FAQ

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 708/2007 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32007R0708&…) of 11 June 2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture provides a framework to ensure the protection of the aquatic environment from the risks associated with the farming of such species. It regulates their movements in the EU, covering all aquatic species and production types, and there are special rules for closed aquaculture facilities, as well as exemption for species listed in Annex IV.

Aquaculture operators must apply for a permit for the introduction of an alien species or translocation of a locally absent species from a relevant administrative body in the EU Member State (“a competent authority”). The applicant must submit a dossier following the indicative guidelines specified in Annex I. An advisory committee will assess whether the application contains all the necessary information and establish its admissibility and the potential risks. The committee will then relay its opinion to the competent authority, which will decide whether to issue or deny the permit in accordance with the established procedure.

Aquaponics is an innovative aquaculture production system which combines fish production in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) with plant production by hydroponics (the technique of growing plants without soil) in one production system. It is a sustainable and efficient farming method that eliminates the need for soil and conserves water.

The advantages of this technique are multiple:

It can be located in rural areas but also in urban and semi urban settings, including city buildings (e.g. roof tops) and industrial sites (e.g. unused sites), giving the EU regions a self-sufficiency element in providing their residents jobs as well as fresh vegetables, fish and fruits. This strategic placement not only reduces land acquisition costs but also provides space to aquaculture for producing fish closer to urban areas, thereby cutting transportation expenses and lowering the overall carbon footprint of production.

It is an ecologically responsible closed system without the use of chemicals fertilizers because it is a self-sustaining system. The water from the fish tanks is recirculated through filters to feed beds of plants, and then back to the fish tanks. Fish and plants develop a symbiotic relationship, where plants are cleaning the fish waste and fish are feeding nutrients to the plants.

It doesn’t require the use of pesticides.

It avoids the constraints of seasonality as plants and fish can be farmed all year round irrespective of the season and weather conditions.

Some of the challenges of implementing and developing aquaponics are the following:

High initial costs: setting up an aquaponics system can be expensive due to the need for specialized equipment, such as tanks, pumps, and filtration systems and high energy requirements.

Technical expertise: it requires daily maintenance and continuous testing of water quality for fish and plants and knowledge of both fish farming and hydroponic systems. Balancing the needs of fish and plants can be complex and requires ongoing learning and adaptation.

Not all plants and fish thrive in aquaponic systems: the technique is not suitable for all crops and it can be performed with limited plant and fish variety.

Profitability: currently, there are problems of scalability to produce vegetables on a massive scale at a profitable price.

BFT is an innovative aquaculture approach that enhances sustainability and production efficiency by fostering a microbial community in nutrient-rich water. This community, known as "biofloc," consists of beneficial microorganisms that convert unconsumed feed into nutritious biomass, serving as a supplementary food source for cultured fish and shrimps. BFT significantly improves water quality by stabilizing harmful nitrogenous compounds, contributing to the overall health and reducing stress in aquatic organisms. This natural filtration process minimizes disease outbreaks. Moreover, the technology improves growth rates and survival, resulting in enhanced yields and profitability for farmers.

There are still significant problems for scalability of this technology, such as:

The technical management requires a precise understanding of microbial ecology and constant monitoring of water quality parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient levels.

Another significant challenge is the risk of pathogen development due to improper system management, which can lead to imbalances in the microbial community and outbreaks of diseases.

Additionally, the initial installation costs associated with establishing a biofloc system can be significant, potentially deterring small-scale farmers.

Despite its advantages, BFT is implemented at a commercial scale in only a few locations in Europe, such as the Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) farming in BFT systems in Castilla y León, Spain. In terms of research, European scholars from various countries, including Belgium (Ghent University), have successfully established BFT farming in tilapia ponds in Israel.

Recent advancements in BFT systems have focused on optimizing microbial community dynamics to improve feed conversion rates and growth performance. Innovations in aeration systems, real-time monitoring of water quality parameters, and utilizing various carbon sources (such as molasses or starch) have substantially enhanced the resilience and productivity of biofloc systems. Furthermore, research into the health benefits of biofloc as a feed supplement has demonstrated improved immune responses in cultured species, leading to better growth and survival rates.

