On 25 March, Fisheries and Oceans Commissioner Costas Kadis hosted an event to launch an EU-wide campaign about aquaculture in the EU.
The campaign, developed in collaboration with Member States and the Aquaculture Advisory Council, focuses on raising awareness, understanding and support for the development of aquaculture – the farming of fish, shellfish and algae – in the EU.
Under the rallying title “EU aquaculture. We work for you with passion”, this campaign will, over the next three months, showcase the dedication and commitment of EU producers to sustainable aquaculture and to providing high-quality products. It will also show the benefits of developing this activity in the EU. By increasing production within the EU, we can reduce our dependence on imports for food and boost local economies.
The campaign features nine different species (mussels, trout, clams, sea bream, oysters, carp, salmon, meagre, and seaweed) and many aquaculture producers. Through videos, educational content, and a road trip around EU aquaculture sites, you will gain a better understanding of how the sector works, its benefits, and live an immersive experience “from farm to plate”.
At the launch event in Brussels, Commissioner Kadis was joined by Maria Panayiotou, Minister of Agriculture, Rural development and Environment, Cyprus; Jacek Czerniak, State Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Poland; Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral, Member of the PECH Committee in the European Parliament, Piotr Całbecki, Chair of the NAT Commission, European Committee of the Regions; Piroska Kállay, President of the Permanent Group on Sustainable Food Systems, European Economic and Social Committee, several aquaculture producers from across the EU and a Belgian retailer.
The event took place in Brussels on 25 March 2025 and was live streamed.
More details about the campaign and aquaculture can be found on the campaign website.
Follow #EUaquaculture on DG MARE’s social media channels and discover more.
Background
While aquaculture production is on the rise worldwide, in the EU it has not grown since 2018. Among the main obstacles for the growth of aquaculture in the EU are the lack of social acceptance for new aquaculture sites and insufficient awareness of the importance and benefits of this activity for EU citizens.
The goal of this campaign is to help raise awareness, understanding, and support for the development of aquaculture in the EU by showcasing the people behind the sector – aquaculture producers – and their role in sustainable food production and in the communities where they live and work.
