Eurofish Magazine 6 2023

DECEMBER 2023/6 December 6 / 2023 Eurofish Magazine

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WEFTA: Circularity in the seafood industry will make it more resilient

LATVIA: New national aquaculture facility will boost restocking efforts

TECHNOLOGY: Digital reporting of Estonian catches mandatory from 2024

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In this issue

Support to build resilience of Hungary’s fish farms

Katharina Nøkling-Eide, SINTEF

MAHOP Plusz, the Hungarian Fish Operational Programme Plus, aims to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in Hungary’s fish farming sector. The programme focuses on sustainable aquaculture practices, including circular farming principles and the preservation of biodiversity in water and wetland habitats. It also encourages diversification and innovation by introducing new fish species and production technologies, aligning with changing consumer demands. Efficiency is another key objective. By modernising infrastructure, upgrading technology, and improving fish storage and distribution, the programme aims to enhance the sector’s stability and product quality. It promotes the use of renewable energy sources to reduce the environmental footprint. Biodiversity conservation and the maintenance of aquatic ecosystems are high priorities.

The programme supports responsible pond management techniques to mitigate climate change effects and preserve valuable ecological services. It also addresses working conditions by supporting investments in safety, hygiene, and infrastructure, making the sector more attractive for employees. Recycling and reducing environmental impact are vital for sustainable aquaculture. The programme supports projects focused on water purification, recycling, and minimising chemical use. Read more about pond fish farming in Hungary from page 32 The EU Horizon 2020 ERA-Net COFUND Blue Bioeconomy (BlueBio) has played a key role in enhancing Europe’s position in the blue bioeconomy thanks to 49 projects it supports. These projects introduce bio-based products and services, enhancing the aquatic domain’s value. They encompass diverse aspects of the blue bioeconomy value chain, driving research and innovation. To realize fully circular aquaculture and fisheries, waste and side stream utilization, and novel ingredient integration are critical. Algae, such as seaweed and microalgae, offer vast potential. Projects like MINERVA and SNAP have developed innovative algal extracts and biopolymers, contributing to food ingredients, cosmetics, and advanced materials. Low-trophic animals like sea stars and polychaetes are sustainable food and feed sources. Projects like InEVal and SIDESTREAM have produced sea star meal and polychaete meal, reducing waste and promoting resource efficiency. These and other initiatives exemplify the richness of circularity in the blue bioeconomy, offering sustainable solutions to current challenges.

Results from these projects will continue to be published and commercialized, ensuring a sustainable blue bioeconomy future. Investors and accelerators can explore the BlueBio website and individual project factsheets for opportunities. Read more on page 29 Recent studies have shown promising results in the use of plastic-consuming bacteria to tackle oceanic plastic waste, but the feasibility of this approach remains a subject of scrutiny. Plastic-eating bacteria offer a potential solution to the plastic pollution crisis, but several factors need to be considered. The discovery of Ideonella sakaiensis, a bacterium, capable of breaking down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), generated excitement among scientists. However, these bacteria are slow at decomposing plastics, limiting their practical application. Researchers have identified microorganisms in different environments with the ability to break down various plastics, including bio-based polyurethane and butylene adipate-co-terephthalate-polylactide (PBAT/PLA). These discoveries suggest that there are more plastic-degrading bacteria than previously believed. Efforts to use bacteria for large-scale plastic degradation are ongoing, with some companies working on commercial recycling plants. However, recycled plastic’s initial cost may be higher than newly synthesized plastic, affecting consumer acceptance. While bacteria may offer a solution to plastic waste, efforts should focus on preventing plastic waste from entering the environment in the first place by finding more sustainable alternatives to plastic. Read Dr Manfred Klinkhardt’s article on page 52 Slovakia’s aquaculture sector primarily focuses on freshwater fish, with rainbow trout and common carp being the prominent species. Small-scale enterprises, including family farms, contribute to around 2,975 tonnes of production in 2022, Fish consumption remains low, with individuals consuming only 5.9 kilograms of fish per year, including just 1 kilogram of freshwater fish. Strengths of Slovak aquaculture include its tradition of breeding freshwater fish, diverse species, and low disease outbreaks. Weaknesses comprise low wages, limited innovation, lack of breeding programs, and conflicts with environmental protection measures. Fish farming methods include pond fish farming for mixed stocking and salmonid farming, particularly rainbow trout. Emerging aquaculture systems are focusing on African catfish. Challenges involve infectious diseases, declining pre-Christmas fish sales, labour shortages, declining water quality and quantity, and competition from cheaper imports. Despite the challenges the sector has growth potential through diversification and innovation with support from the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027. Read more on page 57 EUROFISH Magazine 6 / 2023

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Table of FI

News 6 International News

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Events

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12 AlgaEurope 2023, 12-15 December 2023, Prague Advancing algae biomass research and innovation 14 Conxemar 2023, 3-5 October 2023, Vigo Record attendance, and a glimpse into the future of seafood

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16 DanFish International, 7-9 October, Aalborg Thousands flock to one of Europe’s largest IR fisheries exhibitions

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18 fish international, 25-27 February 2024, Bremen Germany‘s only fish trade fair will focus on three points UK 20 Shaping the future of rural areas Effective policymaking depends on data collection AND analysis

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22 Western European Fish Technologists’ Association conference, 16-20 October 2023, Copenhagen Boosting economic and social resilience with sustainable seafood practices

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Aquaculture

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CZ

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24 Aquaculture Europe 2023, 18-21 September 2023, Vienna Light plays an important role in fish development

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26 AquaFarm 2024, 14-15 February 2024, Pordenone Climate change brings challenges but also opportunities

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28 SPACE, 12-14 September 2023, Rennes Aquaculture grows in PTimportance at animal farming event

Projects

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29 Holistic solutions are key to a sustainable and resilient economy Unlocking the potential of aquatic bioresources

Hungary 32 International Carp Conference highlights pond aquaculture’s role in Europe and beyond Ecosystem services deserve greater attention 34 MAHOP Plusz (Hungarian Fish Operational Programme Plus) supports sustainableMA aquaculture Future-proofing fish farming in Hungary

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37 An entrepreneur in Hungary breeds high quality pike-perch for the international market A demanding fish to breed and rear

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39 Hortobágy Fish Farm adapts production to more unpredictable climate conditions Summer droughts and warmer winters are the new norm

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Contents 42 A Hungarian perspective on the sustainability of pond fish aquaculture An activity that merits greater recognition 46 Joint efforts: A winning formula for Hungary’s leading fish producers Wide range of value-added fish products

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Latvia (CC BY-SA 3.0) Map based on https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Location_European_nation_states.svg

by Hayden120 and NuclearVacuum

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49 Paper data registration of catches and other data is on its way out in Latvia Mobile application for electronic catch reporting 50 Fish resource restocking in Latvia

UZ Century-old activity gets a makeover

Environment 52 Can plastic-eating bacteria offer a viable solution to the problem of oceanic waste?

Waste prevention is more efficient than attempts at restoration

TM Technology 56 Estonia’s fishing sector bears the hallmarks of a digital nation A system benefiting fishers and managers alike

Slovak Republic 57 The aquaculture sector in the Slovak Republic The challenges are not insurmountable given IR the strengths

Ukraine

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60 Ukraine’s seafood business: Impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine Operating at Ukraine’s economic frontline

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Guest Pages: Bente Torstensen

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63 EAS—a platform for exchanging information and promoting sustainable aquaculture practices A science-based approach is key for the future of the aquaculture sector

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JO Worldwide News IL Fish

Service 62 FISH Infonetwork News

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65 Diary Dates

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Norway

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Spain

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ]

Baltic Sea herring stocks are notoriously challenging to manage, having fallen for many years in spite of tightened allowable catches. Herring stocks are part of a broader Baltic ecosystem that is in trouble for reasons beyond overfishing but which interfere with herring management at local or national levels.

