Provision of Scientific Advice for Aquaculture

MRAG Europe Ltd in collaboration with MRAG Ltd, AZTI, AquaBioTech, Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Blue Bio Consulting, the Marine Institute, National Marine Fisheries Research and Wageningen University,was awarded a new framework contract with the European Commission to provide scientific advice for aquaculture (CINEA/2022/OP/0014). Through a number of specific contracts, this framework contract will support: 

(i)       The implementation of Regulation 708/2007 on the use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture, 

(ii)      Provision of scientific advice related to the preparation of the guidance documents planned in the Strategic Guidelines for EU aquaculture, 

(iii)    Provision of advice necessary in the context of the implementation of actions under the future EU Algae initiative. 

The ultimate objective is to contribute to the efforts to develop the potential of the aquaculture sector in the EU in a way that is consistent with the European Green Deal objectives.

The EU imports over 70% of the seafood that it consumes. Aquaculture products overall (including imports) represent 25% of EU consumption of seafood, while EU aquaculture products represent only 10% of EU consumption. Furthermore, the EU aquaculture sector still has great scope for further diversification, not only in the farming of promising new species (notably diversification into non-fed, and low trophic species with a lower environmental footprint), but also in production methods.

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation already calls for a coordinated EU strategic approach to support the growth of the EU aquaculture sector while ensuring its economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Despite the progress made thanks to the “Open Method of Coordination” laid down by the CFP Regulation as well as EU funding, the aquaculture sector is still far from reaching its full potential in terms of growth and meeting the increasing demand for more sustainable seafood.