex, the agency, based in Warsaw, is sharing with EFCA sightings from its operations. EFCA, thanks to the existing interinstitutional framework contract for air surveillance with Frontex, managed to charter air surveillance services, that in

Multipurpose maritime operations

Another important activity reflecting the European coast guard cooperation is the implementation of multipurpose maritime operations. The first such operations were led by Frontex in the Black Sea, and they are now being implemented in different sea basins. This year they were held in La Manche, the Adriatic Sea, the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea. The aim of these operations is to enhance European cooperation on coast guard functions by providing increased technical and operational assistance to the host Member States by coordinating operational activities. The MMO in the Adriatic Sea from 16 September until 9 October 2024 was agreed between EFCA, EMSA and Frontex in cooperation with the authorities of Italy, Croatia and Slovenia. The operational activities were conducted in an operational area that included Italian, Slovenian, and Croatian sovereignty waters, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones and international waters of the Adriatic Sea.

EFCA as the leading agency contributed with one offshore patrol vessel, the Ocean Sentinel, one fixed wing aircraft, and

The outcome of the cooperation just outlined is enriched through the cooperation framework with the European coast guard functions forum which has many member organisations. The agencies organise thematic workshops with the forum each year where open discussions at a technical level take place. In addition, fisheries communities receive training in aspects of common interest such as safety at sea and maritime surveillance. Moreover, exchange of risk methodologies used by other communities has been enhanced. The three agencies have got to know each other and are now used to working together. The cooperation between them provides a basis for cooperation with other EU agencies with different possibilities to participate in projects and to learn about new technologies that might be incorporated in fisheries control in the future. It is clear that the European cooperation on coast guard functions is an added value for Member States fisheries control authorities and for EFCA.

Pedro GALACHE Head of Unit Strategy and Cooperation

European Fisheries Control Agency

Edificio Odriozola, Av. García Barbón 4

36201 Vigo

Spain

efca.europa.eu

The three agencies, EFCA, EMSA, and Frontex organise thematic workshops with the European coast guard functions forum, a body dedicated to improving the development of coast guard functions.

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

A local legend of Ukraine’s seafood business

A Ukrainian company, Healthy & Wealthy, produces farmed freshwater fish which is then processed into a range of value-added products. These are distributed and sold around the country. Plans for exports to EU countries were brutally interrupted by the war. Eurofish spoke to Evhen Popivshchyi, deputy director for sales and marketing at Healthy & Wealthy.

This is the tenth in a series of articles for the Eurofish Magazine about the operation and survival of seafood businesses in Ukraine during the war.

The Ukrainian company Healthy & Wealthy brings together two key entities: Khutir na Okolytsi (A Farm in the Outskirts) LLC and Healthy Foods LLC. Fish farming and processing take place at the former located in the Ivankiv settlement just 60 kilometres from Kyiv. Meanwhile, the trading and marketing operations are handled by the Kyiv-based Healthy Foods trading house. Together, these two branches ensure a seamless integration of production and distribution, delivering high-quality fish products to the market.

Broodstock for several species

During Soviet times, the Ivankiv cooperative was the third-largest freshwater fish farm in the country. However, when Healthy & Wealthy acquired it 10 years ago, the farm was in a state of disrepair. Extensive efforts were required to restore the ponds, clearing them of reeds, and even now, around 20 of the ponds are still being cleaned. The farm spans an impressive 1,000 hectares of water surface and has a perimeter of 28 km.

The main species farmed at Ivankiv include common carp,

bighead carp, grass carp, European catfish, and pike. The ponds have a sandy bottom, which helps prevent the muddy or silt flavours often found in freshwater fish. To ensure the superior taste of our fish, explains Mr Popivshchyi, we provide it with natural zooplankton and phytoplankton in addition to palletised feed. This combination contributes to the clean, natural flavour of the fish. The Ivankiv facility has a broodstock, which allows the fish to grow from an egg to market size, and all types of feed are produced locally. Before the war, the farm’s total output reached 700-800 tonnes annually, with common carp comprising about half of this volume. The war has seen production shrink to 500600 tonnes, while the number of employees has dropped from 40 to 20. Despite these challenges, the company sees the potential for bringing the volumes back to pre-war times.

A gift to Ukrainian households

Understanding the need for higher value-addition and enhanced diversity of their products, Healthy & Wealthy opened a new processing unit in 2021. This

unit is able to process imported species in addition to the locally farmed freshwater fish. The management set out to acquire the best equipment available in Europe to fit the production purposes; as a result, the facility is now equipped with modern equipment from Germany, France, and Italy.

