The Role of Producers’ Organisations in the Sustainable Development of Aquaculture.

Abstract

The reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Common Market Organisation (CMO) encouraged the creation of aquaculture Producer Organisations (POs) and enhanced their responsibilities with a view of contributing to the objectives of those policies and promoting sustainability, food security, growth and employment through the management and implementation of collective actions. POs can be defined as any entity that has been formed and is controlled by producers in a specific sector to jointly pursue one or more of the objectives listed in the CMO Regulation, whether or not the entity is formally recognised. POs can take various legal forms, including cooperatives, associations or commercial organisations in which aquaculture producers are shareholders. POs are expected to carry out a complex exercise, namely, to develop and submit for approval to their managing authorities’ Production and Marketing Plans1 (PMPs), whereas the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) allows for public financing for the development and implementation of the PMPs The PMPs contain mandatory measures to ensure the environmental sustainability of aquaculture activities and provisional market-oriented measures to strengthen farmers’ market position. In brief, it could be identified as a “sustainability plan” for aquaculture. 1 Regulation EU No 1379/2013 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products 2 Regulation EU No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 3 Commission recommendation on the establishment and implementation of the Production and Marketing Plans, 2014/117/EU 4 Recommendation on the Role of POs in the Sustainable Development of Aquaculture Recently, the European Commission (EC) adopted two strategic policies: the European Green Deal to address climate change and environmental degradation and the Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system. POs are also a key element in achieving the objectives of these strategies. Farmed fish and seafood generate a lower carbon footprint than animal production on land4, and POs can elaborate the PMPs collective measures to further improve the carbon footprint of aquaculture operations and to assist the transition to a sustainable food system that will deliver affordable foods, improve the incomes of primary producers, improve environmental and animal welfare, and reinforce the EU’s competitiveness. Furthermore, the situation faced by the aquaculture sector due to the outbreak of COVID-19 has demonstrated the value of PO for collective action. Within this context, it is necessary to further enhance the responsibilities of POs and provide the necessary financial support to allow them to play a more meaningful role in the day-to-day management of aquaculture, while respecting the framework defined by objectives of the CFP, CMO, Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy. According to data available from the EC, in 2021, more than 210 POs were recognised by EU countries under common EU-wide rules6. Out of the 210 POs, only 34 are related to aquaculture (16%), a figure that demonstrates a very low uptake from the aquaculture sector. More specifically, 12% (26 POs) of the total recognised POs represent finfish aquaculture (marine and fresh water), and almost 4% (8 POs) represent shellfish producers. The objective of this recommendation is to: 1. Present the enhanced role of aquaculture POs in promoting the sustainable development of aquaculture and contributing to the objectives of strategic European policies. 2. Provide feedback on the difficulties faced by existing POs in implementing their PMP or on individual stakeholders to set up a PO. 3. Propose actions that encourage the creation of POs and their effective contributions to the sustainable development of aquaculture.