7 minute read
Vince McDonagh
BY VINCE MCDONAGH
Catching up
Europe has a job on its hands if it is to realise the potential of the aquaculture sector
When it comes to using the ocean as a sustainable source of food, Europe is trailing well behind other parts of the world, the European Union says. Now, the EU has unveiled a vision to develop its fi sh farming industry.
Figures suggest that of all the fi sh consumed by EU ci� zens, barely 10% comes from aquaculture within the EU itself.
The 27-strong trading bloc lost an important contributor in Scotland (the world’s third largest Atlan� c salmon farmer) following Brexit, while Norway has always been outside the EU – albeit s� ll part of the European Economic Area.
Now Brussels wants things to change and it has a fresh strategy to achieve that goal, set out in a new report from the EU’s Directorate-General for Mari� me Aff airs and Fisheries, Blue farming: new strategic vision for sustainable aquaculture producti on and consumpti on in the European Union (February 2022).
The report says: “Aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector in the world supplying us with seafood and seaweed, which in addi� on to good protein sources also provides a number of other nutrients, including micronutrients such as vitamin D and B vitamins as well as selenium, iodine, zinc, iron and potassium.
“In addi� on, there are long-chain omega-3 fa� y acids in fi sh, which uncondi� onally have important and very benefi cial eff ects on human health and wellbeing as well as a property to remedy and prevent diseases.”
Despite its physical size, only 2% of global aquaculture produc� on is centred on the EU, and most of that is in just four countries: Spain, France, Italy and Greece.
There are plans to enlarge that base such as the new RAS (recircula� ng aquaculture systems) salmon farm due to be built on the Channel coast in Belgium by Columbi Salmon. But they remain modest when compared to what is happening elsewhere.
The EU report says: “In terms of volume of aquaculture produc� on per category of species, more than half is shellfi sh, while marine fi sh and freshwater fi sh each account for around 20% of the total volume.
“The vast majority of EU produc� on is for mussels, trout, seabream, oysters, seabass, carp and clams. This means that there is s� ll a lot of poten� al for further growth and diversifi ca� on in terms of [the number of] producing countries and species farmed.
“Aquaculture can also provide consumers in the EU with even more diverse healthy and sustainable food products, including those more widely consumed in other regions of the world, for example algae or invertebrates such as sea urchins.”
It is es� mated that Europe has around 15,000 companies opera� ng in the aquaculture sector. However, the majority are microenterprises employing fewer than 10 people.
The total number employed in aquaculture is close to 70,000 but those are 2018 fi gures which would have included Scotland.
According to the report, these microenterprises tend to be family owned and use less effi cient produc� on methods and systems. The EU remains highly dependent on imported aqua� c food.
Despite having a large sea area around its coastlines, the EU imports over 70% of the fi sh and seafood consumed by its 440 million ci� zens.
The report says: “It is therefore important to support the further growth and diversifi ca� on of aquaculture produc� on in the EU in a way that preserves the environment and provides more jobs and economic development to coastal and rural areas.
Left: EU Blue Farming report image Above: Sea urchins Below: Farm for dorado and sea bass
“As early as 2013, the EU and its member states set the objec� ve to develop aquaculture in the European Union in a way that ensures its economic, social and environmental sustainability.”
Brussels concedes aquaculture is a complex ac� vity that involves many (usually necessary) regula� ons covering the use of space and water, taking care of the health and welfare of animals farmed and ensuring the safety of products used in the farming process, such as feed or veterinary treatments, for the environment and for human health.
But it believes the burden can and should be reduced.
Going forward, the EU has drawn up a growth agenda, which it describes as “a new vision for aquaculture”.
The objec� ve is to s� mulate the economy and create jobs while accelera� ng the transi� on to a greener Europe.
It says it is more important than ever to ensure that aquaculture in the EU grows in a way that also contributes to important objec� ves such as reducing of carbon emissions, transi� oning to more sustainable food systems, reversing the loss of biodiversity, reducing pollu� on and crea� ng jobs in coastal and rural communi� es.
The Commission says it is involving member states, fi sh farming companies and other interested groups in the prepara� on of the strategic guidelines.
The strategic guidelines “cover all issues that are relevant for the sustainable development of aquaculture in the EU and provide concrete recommenda� ons to the Commission, Member States, aquaculture producers and other relevant actors, such as NGOs (non-governmental organisa� ons).”
The report goes on: “Those recommenda� ons include the development of guidance and good prac� ces on diff erent aspects of aquaculture ac� vi� es. Achieving the objec� ves of the strategic guidelines depends on EU and Member State authori� es, aquaculture producers, non-governmental organisa� ons, investors, processors, retailers and consumer.”
Issues addressed by the new guidelines include: • Facilita� ng access to space and water, so EU aquaculture can keep growing. • Reducing the administra� ve burdens involved in authorising new aquaculture farms. • Further limi� ng the impact of aquaculture, as well as promo� ng the types of aquaculture that are most benefi cial for the environment and the climate. • Improving measures regarding animal health and welfare. • Ensuring that aquaculture adapts to climate change and contributes to the mi� ga� on of climate change impact. • Providing more and be� er informa� on to consumers and ci� zens on EU aquaculture. • Promo� ng research and innova� on and the development of relevant skills. • Promo� ng the diversifi ca� on of produc� on to increase the off er of aquaculture products, notably of new promising species in the EU such as algae or marine invertebrates, including molluscs or other invertebrates such as sea urchins or sea cucumbers.
The strategic guidelines, the Commission says: “Set out a path for the sector to grow into an even more compe� � ve and resilient sector and to become a global reference for sustainability by 2030.” FF
UKRAINE CONFLICT TO HIT EU FOOD SUPPLIES
Above: Julien Denormandie