Estonian authorities and fishermen are frustrated by the worsening state of herring populations within Estonian waters, a decline that continues despite the fact the industry closely adheres to European Commission catch allocations. A further one-fifth reduction this year in the Commission’s allocation to Estonia only aggravates this frustration. The nation’s fishermen and fishery managers argue that the problem is the herring in the so-called red zone of

the Baltic Sea, beyond Estonian territory, which is in a bad shape, but which interacts with herring in Estonian waters. Estonian fishermen should not be punished, they argue, for poor ecosystem conditions elsewhere in the Baltic.

The vital role that Baltic herring plays in Estonian culture dates back millennia; but today a large chunk of Baltic herring goes to fish farms in Norway and elsewhere. Estonians understandably object to having to pay for problems caused by other industries in other countries. However, the nation’s fishermen and managers are taking a wait-and-see approach to Commission decisions on how to balance the overall Baltic herring mismanagement with spill-over impacts on local fisheries.

Eurofish

Estonia: Herring abundance falls despite Estonia’s adherence to catch limits

Baltic herring (Clupea harengus) is the Estonian national fish and has been around the Estonian coast for about 5,000 years. Because of the brackish water conditions of the Baltic Sea, it is smaller than its Atlantic counterparts and often considered a subspecies of Atlantic herring.

Spain: New research sheds light on transmission of cancers in cockle populations Transmissible cancers in marine animals such as cockles spread through the water and form tumors in their victims. They pose no threat to humans but are deadly to the animals themselves. While they are not new—having existed for hundreds or possibly thousands of years—their genetic make-up is only now understood by scientists searching for ways to combat this destructive shellfish disease.

Recently, scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute of the CiMUS research centre at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela in Spain, working with colleagues in other countries, have discovered unsettling news: such cockle cancers are highly genetically unstable, with a single animal’s tumor containing cancer cells with different numbers of chromosomes—unlike “normal” cancer DNA with the same chromosome count per cell.

The cancers that affect cockles, called bivalve transmissible neoplasia (BTN), are not contagious but freely transmittable in seawater, and they affect the animal’s immune system, like leukemia does in mammals. BTN spreads throughout the body and is usually lethal to the infected animal. It has been identified so far in clams, cockles, and mussels across the world. While cockle cancers pose no threat to humans, the cancer scientists studying these cockle diseases hope that in addition to the immediate gains from saving cockle populations, the insights scientists get by learning how cockle cancer cells overcome the effects of genomic instability can help researchers understand these phenomena in all forms of cancer, including in humans.

There are over 200 living species of cockle worldwide. The study focused on the common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) which is widely distributed from Iceland in the north to Senegal in the south.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ]

Research into Polish seafood production and consumption by Market Data Forecast shows that consumer preferences for seafood remain strong but purchases are slowed by high prices in recent years. Driven by considerations of the nutritional value of seafood, Poles eat 12-13 kg of fish and seafood annually, with total seafood expenditures topping EUR912 million in 2022. Popular fish and seafood items in Poland include fresh fish, smoked fish, frozen fish, canned fish, and preserved fish marinated or in various sauces.

Although the value of such purchases rose in 2022, the volume fell,

because of declining real incomes throughout society and in the retail cost of food particularly, where the seafood category rose in price faster than other protein sources.

Thus, sales value rose by 5 while volume fell by 8. Seafood prices are normally higher than prices of other meats, but in 2022 they rose by 14, to a premium of 45 over other meats and 35 over the price of cold cuts. These high prices combined with the increased price sensitivity of consumers to explain the declines in volumes sold.

Rising seafood processing costs are behind these rising retail prices, as producers battle hikes

Eurofish

Poland: Rising processing costs and weakened incomes hinder growth in fish consumption

Stores with large commercial areas are the major distribution channel for fish and seafood products and deliver about 75% of the volumes sold to Polish consumers.

in energy and raw material prices. Much of the raw material, such as salmon, is imported and its price has reportedly been rising in recent years. Energy prices have been unstable throughout

Europe for many reasons. The researchers behind this latest study report that this adverse situation is probably temporary, and they find signs that pressures will ease in 2023.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] Albania: New minister of agriculture brings wide experience to the job In Albania, seafood matters fall under the responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development within which is the Directorate of Fishery Service and Aquaculture. As of September this year, the Ministry is headed

by Anila Denaj, who brings has a background in rural development and the banking sector. A 1995 graduate in finance and banking management from the University of Tirana, Ms Denaj was most recently the Minister of Finance and Economy, and deputy head of the Albanian Agribusiness Support Team (AASF), supported by the Albanian Government and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

She has nearly two decades of experience in the banking sector, including employment as an international financial advisor

for a financial holding company, ProCredit Holding GmbH / IPC Consulting Gmbh, that posted her to several locations in Latin America, Europe, and Africa. She eventually rose to be the company’s deputy managing director.

sub-committee for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, she completed a programme on the topic “Circular Economy. Transition to Sustainable Development” from MIT’s Professional Education programme in Boston, USA.

In 2014 Ms Denaj became General Director in Albania’s Ministry of Finance and Economy. In her spare time, she has served on several important boards, such as the Administrative Council of the Mandatory Healthcare Insurance Fund in Albania (where she was briefly General Director), the Albanian Social Insurance Fund, and INSIG SA. Insurance Company. She was a member of A.K.E.P.’s (Electronic and Postal Communications Authority) board for three years with responsibility for electronic/ postal communications in Albania.

Currently, as the chairperson of the

The Ministry of Agriculture oversees regulation of the economic activity in the fisheries and aquaculture sector of the country with the objective of increasing the sector’s production capacity. Albania is in the process of acceding to the EU and is aligning its legislation with the EU. Several by-laws have been approved that transpose some of the principles of the Common Fishery Policy into Albanian legislation.

The legislation also contains the main principles of FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and the establishment of the

Anila Denaj, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Albania

Fishery Management Organization for marine and inland waters is underway.

Denmark: Turkish delegation learns about shellfish production on Eurofish-organised field visit Eurofish organized a trip for a Turkish delegation to the Danish Shellfish Centre which is part of the National Institute of Aquatic Resources at the Technical University of Denmark. The trip was designed to inform the delegates about mussels and oysters, the diseases that can afflict them and their control, regulations in Denmark governing the sector, and standard operating procedures along the entire value chain.

Türkiye is keen to develop its legal and physical infrastructure for mussel and oyster production which it considers a potential growth area. Among the members of the delegation were Turgay Türkyilmaz, Deputy Director General; Tanju Ozdemirden, Head of Aquaculture; Gülser

Fidanci, Agricultural Engineer; all from the Directorate of Fisheries; as well as Özerdem Maltas, Vice President, Central Union of Aquaculture Producers; and representatives from the industry.

At the shellfish centre, in addition to the topics mentioned above, the delegation learned about the most novel farming techniques, biosecurity, and about the biology of mussels and oysters. On the second day of the visit the focus switched to algae and its production and to low trophic polycultures. The delegation also visited one of the biggest mussel farmers in Denmark and a major player in supplying live animals to the high-end market.

