While global aquaculture production continues to grow rapidly, European production has stagnated or declined for over 25 years

EU Aquaculture Leaders Demand Strong Action to Reverse 25-Year Stagnation

EUROPEAN UNION
Friday, December 05, 2025, 02:00 (GMT + 9)

Industry Coalition Calls for Political Leadership and 25% Production Growth Target by 2040

BRUSSELS – The leaders of European aquaculture yesterday met with Commissioner Costas Kadis, responsible for Fisheries and Oceans, to jointly call for stronger political leadership and a strategic policy overhaul to restore production growth in the sector. The meeting included the European Molluscs Producers’ Association (EMPA), the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), and the European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATIP), collectively representing the entire EU aquaculture industry.

Urgent Need for Policy Coherence

The organisations stressed that while global aquaculture production continues to grow rapidly, European production has either stagnated or declined for over 25 years. They argued this downturn is a result of excessive bureaucracy, burdensome administrative processes, and fragmented initiatives, not a lack of innovation or investment from the industry.

The coalition highlighted that the strong EU demand for aquatic food is increasingly being met by imports from countries with more coherent aquaculture policies.

Commissioner Kadis Commits to Elevation

The industry representatives urged Commissioner Kadis to champion stronger political leadership across the European Commission and Member States, ensuring aquaculture is fully integrated into food policy, competitiveness strategies, and environmental legislation.

Commissioner Kadis welcomed the exchange, reaffirming that: "Aquaculture is a top priority in my portfolio, both for food security and for competitiveness in coastal and river areas." He added that promoting aquaculture is key to reducing EU dependency on imported seafood and stressed that demand-driven research must play a central role in future EU research programmes.

Setting Clear, Quantitative Targets

The industry leaders outlined specific needs for future policy:

• EMPA President Addy Risseeuw called for a dedicated EU policy recognising aquaculture as a distinct strategic sector. He proposed a clear growth objective: a 25% increase in EU aquaculture production by 2040, supported by streamlined regulations and improved access to space.

• FEAP Secretary General Javier Ojeda stated that “without clear production targets, there is no accountability and no progress.” He emphasised the need for EU environmental legislation to be fully compatible with sustainable food production, enabling responsible growth and investment.

• EATIP President Lorenzo Gennari highlighted the need for coherence in research and innovation within the upcoming Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy and the Horizon Europe Framework Programme. He noted that EU aquaculture Research & Innovation has been under-resourced and called for research to be more impact-focused and aligned with economic needs and market demands.

Focus on Implementation

The meeting also reviewed key policy files, including the European Ocean Pact, the forthcoming EU Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture by 2040, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and the potential revision of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

The organisations concluded the discussion was constructive but stressed that implementation is what matters now. They urged the EU to convert political ambition into measurable outcomes that will enable a thriving, competitive, and sustainable aquaculture sector. The coalition welcomed the Commissioner’s invitation for regular follow-up meetings to review progress.

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