Aquaculture is a sector whose business volume is growing each year, but it still has major challenges to face.
APROMAR (Spanish Aquaculture Business Association) is the main representative of the sector’s interests in our country. In its report on the aquaculture industry in 2018, we identified some of the greatest achievements in recent times.
For example, in June of last year, a general action protocol was signed to encourage Blue Growth through aquaculture in Spanish waters. This agreement between APROMAR and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) is helping to promote numerous initiatives in the field of innovation.
One of the first was the seminar entitled ‘AquaHub: Competitiveness and Sustainability of the Spanish Aquaculture Business in the Blue Growth Environment’, organised by APROMAR-REMA (Marine Aquaculture Experimentation Network). The seminar explored issues such as the spatial planning of aquaculture, competitiveness, and communication and social responsibility. Essentially, it addressed the three focal points of Blue Growth in aquaculture.
Also in 2018, APROMAR-REMA launched a Marine Farm Standardisation Project with the Spanish Association for Standardisation (UNE) to develop a technical standard for the design and maintenance of fish farms in the sea. Its objective was to have a UNE standard that will improve operations, reduce insurance premiums and streamline the attainment of permits. Participants in the initiative included APROMAR’s main partners with production in sea hatcheries and suppliers of nets, equipment and related services. UNE served as the technical secretariat for the project. The result of all this effort was that in November, UNE standard 173202 was approved!
Meanwhile, the innovation-related projects on the agenda for 2019 included strengthening the Spanish marine aquaculture sector’s networking in the framework of Blue Growth (called AQUAHUB); establishing the state of the art for Aquaculture 4.0; and developing Responsible Aquaculture: microplastics (ACUIPLAS).
FROM EUROPE
On the European level, the EU’s Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC) has been active for several years. Its latest position papers explore topics such as:
- Equal conditions for production and sales with third countries.
- Considerations on the recovery of the European eel stock.
- The need to improve the labelling of caviar so that country of origin is mentioned.
In 2019, the AAC planned to work on issues such as:
- The method to calculate the FiFo ratio [ratio of the use of marine ingredients in feed versus farmed fish production].
- Study of fish welfare in general and slaughter methods in particular, highlighting the need to promote more scientific research.
- Study of the situation of eel aquaculture in the EU and its role in stock recovery.
- The responsible supply of raw materials for aquaculture feeds.
- Current limitations of regulations for ecological aquaculture.
- The future of the EMFF (European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020).
The AAC launched its website in 2018, and its position papers are available here.