The Danish industry partners

Eurofish organised a field trip for a Turkish delegation to Danish institutions involved with shellfish and algae production, a sector of increasing interest in Türkiye. Pictured, the Turkish participants and Eurofish representatives.

also offered insights into their production, processing, marketing, and their reflections on the current state of the market in Denmark and in Europe. The Turkish delegation was very happy with the trip declaring it

to be a very informative and useful learning experience. There are many things we have learned here that I expect will shape the development of the shellfish administration in our country, said Mr Türkyilmaz.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] Türkiye: Initiative underway to clean up “ghost nets” from inland and marine waters Abandoned ghost nets and other fishing gear floating in the water create pollution and take the lives of countless fish, reptiles, marine mammals, and birds annually, in almost every water body in the world. Academic research and fieldwork indicate that more than 300 aquatic creatures perish in every 100 meters of lost fishing nets and gear. Since 2014, the Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture under Türkiye’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has worked to reduce if not eliminate this scourge from the nation’s seas, shores, and lakes. Dubbed the Ghost Fishing Gear Clean-up Project, this long-term effort was expanded in 2022 to include rivers, so that by 2023 the project has covered 166 million square

meters of internal waters and seas, and the removal of approximately 1 million square meters of fishing nets and 40,000 traps, gillnets, and similar discarded fishing equipment. The results so far are huge: estimates are that around 2.5 million aquatic creatures have been saved through the removal of fishing nets and an additional 250,000 through traps and gillnets.

Impressive, but this is mostly at major ports such as Istanbul, Izmir, and other places where pollution and dead animals are most noticeable. This vital cleanup will continue and cover more water bodies until the work is done. Additional activities seek to educate the public, which will

Norway: New Fisheries Minister wins industry support with assurances on quotas In a cabinet reshuffle in October, the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, appointed Cecilie Myrseth to the position of Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy.

She takes over from Bjørnar Selnes Skjæran, the minister since 2021.

The news was met with optimism by industry representatives. One of the most important government posts in the resource-dependent kingdom, the Fisheries and Ocean Policy Minister has responsibility for a wide range of activities including fisheries, aquaculture, maritime policy, coastal development, shipping, and R&D.

debates over wealth and income distribution across geographic regions and demographic classes, green policies, fishery sustainability, input costs, and seafood prices and markets. Ms Myrseth has been the MP for Troms and spokesperson for fisheries in the Labor Party, where she has long been involved with issues such as the negotiation of fisheries quotas.

A new quota report has been recently announced by the government, so she will be jumping right into a sometimes hotly debated policy question.

Many factors make it a politically challenging one, including

Praising the appointment, the Labor Party says that the quota

Ghost nets, often made of non-biodegradable materials like nylon, can persist in the ocean for decades, continuing to pose a threat to marine life during this time.

contribute to newly cleaned areas staying clean. Education initiatives such as Ghost Fishing Gear Awareness Events take place annually, involving district and local governments, schools and institutions,

fishermen’s cooperatives, and NGOs, to inform and motivate the public. As a bonus, retrieved nets with some salvage value are recycled, which helps any number of sectors if only in a small way.

report must deliver on what has long been the party’s priority, namely predictability and stability in the regulatory framework.

Despite difficulties with the previous quota report, a broadbased fisheries policy has been a success. A Labor Party official said that unifying fisheries policy has been a success, with the industry transitioning from a subsidised sector to a profitable and sustainable one. Support for the appointment also came from industry, with optimism for continued good dialogue between the industry and the political leadership in the ministry regarding the work on the new quota report. The new minister is not new to the industry, where she has worked for several years, a familiarity that will prove important in addressing the coming challenges.

Cecilie Myrseth, the new Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, was appointed on 16 October 2024.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ]

A breakthrough was recently achieved when scientists at Copenhagen University discovered how to measure a substance that causes an offensive “muddy” aftertaste in the meat from farmed fish. This innovation may allow farmers to regulate water quality to avoid high concentrations of the naturally occurring substances in the water fish are raised in. The substance, which is otherwise harmless, is called geosmin and it is produced by algae and bacteria in very low concentrations.

However, over time fish accumulate it in their flesh as water passes through their gills, and in very high concentrations the muddy aftertaste appears when

topntp26 on Freepik

Denmark: When does water quality impart a muddy taste to farmed fish the fish is consumed. The scientists’ breakthrough came about when they discovered how to measure exactly when the concentration of geosmin rises to “nasty” levels.

Our study, says Niels O. G. Jørgensen of the university’s Department of Plant and Environmental Science, shows that the substance creates flavour in the fish, even though it is only found in the water in extremely low concentrations. We find concentrations in fish that are 100 times higher than those in water. Because there has been a lack of methods to measure such low concentrations, it has not been possible to do much about it for a long time. But now

Consumers will soon no longer sometimes be confronted with a muddy taste from tilapia thanks to collaborative research between Brazil and Denmark.

we have the measurement methods for that. The research project studied tilapia raised in large net cages at six fish farms in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The scientists used chemistry techniques such as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, combined with a panel of gastronomists who loved eating fish. Together,

these tools helped the researchers determine exactly when geosmin concentrations cause fish to taste “muddy.” The research was funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) in Brazil, and by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the Strategic Research Council, Denmark

EUROFISH Magazine 6 / 2023

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[ EVENTS ] AlgaEurope 2023, 12-15 December 2023, Prague

Advancing algae biomass research and innovation Anyone interested in the rapidly growing list of products made from seaweed will want to attend AlgaEurope 2023 to be held in Prague on 12-15 December 2023. Research on the latest products and production technologies from across Europe will be presented and discussed by leading experts and professionals in the field of algae biomass.

O

AlgaEurope

ver 450 participants are expected to listen to and learn from more than 90 speakers and 140 poster presentations on a wide array of topics including biorefineries, biostimulants, cosmetics, feed, food, and regulation. The event will be launched by the keynote speakers, Philippe Potin (France), Susanna Coelho (Germany), Angela Wulf (Sweden), and Robert Henriksen (USA) who will share their insights and expertise.

The expanding world of algae products In the last several years the world of algae-containing goods has grown significantly beyond traditional products such as dulse as a salad ingredient, omega-3 pills, and skin care applications made largely from seaweed. Today, products range from relatively low-tech items such as vegan alternatives to animal-based foods and seaweed additives to replace cereals in fish feed, to high-tech products including biofuels that blend algae derivatives with kerosine, naphtha, or gasoline for use in jet aircraft.

Everyday products too increasingly use algae ingredients. Many products based on plastic can be made with less petrochemicals and more algae, from yoga mats and running shoes to colored

AlgaEurope in Prague is expected to bring together over 450 participants to discuss the latest developments in the increasingly important field of algae.

printer ink and air filters. Many “green” advantages arise from using algae in product manufacture. Algae farms are many times more efficient at absorbing CO2 than farms on land on a per-acre/ hectare basis, and they do not use up freshwater or fertiliser like terrestrial farms do. Algae farms can also use the nitrogen and phosphorous in wastewater generated by food industries to grow.

The final conference program, currently being compiled, includes oral presentations and scientific posters.

New this year is the Poster Presentation Awards, recognizing the best posters at AlgaEurope 2023. The gold, silver, and bronze winners will be nominated by the AlgaEurope Evaluation Committee, with an additional audience award allowing delegates to vote for their favorite poster via the AlgaEurope app.

Dinner and trade show to be held alongside the conference The AlgaEurope event, organized by DLG Benelux and EABA

(European Algae Biomass Association), includes an industry trade show alongside the conference for companies to show off their cutting-edge products, services, and production methods. An exclusive dinner will be held on 13 December at the Municipal House (Obecní d m) which will foster added opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing.

More information can be found at https://algaeurope.org/

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2024

18 SEP Smárinn Kópavogur TO 2024 Iceland 20

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We look forward to welcoming you in 2024 The Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition covers every aspect of the commercial fishing industry from locating, catching, processing and packaging, right through to the marketing and distribution of the end product.

