Enabling and Constraining Factors for Developing Organic Aquaculture in Europe

Summary in the original language of the document

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food-producing sector globally, contributing to 51 percent of the world’s fisheries and aquaculture production in 2022, excluding algae (FAO, 2024). However, organic aquaculture remains a niche market, accounting for a production of 330,789 metric tons (Willer et al., 2024) in 2022, representing about the 2.8 percent of the global aquaculture production. The bulk of global organic aquaculture production is led by China, followed by European nations (Willer et al., 2024). In Europe, organic aquaculture represented solely 6.7 percent of total aquaculture production in 2020 (EUMOFA, 2022). According to the latest report from EUMOFA (EUMOFA, 2022), within the European Union (EU), mussel farming dominates organic aquaculture production with 41,936 metric tons, trailed by Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar; 12,870 metric tons), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss; 4,590 metric tons), common carp (Cyprinus carpio; 3,562 metric tons), oyster (3,228 metric tons), and European seabass/gilthead seabream (Dicentrarchus labrax and Sparus aurata; 2,750 metric tons).