Sustainable development of aquaculture is one of the main objectives of the common fisheries policy. Despite rather high profitability, the industry has been confronted with several environmental and ethical issues such as escape of fish, use of alien species, diseases and use of veterinary medicines, and animal welfare. It has also been criticized for limited contribution to society, e.g., limited local job creation and low tax contributions. It is therefore a need to strengthen the legitimacy of the aquaculture industry, reduce its negative environmental impact and increase its positive societal impact. To address this, AQUABALANCE will elaborate on strategies and best practices for balancing economic, environmental, and social sustainability in the European aquaculture industry. The project follows a pan-European perspective by focusing on different geographical locations and different sea-basins (North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean), and maps existing and promising solutions boosting the sustainability and viability of the aquaculture industry. The project team has developed aquaculture profiles for 4 partner countries (Norway, Denmark, Italy, and Ireland) and, based on this, selected 12 cases from different regions (3 cases in each country). Qualitative interviews are now being conducted with representatives of the aquaculture industry and other local stakeholders from these 12 cases. At the same time, consumer data is being collected in the 4 partner countries through a survey to understand consumer attitudes towards the aquaculture industry. In addition, the project has mapped various technological solutions in the European aquaculture industry and created a database of producers and suppliers in the European aquaculture industry. A policy mix framework has also been developed that summarizes regulations around the aquaculture industry in the EU and Norway. This framework forms a basis for policy labs that will be conducted in 2026. Based on a mix of these qualitative and quantitative methods, AQUABALANCE will create new knowledge about how the European aquaculture industry can develop onwards in ways that are not environmentally harmful, and contribute to value creation and value capture both locally, nationally, and internationally. As a result, it will develop pan-European and regional industry and policy advice and a policy roadmap that has a transnational perspective and can be adapted to the regional specificities. These recommendations will serve as a background for a more sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry, solving grand challenges of climate change and social justice, and thereby generating value for the whole society.
Sustainable development of aquaculture is one of the main objectives of the common fisheries policy. Despite rather high profitability, the industry has been confronted with several (and mounting) environmental and ethical issues. It is a need to strengthen the legitimacy of the aquaculture industry, reduce its negative environmental impact and increase its positive societal impact. To address this, AQUABALANCE will identify barriers and drivers for ongoing transition processes, investigate dilemmas associated with rebalancing the economic, environmental, and social dimensions, analyse how the aquaculture industry can ensure legitimacy, and explore the role of policy for these transition processes. The Norwegian partners will be involved in all aforementioned activities. The project follows a pan-European perspective by focusing on different geographical locations and different sea-basins (North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean), and maps existing and promising solutions boosting the sustainability and viability of the aquaculture industry. Specifically, based on a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, it will create new knowledge about how the European aquaculture industry can develop onwards in ways that are not environmentally harmful, and contribute to value creation and value capture both locally, nationally, and internationally. By combining several theoretical perspectives (economic geography, socio-technical transition studies, and sustainable business models), AQUABALANCE will develop pan-European and regional industry and policy advice and a policy roadmap that has a transnational perspective and can be adapted to the regional specificities. These recommendations will serve as a background for a more sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry, contributing to achieving the goals of the EU Farm to Fork strategy, solving grand challenges of climate change and social justice, and thereby generating value for the whole society.