For more information about exhibiting, visiting or sponsoring, contact the events team Visit: Icefish.is Contact: +44 1329 825 335 or Email: info@icefish.is #Icefish 05_NEWS EV.indd 13

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[ EVENTS ] Conxemar 2023, 3-5 October 2023, Vigo

Record attendance, and a glimpse into the future of seafood

The 24th Conxemar International Frozen Seafood Products Exhibition, held from 3 to 5 October in Vigo, Spain, marked a historic edition of the renowned event. The show, which celebrates the global seafood industry, set new records in terms of exhibitor and visitor numbers and also provided a platform for far-reaching discussions on topics crucial to the sector’s future.

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Over the course of the three days a notable increase in the number of visitors was also recorded, surpassing the 2022 edition by 3. Apart from Spain, the primary countries represented by visitors were Portugal, Italy, France, Argentina, and Morocco. The event attracted both institutions and suppliers from dozens of countries including newcomers such as Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, Mauritania, Türkiye, Greece, and the Netherlands made their debuts with country pavilions.

Vast Italian pavilion highlights the importance of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture The fair featured not only national pavilions but also regional ones, such as the Galician pavilion, representing the autonomous community hosting the event, as well as Asturias, among others. Spain, among other EU countries, was also present with a national pavilion.

The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food had a 100

Conxemar

his year the fair gathered suppliers from 45 countries and hosted close to 800 exhibitors—a 13 increase compared to the previous year. The increase in area was achieved by optimising the available space, resulting in an additional 1,300 square meters.

This year, Conxemar, the international frozen seafood products exhibition, attracted a record number of visitors and exhibitors including national pavilions from several countries appearing for the first time.

square metre booth dedicated to the promotion of Spanish seafood.

The campaign featured at the stand, named “An Infinite Country for Seafood and Recipes,” emphasised the diversity and culinary richness of Spain. Similarly, Italy, for the second consecutive year, presented a national pavilion encompassing 555 square meters of space, hosting 26 companies from 12 regions, all specialising in the fishing and aquaculture sectors. The pavilion organised activities, such as show-cooking sessions and roundtable discussions, spanning the three days of the fair. These activities explored the latest trends in the consumption of frozen and processed fish products, as well as the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability and food security within modern fisheries and aquaculture.

The pavilion’s event series commenced with a session titled “The fight against the blue crab: Protection of mussel farming and marketing opportunities” to draw attention to the blue crab, an invasive species spreading through the Mediterranean.

The Conxemar exhibition will return to Vigo from 1 to 3 October 2024. The challenge for the forthcoming years lies in maintaining the high standards of service while addressing the constraints posed by limited space, an issue already acknowledged by Eloy García Alvariza, President of Conxemar.

The 2024 edition marks the 25th anniversary of this event, which over the years has solidified its reputation as a pivotal gathering for the seafood industry.

Conxemar FAO conference highlights the importance of judicious exploitation of marine resources The 11th International Congress Conxemar FAO, a conference jointly organised by Conxemar and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), was held a day prior to the trade fair. This year the congress focused on the topic “Blue Transformation,” and was attended by several VIPs including Mr Abel Caballero, Mayor of Vigo; Eloy García Alvariza, President of Conxemar; Mr Alfonso Villares, Conselleiro do Mar; and Ms Carola González, Deputy Director General of Aquaculture, Fisheries Marketing and

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Ms González emphasised the need for a financial instrument, such as the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, to drive the blue transformation and the shift towards sustainability in the seafood sector. A transition in accordance with the objectives of the EU Green Deal and the adjustments for addressing the impacts of climate change. Her remarks underscored the importance of preserving and sustainably exploiting resources, a responsibility that the ministry is administrating in collaboration with researchers, considering the local socio-cultural context. Special emphasis

was given to aquaculture, a sector which introduces fresh challenges and opportunities, particularly in the cultivation of mussels and algae. These marine organisms potentially offer effective solutions to combat the consequences of climate change and can make a significant contribution to socioeconomic progress while preserving the local environment.

FAO’s Blue Transformation has multiple objectives The conference discussions, initiated by Vera Agostini, FAO Deputy Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resources Division, provided an overview of the global status of fisheries and aquaculture.

Conxemar

Structural Actions from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Carola González, Deputy Director General, Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, emphasised the importance of preserving marine resources by exploiting them sustainably.

Ms Agostini introduced the “Blue Transformation” roadmap, which revolves around three primary objectives: 1. Achieving sustainable aquaculture to meet global

demand while ensuring equitable distribution of aquatic resources. 2.

Implementing fisheries management that guarantees healthy fish populations, and 3. Establishing

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[ EVENTS ] value chains that enhance aquatic food system viability by reducing waste while improving transparency and traceability. The vision of the Blue Transformation roadmap is to expand seafood systems, making significant contributions to better production, improved nutrition, healthier environments, and enhanced lives, particularly for communities reliant on fisheries and aquaculture.

Following the opening remarks, the event featured five roundtable discussions involving twenty distinguished speakers. These discussions covered a broad spectrum of issues within the seafood industry. In the first discussion,

experts examined the significance of brand integrity. The emphasis was on adapting to evolving consumer trends, leveraging digital marketing channels, and optimizing product presentation to meet changing consumer preferences.

The second roundtable focused on the future of fishing and its management models. The participants strongly encouraged collaboration between public and private sectors, ecosystem-based fisheries management, and dialogue between research and industry. In the third session, the spotlight was on social responsibility within the seafood value chain. The emphasis was on standardizing working conditions, government roles in

establishing international standards, and the value of data in the supply chain. The interplay of environmental sustainability and human rights was central. The fourth discussion explored strategies for the Blue Transformation, highlighting the integration of innovation throughout the seafood supply chain and the preservation of natural resources as top priorities. The final roundtable examined traceability and consumer analysis, emphasising the need for transparency and traceability in all aspects of sustainability.

International collaboration and regulatory support were deemed essential to ensure product traceability and sustainability.

Consumer interests must go hand in hand with responsible practices The FAO-Conxemar Congress 2023 provided a platform for industry experts to explore and discuss crucial issues in the seafood sector. These discussions highlighted the need for adaptability, innovation, sustainability, and collaboration to navigate the evolving landscape of the seafood industry while prioritising responsible practices and consumer interests.

Francesca Barazzetta, Eurofish, francesca@eurofish.dk

DanFish International, 7-9 October, Aalborg

Thousands flock to one of Europe’s largest fisheries exhibitions The popular biannual fisheries exhibition DanFish International was held on October 7-9, 2023, at the Aalborg Congress and Culture Center (AKKC) in the northern Denmark city of Aalborg. Almost 13,000 visitors crowded into the event, to see the latest advances in machinery and equipment. Exhibitors used the expo to strengthen business and personal relationships as the universe of seafood shows continues to rebuild itself after the pandemic.

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s with earlier editions of this exhibition, the 28th DanFish International focused on machinery and equipment in seafood production, processing, and transport, as well as services used by the industry.

These products include the latest in net technology, winches and winch control systems for nets and anchors, automatic weighing and inspection systems, processing and packaging equipment, freezing and cooling systems, and many others.

Many more exhibitors demonstrated other important product developments for the industry such as hydraulic haulers for nets, longlines, and traps; improved nets, fish boxes, ropes, safety clothing and tools for crew; and systems for chilling seawater and fish. At a stage area, experts gave presentations and lectures about such topics as artificial intelligence, digitalisation, energy efficiency, and what fishing vessels might look like in the future.

Focus on green technology for the fisheries and aquaculture industry

International featured many exhibitors that offer sustainable solutions for fishers, aquaculturists, processors, and distributors.

