European fish farming: The current position

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European fish farmingThe current position

• Courtney Hough
• General Secretary
• FEAP

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Role of FEAP within European Aquaculture

• 31 National Aquaculture Associations from 22
  European States a unique forum for European
  fish farming
• Member of the EU Advisory Committee on
  Fisheries and Aquaculture (ACFA)
• Liaison status with the FAO EIFAC, GFCM and
  Global sub-Committee on Aquaculture of the COFI
• Participant in important EU RTD projects and
  actions
• First International Association to develop a
  Code of Conduct for aquaculture
• Active in public communication Aquamedia

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Global Fish Farming Development
Rest of the World 98 (1999)APR 10.4
EU-15 2 APR 7.9
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Production of European Fish Farming
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EU Fish Farming DevelopmentProduction and Value
57,000 tons in 1970 125,000 tons in 1980 300,000
tons in 1990 520,000 tons in 2000 10 of EU
fisheries landings 23 of value of EU fisheries
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Major Producer States in EU
PROFESSIONAL FISH FARMING EXISTS IN ALL EU
STATES
United Kingdom 30 - 161,000 tons
Greece 12 - 67,000 tons
Italy 12 - 65,000 tons
France 11 - 60,000 tons
Spain 9 - 48,000 tons
Denmark 7 - 40,000 tons
Germany 7 - 36,000 tons
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EU Fish Farming Major Species

• Principal species in EU is Trout
• Largest growth in mariculture
• Salmon, Seabream, Seabass,Turbot
• Recent diversification has been of low production
  and economic importance

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EU Fish Farming Development trends
6.3
-0.5
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Conclusions for EU aquaculture

• EU fish farming is an important contributor to
  the fisheries sector, supplying processors and
  the consumer with a variety of high quality, safe
  food products at a reasonable price
• EU fish farming has become an important
  pan-European economic sector, providing jobs in
  rural and coastal areas and supporting important
  upstream and downstream activities and services
• Overall production growth 6.3 APR, 5.5 less
  than the global trend over the same period
• Overall price trend is negative (-0.5 APR) vs
  positive global development

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Conclusions for EU aquaculture markets

• Marine sectors developing quickest but hardest
  hit on prices
• Freshwater sector prices more stable but very
  slow growth or stagnation
• Ex-EU High quality and processed products
  exports targeting the developed markets of EU
• Market competition is very high supermarkets
  increasingly control the major market share and
  concentrate demand

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Conclusions for EU aquaculture markets

• Development (growth) problems
• Rapid growth ?Increased supply from a fragmented
  SME sector ?prolonged price instability (e.g.
  Mediterranean sector)
• Discrediting food production has affected
  aquaculture and prices
• The offer must be concentrated, focusing on
  Producer Organisations
• Increased consumer awareness and education on
  nutrition, quality and health issues are required

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Observations on EU aquaculture

• European fishfarming technology management
  are world leaders
• European Universities lead global aquaculture
  research and training requirements
• European companies lead supply and consultancy
  sectors
• But
• Little recognition of the contribution of fish
  farming in previous Common Fisheries Policies
• No specific budget for focused improvement in
  the 6th Framework Programme
• Will the Reformed CFP provide adequate
  opportunities?

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EU Legislative  Framework 

• Major issues affecting aquaculture and its
  development
• Food safety
• Feed components (post BSE, dioxin/PCB)
• Processing conditions (hygiene, materials)
• Contaminants (Diseases, Hg,Cd, residues)
• Fish Health
• Treatment (chemicals, therapeutic agents)
• Movement of live fish (zoning, categories)
• Welfare (live transport, slaughter)
• Land Water use
• Water Framework Directive
• Integrated (Coastal) Zone Management
• Habitat Birds Directives, Natura 2000

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Key issues raised by the profession

• Sustainable and responsible development of
  aquaculture must be encouraged
• Market stability of prime concern for ALL
  sectors
• Operate within a clear, enabling legislative
  structure (National) or Policy (European CFP)
• Development based on science as opposed to
  reaction to hearsay and scare-mongering
• Moves towards self-governance and sectoral
  responsibility should be encouraged
• A level playing field within the EU is required
  for equitable development

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Key Issues for now and the future

• Economic Viability
• Stability needed for (re)investment
• Sectoral access to marketing and promotion
  actions
• Equitable competition within EU and with imports

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Key Issues for now and the future

• Food Safety
• A guarantee for the consumer
• Input quality by suppliers
• Traceability (vs. labelling)
• Sustainability
• Input/Resource issues (water, feeds)
• Other environmental issues
• Human Resources (training, technology)
• Governance Responsibility
• Sectoral acceptability

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Conclusions

• Market will determine success but market
  stability is the urgent requirement
• European Fish Farming (suppliers, producers,
  processors) assumes its responsibilities as
• a major food supplier
• a developing sector in a competitive market
• a guardian of the environment
• an important employer

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Conclusions

• Sustainability will only be obtained by the
  satisfaction of multiple criteria vs. Short term
  actions
• Coherent European actions are needed for
• Improved marketing structures and promotional
  efforts
• Simplified legislation
• Simplified licensing procedures
• Support for generational change/entry

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More information on European fish farming.

• www.feap.org

www.aquamedia.org
secretariat_at_feap.org