Efforts to standardize practices and develop best management guidelines are essential for maximizing the benefits of biofloc technology in aquaculture. This environmentally friendly practice offers valuable applications such as feed for aquatic animals and a potential substitute for traditional fish ingredients in crustacean diets.

Low Trophic Aquaculture (LTA) focuses on the production of species that occupy lower levels of the food web. LTA consists of unfed aquaculture which includes filter feeders (e.g. mussels, oyster, and clams), detritivores (e.g. sea cucumbers), seaweed, but also herbivorous fish (e.g. carps). LTA aligns with sustainable aquaculture principles by reducing reliance on finite resources and minimizing environmental footprint.

The benefits of Low Trophic Aquaculture (LTA) are:

1. Reduced energy input: LTA focuses on species lower in the food chain, requiring less energy input compared to farming carnivorous species. This leads to more efficient resource utilization.
2. Improved aquatic ecosystems: LTA (specifically, filter feeders and seaweed farming) can absorb excess nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon thus mitigating eutrophication and climate change effects. Furthermore, LTA practices, can also improve water quality (e.g. mussels, oyster, and clams farming) through filtration and sea bottom quality (e.g. clams and sea cucumbers farming) through the movements of the farmed species in the sand.
3. Diversification: LTA expands the range of species that can be farmed sustainably, contributing to diversification within the EU aquaculture sector.
4. Potential for high-value product development: as highlighted by the ASTRAL project, LTA can provide raw materials for the production of food, feed, cosmetics, medicines, bioplastics, and other valuable products.

The challenges of Low Trophic Aquaculture (LTA) are:

1. Market demand and consumer acceptance: consumer demand for LTA products (e.g. seaweed) may be lower than for other species in certain regions1. Efforts are ongoing e.g. via the EU Aquaculture campaign and the EU Algae Initiative to increase awareness and acceptance of these products.
2. Regulatory frameworks: the regulatory frameworks governing LTA may be less developed than those for traditional aquaculture, potentially creating uncertainty for investors and operators (see FAQ on IMTA).
3. Dependency on environmental conditions: LTA, especially in open water can be vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions such as temperature, salinity, and nutrient availability. Extreme weather events can also pose a risk.

It's important to note that the benefits and challenges of LTA can vary depending on the species being farmed, the location of the farm, the production system and the specific management practices employed.

LTA and higher-trophic species production (e.g. production of carnivorous species) can be combined to potentially generate positive environmental benefits, such as nutrients uptake and carbon sequestration. The integration of LTA in higher-trophic species production is one of the principle on which Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is based on.

The “Strategic Guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive aquaculture sector for the period 2021 to 2030” emphasise the importance of diversification towards species with lower trophic levels.

The EU Algae Initiative aims to support the algae sector in the EU, including seaweed aquaculture by improving governance, developing business support mechanisms, raising awareness and acceptance for algae in the EU and improving algae knowledge, research and data and driving innovation.

The Aquaculture Advisory Committee (AAC) published in October 2024 a recommendation on this type of aquaculture, which can be found here: https://aac-europe.org/en/publication/aac-recommendation-on-promoting-l…

The European Union (EU) has funded several research projects related to LTA, with the objective of promoting the sustainability and competitiveness of aquaculture within the region. For instance, AquaVitae (https://aquavitaeproject.eu/ ), ASTRAL (https://www.astral-project.eu/), and ULTFARMS (https://maritime-spatial-planning.ec.europa.eu/projects/circular-low-tr…) are noteworthy, as they also contribute to the advancement of LTA and sustainable aquaculture practices.

ULTFARMS is a pioneering “Horizon Europe Ocean Mission” project with a vision to revolutionize LTA systems. Its mission is to optimize LTA production within challenging offshore conditions and low-salinity environments. By integrating innovative engineering, technical, ecological, and biological processes, ULTFARMS aims to establish a profitable, sustainable, and ecologically sound production chain of low-trophic level species (seaweed and molluscs) in offshore wind farms situated in the North Sea and Baltic Sea.