By now, everybody has learned that the future of fisheries and aquaculture is “green.” Harvesting must be done sustainably to save fish stocks for the future, and vessels, farms, processing plants, and fish farms all need to become more energy-efficient to cut costs and reduce their impact on the environment. This year’s DanFish

Exhibitors and speakers at DanFish informed visitors about the clean advantages of hydrogen, a famous fuel from the age of zeppelins and returning now as a greener alternative to fossil fuels. Speaking of fuel, displays at DanFish showed efficient fuel injectors and engines running on methanol, among other

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DanFish

[ EVENTS ] technologies to help businesses reduce direct and environmental costs of operation.

A culturally rich and historic setting

This year’s edition of DanFish International hosted 13,000 visitors from 47 nations.

DanFish International attracted almost 13,000 visitors from 47 countries, but they weren’t there just to see the latest in energyefficient trawl winches, they also enjoyed experiencing historic Aalborg, Denmark’s third largest and most northerly major municipality. Located on Limfjord, Aalborg has been an important trading center since the closing years of the Viking age, based in no small part on Limfjord’s salted herring.

Today, it is a center of education, services, consumer products, the cement and heavy machinery

industries, and the high-tech and green energy sectors.

We can only be satisfied with the 28th edition of DanFish International, where contented exhibitors emphasized the excellent energy and atmosphere at the exhibition. As always, we have received plenty of positive feedback from the city’s hotels and restaurants, which have had to work hard over the three days of the event due to the large number of visitors, stated Nicolaj Holm, CEO of AKKC. DanFish International will return to Aalborg Congress & Culture Center on 7-9 October 2025. For further information about the fair, please contact Else Herfort, Head of Sales & Expos, +45 9935 5518.

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[ EVENTS ] fish international, 25-27 February 2024, Bremen

Germany‘s only fish trade fair will focus on three points Whether trends, new products, or forward-looking ideas, if you want to know what‘s new in the fisheries industry, you can‘t miss fish international. Every two years, the organisers of Germany‘s only fish trade fair reveal what propels the industry at home and abroad. aquaculture,” says Ms Wedell.

The transparency theme is about traceability systems, certification, and labelling initiatives.

They enable consumers to make informed choices. “Transparency is a key element to create and secure trust between acting actors and consumers,” she adds.

Established figures in the industry

The focal points of the 19th edition of fish international are food production, sustainability, and transparency. “These three areas are essential for responsible and ethical handling in the production and consumption of fish and seafood,” says Sabine Wedell, project manager of fish international. Ms Wedell and her team will present exhibits with the latest advances in food waste prevention, plant-based fish, developments in land-based aquaculture, and modern processing technologies.

The organisers expect over 300 exhibitors in Bremen in 2024.

Among them are Deutsche See and Transgourmet Seafood from Bremerhaven—two big names in the German fish industry that offer exciting products for the food retail trade and food service. Deutsche See is represented together with other companies of the Parlevliet Group, and Transgourmet is on-site with a number of partners on 400 square metres at the fish trade fair. “From Transgourmet we will show what you can do with sushi and sashimi, and also present Mediterranean fish, vegan smoked salmon, and smoked land-based salmon,” says Ralf Forner, Managing Director of Transgourmet.

The topic of sustainability is about protecting resources.

“Our aim is to promote dialogue between stakeholders and inform about best practices in responsible fishing and

In addition, Mr Forner wants to promote surf and turf more at the fish trade fair and show the advantages for the catering industry. Surf and turf is a main dish that is especially popular in North

Food production, sustainability, transparency

M3B GmbH / Oliver Saul

F

rom Sunday to Tuesday, 25 to 27 February 2024, international experts from the fisheries industry will come together in Hall 5 of Messe Bremen to discover innovative solutions, exchange knowledge, and shape the future of the fish industry. Trend topics such as aquaculture, fish health, and animal welfare are just as much on the agenda as news from producers and traders as well as HoReCa and consumers.

fish international has been the meeting point for the seafood industry since 1988. This is a well-established platform for Northwest Europe which gives direct access to the German market and provides the optimal environment for personal exchange.

American steakhouses, consists of a combination of seafood with meat, usually tails of American lobster or shrimp, and steak.

“Meat and fish complement each other well,” says Mr Forner. “In Halifax, Canada, which is a lobster mecca, lobster meat is delicately prepared. It‘s an expensive but traditional product that has taken over the market in the US.” He would like to see the same in Germany, because the product on the plate is as valuable as a good 30-euro steak.

Young Innovators: A platform for young companies Trade visitors will not only find the big players in the industry at fish international. With the new

“Young Innovators” joint stand, the fish trade fair offers young and innovative companies a platform for marketing their products.

Frisch-Gefischt from Hamburg, for example, will be presenting how they shorten and digitise the value chain and thus supply the catering industry with sustainable fish and seafood. Ordinary Seafood from Potsdam says it produces fish with a future: based on vegetable proteins with vegan salmon and tuna alternatives.

Flexality from Bremen, Germany, has developed an algorithm for cold storage processes that is supposed to save up to 15 percent in electricity costs and up to 14 percent in CO2 emissions.

Numerous exhibitors are also coming from abroad, including

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[ EVENTS ] the new exhibitors Freezco from Poland and Famille Beaulieu from France. Freezco has many years of experience in fish processing and offers fresh and frozen salmon of the highest quality: from fillets and portions to smoked and preserved products. The range also includes rainbow trout, cod, halibut, and mackerel products. Famille

Beaulieu, located in Brittany, takes care of seafood with passion and commitment, especially mussels, rock oysters, and flat oysters. The latter have been certified organic since 2021.

Together with the Young Innovators, more than 40 exhibitors— local and international—will participate at the show for the first time.

Let‘s go to Bremen: Two fairs, one ticket Trade visitors can visit two trade fairs with one ticket: GASTRO IVENT will once again be held parallel to fish international in Halls 6 and 7 of Messe Bremen.

It offers impulses and solutions for the catering, hotel and communal catering sectors. The

spectrum of exhibits ranges from mostly artisan food, beverages and convenience products to a variety of technical aids and services. So please include this trade fair duo in your calendar of event.

Messe Bremen info@fishinternational.de www.fishinternational.de

Shaping the future of rural areas

Effective policymaking depends on data collection AND analysis A forum on energising rural areas in Europe and reversing the decline that has afflicted many of them for decades drew high level participation from the European Commission and the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The event will contribute to realizing the potential of rural Europe.

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rom 27-29 September, Aris Adlers from Eurofish participated in a forum on the future of Europe’s rural areas. In countries across Europe rural areas suffer from economic decline; depopulation; limited access to services like healthcare, education, and public transport; inadequate infrastructure, including roads, broadband internet, and utilities; and social isolation which can affect mental health and overall quality of life.

Rural decline is real but remediable Titled “Shaping the Future of Rural Areas” the forum was held in Sigüenza, Spain and was hosted by the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission, in collaboration with the Rural Pact Support Office. Its primary aim was to advance the political agenda concerning the future of rural areas in Europe, foster meaningful

discussions within the Council of the EU, and offer support to Member States to realise the potential of rural regions. The reasons behind the decline of rural areas are diverse. Rural areas often lack the economies of scale that urban areas enjoy. Limited job opportunities can lead to outmigration and economic decline. Some areas tend to get neglected by policymakers at the national and regional level which exacerbates the challenges.

A lack of investment in infrastructure hinders economic development and access to services. Aging populations and declining birth rates contribute to population decline and may even be more marked in rural than in urban settings. A further factor is lower levels of digital literacy and poorer access to technology which can further isolate rural communities and amplifies the rural urban divide.

The event was attended by the Commissioners of Agriculture,

Reversing the decline of rural areas in Europe and unlocking their potential is a priority among policymakers in the European Commission and in Member States, attendees at a forum on the future of rural areas were told.