Today, Healthy & Wealthy produces over 100 tonnes of product per month, and their range

includes salted fish, hot- and cold-smoked fish, fish fillets, seafood in various sauces, semi-finished products like fish burgers, nuggets, and fish cakes, as well as snacks and jerkies. About 30 of the raw material is locally farmed freshwater fish, while the rest are imported species including cod, herring, mackerel, salmon, tuna, redfish, tuna, shrimps, and mussels. They place special focus on carp: fresh fillets are cut through the flesh ensuring that any

Mr Eugen Popivshiy, deputy director for sales and marketing at Healthy & Wealthy

Healthy & Wealthy

annoying bones are not a problem when the fish is cooked—a real blessing for Ukrainian home chefs. Healthy & Wealthy is the only producer of such fillets in a country where carp is by far the most popular local species.

The trading house has its own transportation department that delivers the products to Kyiv. From Kyiv, the partner further distributes the fish around the country: to Kharkiv, Odesa, Lviv, Chernivtsi, Dnipro, and regions.

Man proposes and war disposes

As a young, modern, and dynamic company, Healthy and Wealthy was not satisfied to rest on its laurels. The beautiful nature surrounding Ivankiv is a perfect asset for building a resort to attract leisure fishermen and their families – an eco-village with cottages, fishing areas, bicycle and allterrain vehicle paths, areas for scooters and kayaks, and even a zoo. The war put on hold about 70 of what had been scheduled: only three cottages out of 20 are in place now, though leisure fishing is still an attraction and one of the property’s ponds is designated for this purpose.

The processing activities have also been affected. We intended to extend our product range significantly—we had Napoleonic plans, says Mr. Popivshchyi. We planned to start selling our products not only in Ukraine, but also to countries in Europe. But we had to postpone.

War comes to Ivankiv

Nobody expected the war to reach the Kyiv region as quickly as it did.

On the morning of Russia’s invasion, the 24th February 2022, the drivers who were delivering fish to customers in Kyiv called the head office: We cannot get into the city… we see missiles flying, there is a huge traffic jam, and the police have blocked the access to the city. What do we do? While in the morning, there was still hope that they’d be able to make the delivery and avoid failing the customers, by lunchtime it became obvious that none of the fish would go anywhere. The trucks were sent back to Ivankiv, the fish were put in the freezer, and the employees were sent home.

In about 36 hours, Russian troops entered Ivankiv. It became impossible to get to the area physically; however, a phone connection was still available. We saw a Russian tank shooting at your processing plant! local eyewitnesses told the management. Most likely the plant does not exist anymore. The shots damaged the office building and destroyed two security cars. A week later, the phone connection was lost, and for the next 30 days the head office in Kyiv had no idea what was happening on-site in Ivankiv.

Saving the locals in occupied territories from hunger

Now isolated from Kyiv, the local management in Ivankiv had serious decisions to make. A few days after the invasion, the power supply was cut off. The fish in the farm’s wintering ponds were now at risk due to a lack of aeration and water exchange. At the same time, the local population were running out of food. Before the war, nobody kept large stocks at home, as fresh food was available in the stores;

now, when there were no supplies, hunger was becoming a reality.

The farm management made the decision to give the fish to anyone in need. News quickly spread through Ivankiv and its neighbouring villages, and anyone who could trek out to the farm through the March snow. People were queuing, some days more than 1,000 in a line, to get two or three fish each. Meanwhile, volunteers delivered fish to those who could not make it to the farm.

During the early days of the war, the company gave away about 75 tonnes of fish to the locals at no charge. Grateful residents still remember how that fish saved their lives, and the farm became a local legend.

Not all the plans were postponed

After the occupiers were driven out, significant effort was required to restore the processing unit and get the farm operational again. Despite everything they had been through, the company remained committed to its plans to export to Europe.

To access the EU market, producers outside the union must obtain CE marking, a certification that ensures products meet EU safety, health, and environmental standards. We aimed to secure EU export certification, explains Mr. Popivshchyi, as we have over 70 items in our product range, including unique offerings like dumplings and fish cakes made from freshwater fish. We knew we had something special to offer the European market.

While the war complicated the certification process, both local

and international auditors—some working remotely—completed their assessments. After about a year, in August 2024, Healthy & Wealthy successfully earned the CE marking, allowing them to market their products in the EU.

Lipstick effect1

Reflecting on changes in the consumer market, Mr. Popivshchyi notes that demand for semi-finished products remains steady throughout the year, with a minor decline during the summer months. The war impacted the population’s purchasing power; however, in the big cities like Kyiv, where residents have more disposable income than those in the rural areas, the picture is different. When the conditions worsen—whether due to shellings, blackouts, stress, or limited access to the city infrastructure— people go to supermarkets and buy highly-priced quality products because they need emotional relief. In such moments, delicious food becomes the most affordable and accessible remedy, especially when other means for emotional relief are limited because of the war.

Can a war teach anyone anything?

The war teaches you to value people, to value relationships and emotions, to appreciate even the smallest things you have today. To value time. The war tempers you, it gives you great immunity against challenges. The war is like a jab, adds Mr. Popivshchyi, going through difficulties makes you feel vaccinated against them.”

Aleksandra Petersen, Eurofish, aleksandra@eurofish.dk

The “lipstick effect” is the theory that, during an economic crisis, consumers become more willing to spend money on small indulgences.

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