A new strategic vision for sustainable aquaculture production and consumption in the European Union: Blue farming in the European Green Deal.

Abstract

Despite all of its benefits, aquaculture production and consumption in the European Union (EU) has not grown at the same pace as in other parts of the world. Of the total consumption of fish and seafood by the average EU citizen, only 25% originated from aquaculture in 2018. EU aquaculture production in particular only covered 10% of the seafood consumed in the EU and accounted for less than 2% of world production. Almost 70% of aquaculture production in the EU is concentrated in four Member States (Spain, France, Italy and Greece). In terms of volume of aquaculture production per category of species, more than half is shellfish, while marine fish and freshwater fish each account for around 20% of the total volume. The vast majority of EU production is for mussels, trout, seabream, oysters, seabass, carp and clams. This means that there is still a lot of potential for further growth and diversification in terms 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 estimated that there are 15 000 companies in the aquaculture sector in the EU, the large majority of which are microenterprises employing fewer than 10 people. The total number of people employed in aquaculture is close to 70 000 (2018 figures). These microenterprises tend to be family owned and use rather extensive production methods and systems. The EU is highly dependent on imported aquatic food. The EU imports over 70% of the fish and seafood that it consumes. It is therefore important to support the further growth and diversification of aquaculture production in the EU in a way that preserves the environment and provides more jobs and economic development to coastal and rural areas.