Cohesion, and Reforms, along with the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Their participation underscored the significance of the event in addressing the pressing issues and policy concerns surrounding rural

development. The forum comprised several key sessions, with a strong focus on two main themes: “Taking Stock of Existing Policy Support” and “Making Rural Pact Happen.” These themes delved into the challenges and opportunities

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[ EVENTS ] facing rural areas while exploring ways to translate policy intentions into actionable strategies. According to experts the solutions to rural decline include the diversification of rural economies through entrepreneurship, innovation, and support for small businesses to boost economic growth. This will call for investments in digital, healthcare and transport infrastructure to improve living conditions and attract businesses. Access to education and training must be improved to equip residents in rural communities with the skills demanded by the labour market. And support for rural communities will help in the adaptation to changing conditions and could empower them to take charge of their own development with its own specificities.

Good data is critical to good policy The agenda at the forum reflected some of these strategies. Breakout

sessions elaborated on specific topics. For instance, Mr Adlers contributed his expertise to sessions on “Data and Evidence for Policy Making” and “Enabling Community-Led Innovations and Smart Villages.” Among the insights emerging from the discussions is the recognition that data collection, while vital, is only one facet of effective policy formulation. Equally crucial is the accurate interpretation of this data to inform decision-making and policy implementation.

Moreover, it has become apparent that while innovation is essential, there are inherent limitations to the extent to which new practices can be introduced. Therefore, replicating and adapting successful models and practices hold substantial value in the context of rural development. In conclusion, the event exemplifies the commitment of key stakeholders and policymakers to chart a prosperous and sustainable path

forward for rural Europe. The insights and discussions from this event are expected to contribute significantly to ongoing efforts to revitalise and empower

rural communities across the European Union.

Aris Adlers, Eurofish, aris@eurofish.dk

Enhancing dialogue between authorities and stakeholders Aris Adlers is a member of the Coordination Group of the Rural Pact, an initiative dedicated to fostering cooperation among authorities and stakeholders at multiple levels: European, national, regional, and local. The Rural Pact represents a collaborative framework that seeks to address the unique challenges faced by rural communities and advance sustainable development strategies. And it enjoins public authorities to design a strategy and an action plan to address the challenges faced by rural communities.

Western European Fish Technologists’ Association conference, 16-20 October 2023, Copenhagen

Boosting economic and social resilience with sustainable seafood practices The 51st Conference of the Western Europe Fish Technologists Association (WEFTA) took place from 16 to 20 October 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The event, organized in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark, marked the fifth time WEFTA had chosen Copenhagen as its host. With the theme “Sustainable utilisation of aquatic resources—changing the way we Seafood,” the conference aimed to shed light on various aspects of sustainable seafood practices.

W

EFTA Chair for 2023, Nina Gringer, emphasised the importance of the annual conference as a valuable occasion for scientists, students, and the seafood industry

to convene, share recent research achievements, and exchange experiences. Beyond the academic aspect, the conference served as an exceptional forum for discussions and networking.

Looking at sustainability from a variety of angles The central theme of this year’s conference encapsulated the pressing need to transform our

approach to the seafood industry in the face of environmental challenges. The event was organised around several topics: sustainable aquaculture and its link to seafood quality, micro-/macroalgae

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Participants at the 51st Western European Fish Technologists’ Association (WEFTA) conference discussed ways of improving the sustainability of the seafood industry.

and their applications in food, utilising side streams from food and non-food products to reach zero waste generation, processing and quality of seafood, safety and authenticity, consumer attitudes, societal challenges, and innovative seafood products.

In line with the theme of sustainability and its vital role in the seafood industry, data shared at the conference highlighted the critical role of aquaculture in addressing the increasing global demand for fish products. Close to 90 of global seafood production is utilized for direct human consumption, with a substantial 60 coming from aquaculture.

The annual increase in global fish product consumption, at 3.1, outpaces population growth (1.6). In addition, fishery resources support about an eighth of the world’s population, sustaining countless livelihoods.

Moreover, fish provides 17 of the global animal protein supply for human consumption, and offers various health benefits, reducing

the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and more.

Particularly, for women of childbearing age and for those over 50 reducing red meat intake and increasing fish consumption, can enhance overall health.

technological developments. For instance, artificial intelligence is being deployed to automatically detect fish species, count the fish in an enclosure, and estimate the biomass, leading to an optimisation of operations.

Greater efficiency makes commercial and environmental sense

Speakers also emphasized the need for transparency in seafood labelling. They reported that consumers express a desire for information regarding the origin of raw materials and ingredients, as well as details about production methods and the environmental impact. Consumer choices are influenced by factors like price, mood, and hunger, as well as by eating quality (appearance, taste, odour, and texture).

Incorporating sustainable and healthier seafood production through aquaculture significantly contributes to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger) and 3 (Good Health and Well-Being).

The audience also learned that the seafood industry faces a significant challenge due to its low efficiency, with 30 to 50 of resources ending up as products and 50 to 70 as waste or side streams.

The solution lies in utilizing these side streams to create and market new products thereby increasing yields and reducing waste. Presentations also demonstrated that the future of aquaculture is tied to

Sustainability benefits from international collaboration As the conference delved into the issues and opportunities surrounding sustainable seafood practices, it became evident that promoting research and

knowledge-sharing in fish processing, food science, aquaculture, seafood technology, health effects of seafood consumption, and consumer studies is vital.

International collaboration is essential to address the challenges of sustainable seafood production and consumption, making platforms like WEFTA indispensable.

The insights and knowledge shared at this event undoubtedly contribute to a brighter and more sustainable future for the seafood industry. The selection of Copenhagen as the venue for the WEFTA conference further solidified the city’s position as a hub for seafood expertise The next WEFTA conference will be organized in Izmir, Turkey. For more information about WEFTA and its conferences, please visit their website: https:// wefta2023.com/ Aris Adlers, Eurofish, aris@eurofish.dk

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[ AQUACULTURE ] Aquaculture Europe 2023, 18-21 September 2023, Vienna

Light plays an important role in fish development Eurofish (Denmark) and MATE (Hungary) jointly organised a workshop at Aquaculture Europe 2023. The theme was light and its effects on fish physiology, growth, and nutrition. The effect of light has been of particular interest to aquaculture researchers and developers in recent years as it has been shown to have a significant effect on fish physiology.

T

he wavelength, duration of illumination, colour, and intensity of light all affect the function of genes (genetics), growth (physiology), feed conversion and diet (nutrition), stress responses (immunology), and disease development (fish health) in fish of different ages. This suggests that light and its impacts need to be further researched to understand the mechanisms underlying its effects and to make its use part of contemporary aquaculture.

The workshop, which featured six oral presentations, was convened

by Christian Philip Unmack (Eurofish) and co-chaired by Béla Urbányi (MATE).

Mitigating stress in fish with light therapy Gyles Westcott from Biosystems, a division of a UK company, TMC, showed in his presentation how researchers had studied six parameters (oxygen, temperature, pH, water flow, feeding, waste generation) in the fish environment. These factors have a direct or indirect impact on the stress status of the fish. Different lighting technologies can provide solutions to reduce and possibly eliminate this stress.

Jurica Jug-Dujakovi , Steven Van Gorder and Ana Gavrilovi reported on practical experiences

with yellow perch, a species that enjoys high market prices for a relatively small (ca 150 g) fish.

Reaching this size takes two years in pond and cage culture in the North American Great Lakes area. In contrast, they estimated it would take 11-13 months at 20-22 degrees C in a flow-through system. They also estimated that the fish would reach market size in 11 months at a constant temperature and light regime. The issue is to grow the fish while slowing the development of the gonads as this can significantly affect the yield. Their experiments revealed that yellow perch has the potential to grow to 150 g in nine months under constant temperature and a constantly extended photoperiod. The fish did not reach sexual maturity in the first year which improved growth rate and yield.

