ECOFISH - Model approach to organic fish farming

Aquaculture is the fastest growing sector in our food system and an important source of sustainable food in Europe. With demand for food growing and hundreds of hectares of formerly agricultural land being used for other purposes, enhancing both the economic competitiveness and sustainability of aquaculture are attractive prospects.
ECOFISH project developed a model and guide to encourage and help conventional fish farms to switch to organic aquaculture. Sustainable aquaculture farms take specific measures to protect the environment, natural resources and landscape during production.
ECOFISH used aquaponics to achieve a sustainable production system for both plants and fish. Aquaponics combines traditional aquaculture with hydroponics in a symbiotic environment (meaning that it is a production system in which waste from the livestock is used as nutrients for the plants). ECOFISH established, tested and provided good practice guidelines for such a model.
Moreover, this production system provided improved waste management practices and also high-value, organic, pesticide and chemical-free food products.
During the project, processing and marketing activities were carried out to support the added value of the end products and raise awareness of the potential benefits of organic aquaculture.
The main stakeholders and beneficiaries of this production system were the producers in aquaculture and fisheries sectors in Romania, Spain, USA and Egypt where ECOFISH was implemented.