Time to invest in aquaculture, September 2002

On 19 September 2002 the European Commission published its first strategy for the sustainable development of aquaculture in Europe. The proposals on aquaculture (fish farming) are part of the European Union's efforts to reform the Common Fisheries Policy. They will be presented to the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 24 September.

Aquaculture currently provides an estimated 80,000 full or part-time jobs in the EU, often in areas where other forms of employment are scarce. It is already a significant money-earner: in 2000 it aquaculture accounted for 17% of EU fisheries production by volume, and 27% by value, making it worth some €2.5 million to the EU economy. The industry is seen as a source of quality food at affordable prices, with the main products being fish (trout, salmon, sea bass, sea bream) and molluscs (mussels, oysters, clams).

Although recognised for its actual and potential benefits, there are also concerns about some aspects of aquaculture, as Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler pointed out when he announced the Commission's strategy: 'In the next years, we want to create 8 000 jobs in the fisheries sector which has been suffering from important job losses. But our strategy makes clear that boosting fish farming must not be achieved at the expense of the environment, food safety or quality.'

The strategy has three main objectives: to create secure jobs, with a target 8,000 - 10,000 full-time equivalents in the next five year (2003-2008); to provide quality fisheries products whilst also promoting animal health and welfare standards; and to safeguard the environment. These objectives are to be achieved via a series of measures proposed by the Commission. They include:

• increasing production by diversifying into new species and by making aquaculture more environmentally friendly; addressing the issue of space, so that aquaculture is not squeezed out by competing demands from other users of coastal waters, such as the tourism industry; stimulating demand through measures such as the introduction of quality labels; encouraging fish farmers to act cooperatively and benefit from economies of scale, and - with other stakeholders - to develop of codes of conduct / codes of practice;
• tackling health issues, by addressing public health, animal health and animal welfare issues.
• ensuring that the industry is environmentally sound, through reducing the impact of waste; taking measures to reduce the risks posed by alien species and genetically modified organisms (including transgenic fish); and introducing pollution prevention and control measures.

Links:

European Commission:
	19.09.02: Commission tables strategy for fish farming to benefit jobs, consumers and environment [IP/02/1340]
	DG Fisheries: Aquaculture
	DG Fisheries: Aquaculture in the European Union 2002
	DG Fisheries: Report on market perspectives for European freshwater aquaculture, May 2001
	DG Fisheries: The future of aquaculture in Europe [speech]
	DG Fisheries: Study of Community aquaculture [1999]

BBC News Online:
	30.05.02: Salmon farms 'threaten wild fish'
	02.08.02: Warning of farmed salmon 'threat'

European Sources Online:
	Topic Guide: The Common Fisheries Policy

Eric Davies
KnowEurope Researcher
Compiled: Friday, 20 September 2002

Proposals aimed at delivering a sustainable strategy for the future of aquaculture / fish farming in the EU were published by the European Commission on 19 September 2002.