The author Balázs Kucska from the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and co-authors Gabriella Stettner, Zoltán Horváth, Tamás Müller, Anna Siklósi, and Uros Ljubobratovic, investigated the larval growth of pike-perch in their presentation “Improving Intensive Larval Rearing of Pike-perch (Sander lucioperca) - Using Different Lighting”. In their experiments they subjected the larvae to 16 h of light with an intensity of 70-450 Lux, and 8 h of

A workshop on light and fish at Aquaculture Europe 2023 demonstrated the potential of using light to optimise the conditions under which fish are reared leading to lower levels of stress and better growth rates.

dark. The variable was the placement of the light panels: The light source was placed at different locations in the fish rearing ponds and the effects of this variable were investigated through fish survival, swimming ability and cannibalism. The results suggested that submerged light sources may have a positive effect on larval quality.

A potential way to improve larval quality Kevin Nyabuto from the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences and colleagues (József Horváth, Ádám Varga, Janka Páskai, Zita Rácz-Végh, Anita Rácz, Balázs

Kovács, Julianna Kobolák, Péter Dániel, Béla Urbányi, Tamás Müller) investigated the effects of different wavelengths of light (red, green, blue, and white) on African catfish larvae. To do this, they developed a special fish-holding system to detect the data as accurately as possible.

They clearly found that different wavelengths of light have different effects on larval survival and growth and that different sources of light could potentially enhance larval quality.

Charline Pichon from BCF Life Sciences, a French company specialised in the extraction of amino acids, examined in her presentation the feeding behaviour of the

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[ AQUACULTURE ] Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and the physiological processes involved. The main objective was to identify whether light has any stress reducing effect during feeding. This was evaluated using computer software that revealed that light intensity had no effect on the tested parameters.

The work presented by Sebastian Marcus Strauch from the Akva

Group, a supplier of technology for the recirculation aquaculture industry, demonstrated that light can be measured in three dimensions, quality, intensity, and photoperiod and that all three affect smoltification, growth, and maturation. By using the right wavelength (colour) and the right quantity (intensity) problems with these physiological processes can be avoided

when rearing fish in recirculation aquaculture systems.

More research could benefit fish and farmers From these presentations it can be concluded that a better understanding of light on the development of fish is highly topical and that there are many unexplored areas in terms of

light and fish behaviour and physiology that need to be investigated and analysed. Research and development colleagues in the field have started to build a network that will form the basis for further collaborations.

Prof. Béla Urbányi, Department of Aquaculture, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Urbanyi.Bela@uni-mate.hu

AquaFarm 2024, 14-15 February 2024, Pordenone

Climate change brings challenges but also opportunities The 7th edition of this event dedicated to the aquaculture and sustainable fishing industry will focus on production and marketing challenges that remain even as the pandemic effects recede. Damage to fisheries and fish farms from climate change will be discussed, as well as the opportunities waiting for producers operating in sustainable environmental conditions.

A

AquaFarm

quaFarm, the Italian international conference and trade show for the aquaculture and sustainable fishing industry, announced the dates of the seventh edition by introducing a new logo which, in addition to the fish, features a mussel as evidence of the ever-widening world of shellfish farming. The event will take place on 14 and 15 February 2024 in Pordenone, Italy.

Climate change: immediate threat and longer-term challenge After the pandemic crisis, which had a negative impact on the purchase of seafood products, the agri-food sector is beset with other problems. The aggravation of climatic events, rising temperatures and long periods of dry weather are changing the

During the two days of the event, its participants will focus on sustainabiælity, animal welfare, innovation and technologies, as well as on animal and human welfare.

habitats in which aquatic species live, with major impacts on breeding in both marine, brackish, and fresh waters.

“The effects of climate change and the ecological transition are the new challenges facing our industry,” says Pier Antonio

Salvador, President of the Italian Fish Farmers Association “All operators are ready. It is, as always, a matter of networking

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AquaFarm

[ AQUACULTURE ] highlight the urgency of anticipating the effects of climate change, states Luigino Pela, President of the Mediterranean Aquaculture Association, an endeavour in which research plays a crucial role.

Sustainability certification and nutrition will be highlighted at the event

and AquaFarm is an unrivalled meeting place.”

Climate change is also one of the causes of the increase in blue crab in the area’s seas, where populations of the invasive shellfish

are up by 2,000 in some areas.

Damage to shellfish production has been extensive: a decrease of over 50 in Italy’s north-east cost, specifically in Veneto and Emilia-Romagna areas. “AquaFarm represents an opportunity to

The seventh edition of AquaFarm will therefore focus on climate, research and innovation, but also on sustainability certification, animal welfare, technologies, as well as animal and human nutrition. The conference, with its comprehensive programme, will be held in rooms flanking the international exhibition area, the largest ever thanks to the use of the

new Halls 5 BIS / TER launched at the beginning of September. The area dedicated to universities is confirmed as well, including the possibility to exhibit scientific posters. Finally, the show cooking arena, where renowned delicacies can be tasted, will be placed in Hall 5 again, as during the previous edition.

AquaFarm is one of the events that represent the future of Pordenone Fiere. Its advantages include the internationality, high level of expertise, and a scientific approach—states Renato Pujatti, President of Pordenone Fiere. Companies attending the exhibition will have an opportunity to grow their businesses and there will be important economic spin-offs for the local area.

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[ AQUACULTURE ] SPACE, 12-14 September 2023, Rennes

Aquaculture grows in importance at animal farming event A fair for the animal farming industry dominated by terrestrial farming and breeding is gradually becoming a centre for the aquaculture industry as well reflecting its status as the fastest-growing animal protein production in the world.

T

he 37th edition of SPACE, an international exhibition on animal farming, was held in the middle of September at the Rennes Exhibition Centre in France. Animal farming is the overall theme of the event which caters to professionals from all related sectors, including animal feed, animal health, energy, environment, equipment, farm buildings, products and services from seeds, fertilizers, and plant protection to veterinary equipment, and animal breeding. Eurofish International Organisation was invited to the event as it also included a section on aquaculture. The wide international participation at the show also provides useful exposure for all exhibitors.

Impressive development in the show's metrics Some numbers from this year: More than 12 hundred exhibitors were present, 241 of them for the first time, and 365 were international companies from 39 different countries. Almost 91 thousand visitors attended, including 12,125 international visitors from 122 countries. These figures reflect a record number of countries and an increase in the number of international visitors by almost a quarter compared to the previous year.

This year the focus of the exhibition was energy, which was discussed in round tables, debates, and presentations, and was also the subject of

the forum, Espace for the Future, organised by the Chambers of Agriculture. Participants received information about reducing their energy consumption and about using opportunities offered by the market in the most efficient way.

In recent times, due to the pandemic, the Russian war in Ukraine, climate change and other foreseen and unexpected events energy prices have been volatile and have increased sharply, which has had a knock-on effect on other connected services and products. On the other hand, due to the growing population, the demand for food is increasing and farmers and processors must find a profitable and sustainable balance to satisfy needs and maintain production. SPACE was an excellent opportunity to learn about new developments and available technologies, to connect with people, companies and associations, institutions and agencies, find inspiration, and identify potential partners and solutions.

The new Experts’ Area within the Espace for the Future forum provided animal farmers with very practical and useful information on subjects such as fuel consumption, hydrogen, reducing energy consumption in buildings, the laws on renewable energy, and many other areas concerning energy saving.

In collaboration with agricultural teaching networks, a youth forum was organised this year for the next generation of animal producers which was opened by

Exhibitors with an aquaculture-related product or service displayed a special logo highlighting this connection to fish or shellfish farming.

Marc Fesneau, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

The programme provided a platform for young and budding producers to share their visions about the future and express their motivations, concerns, and questions.

Aquaculture is an increasingly important part of SPACE Aquaculture is a dynamically growing sector of animal protein production and also an expanding area within SPACE. The organisers have been offering a program dedicated to aquaculture for several years in various areas including nutrition, equipment, consulting, research, genetics, and more.

With the growing participation of national and international producers and service providers from aquaculture (13 growth between 2019 and 2022), SPACE will

continue to expand programmes and facilities for the sector and aims to be a key event for businesses within different areas of aquaculture. In 2023 SPACE offered participants interested in aquaculture a specific itinerary around the stands. Producers and service providers also working on aquaculture were provided with a special logo, two conferences (one each in English and French) were dedicated to the production of aquatic species, and an aquaculture field visit was organised. Presentations both in English and French on various fish and shellfish farming topics generated interest among participants leading to lively discussions on different topics.

SPACE 2024 will be held on 17-19 September. For more information visit https://uk.space.fr/.

Eva Kovacs, Eurofish, eva@eurofish.dk

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[ PROJECTS ] Holistic solutions are key to a sustainable and resilient economy

Unlocking the potential of aquatic bioresources New bio-based products and services are being brought to the market thanks to the work of the 49 projects funded by H2020 Blue Bioeconomy ERA-Net COFUND, creating value in the blue bioeconomy.

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he blue bioeconomy is an essential factor in our sustainable future, but we are still just scratching the surface of what is possible in the aquatic domain. It is widely recognized that to achieve fully circular aquaculture, fisheries, and blue bioeconomy overall, we need to both valorise waste and side streams, and incorporate novel ingredients.

To have true impact, research and innovation must be funded all through the value chain. It is not only about resource management and broodstock, feed development and sensor technology, but also

about improving supply systems, logistics, product development and market research. The funded projects must run in an integrated manner, where they are international, cross-sectorial, and include both research and industry partners, thereby increasing the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and covering multiple parts of the blue bioeconomy value chain.

Running such a project is complex, but from the complexity comes novel solutions. The 39 research and innovation projects funded

by BlueBio cover all aspects of the blue bioeconomy, all parts of the value chain and TRLs up to pilot scale, leading to numerous biobased products and services that will be or are being brought to the market. One of the most promising avenues in the blue bioeconomy is algae. Macroalgae, better know as seaweed, and microalgae are a diverse group of aquatic organisms that hold a wealth of opportunities.

The green future of the blue bioeconomy BlueBio has funded projects that work with both micro– and macroalgae, from the wild and from aquaculture. The project MINERVA (Coordinator: Dagmar Stengel, National University of Ireland, Galway) has developed novel algal extracts for food fibres (binding, gelling), food ingredients, seaweed-based cosmetics, antifouling agents, and flavour extracts from knotted kelp (Ascophyllum nodosum) and sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima). There are new extraction methods aiding purification of bioactives and new enzymes, in addition to protocols and tests for brown and red seaweed fibres in food applications. Two products are prototyped, an antioxidant and anti-enzymatic cream with seaweed and 3D printable ink for algal hydrogel InEval

The level of ambition in the EU Green Deal is high. In Europe we wish to increase and better utilise bioresources while conserving biodiversity, ensuring resilient ecosystems, providing nutritious and healthy food, and tackling climate change. It is generally recognised that a systemic approach to finding solutions is needed, as value chains across sectors are intertwined and optimising one or a few elements may cause unwanted outcomes in other areas. With the development of

integrated value webs that use interconnected rather than linear processes, the economy will be more circular, sustainable, and secure, with more regional employment. To identify new and to improve existing ways of bringing bio-based products and services to the market and to find new ways of creating value in the blue bioeconomy 49 research and innovation projects have been funded for EUR43 million since 2018. With a range of ministries and funding agencies from 17 European countries as partners, the EU Horizon 2020 ERA-Net COFUND Blue Bioeconomy (BlueBio) has worked to strengthen Europe’s position in the blue bioeconomy.

In the InEval project coordinated by the Alfred Wegener Institute commercial quantities of sea stars were dried and converted to a meal that could be used to substitute fishmeal in fish feed.

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[ PROJECTS ] lattice structure for wound healing, showing the diversity of potential applications.

processing of seaweed-based food packaging they have produced both cellulose/ alginate composite biofibres and ultrathin 2D nanosheets, and seaweed-based bioplastic films of up to 1 m and prototypes of transparent flexible films.

Algae can be used to replace petroleum-based plastics. The close collaboration in the project between industry and researchers enabled the project PlastiSea (Coordinator: Øystein Arlov, SINTEF AS) to develop high-purity polysaccharide fractions and “crude” polysaccharide fractions for bioplastic films. With protocols for extraction of alginate and cellulose and infrastructure for large-scale

Low-trophic animals are, together with plants, the sustainable solution to our food security.

To waste less resources, ensure circularity, and follow the food first principle, more low-trophic animals must be included both as food and feed. The most notable low-trophic animals on land are insects, which are not present in the aquatic realm, but there are many other options.

The project InEVal (Coordinator: Matthew Slater, Alfred Wegener Institute) produced commercial quantities of sea star meal that could replace fish meal.

They also developed protocols for sea urchin enhancement in land-based holding systems and enhanced sea urchin roe for food applications, and tested sea cucumbers grown under salmon cages.

SINTEF Ocean

Even for well-known seaweed species like Saccharina latissimi and tangle (Laminaria hyperborean), we need better understanding of their biochemical properties. The project SNAP (Coordinator: Håvard Sletta, SINTEF AS) has developed biopolymer production of fucoidan, laminaran, alginate and cellulose, with functionalised alginate for tissue engineering and structural fucoidan and carrageenan variants for anti-viral and anti-inflammatory sulfated polysaccharide properties. There were very interesting results on nanofibrillar and -crystalline cellulose for advanced nanomaterials and composites and stipe foams with ultra-low

density for packaging and insulation. In Marikat (Coordinator: Gudmundur Hreggvidsson, MATIS), new catalytic enzymes and enzymatic processes from the marine microbiome were used to refine marine seaweed biomass. They developed transglucosidases for food, pharma, and skincare, and laminarin and ulvan for commercial purposes.

Results from a project co-ordinated by SINTEF Ocean revealed that polychaetes, a (usually) marine worm, can provide valuable protein and lipid fractions as well as astaxanthin. Polychaete meal can also replace fishmeal and fish oil in fish feeds.

Low-trophic future: insects of the sea

Another promising low-trophic animal is the polychaete or ragworm. The project SIDESTREAM (Coordinator: Andreas Hagemann, SINTEF Ocean) produced polychaete meal, gammarid meal, and bacterial meals for fish and shrimp feed and as replacements for fish meal or fish oil or as attractants. Rearing protocols were developed for marine polychaete, gammarid shrimp, and Corynebacterium glutamicum to optimise biomass production, resource utilisation and production of high nutritional value fatty acids and astaxanthin, including processing technology for

producing protein and lipid fractions from polychaete worms and gammarids and astaxanthin from batch fermentation in bioreactors with Corynebacterium glutamicum on aquaculture-based media. It is notable that the Life Cycle Assessment of polychaete meal from aquaculture waste show a 23 lower environmental impact than the linear approach.

There is untapped potential in valorising RAS waste-streams.

The waste-streams can be used for in-situ production of novel proteinaceous and high nutritional value fish feed consisting of algae, duckweed, biofloc (microorganisms) and insects, as was done in AquaTech4Feed (Coordinator: Giorgos Markou, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation – Demeter). Circularity and low-trophic go hand in hand, as the work in BlueCC shows.

In BlueCC (Coordinator: Runar Gjerp Solstad, NOFIMA AS), researchers used market driven concept development of sustainable marine collagen and chitin/chitosan demonstrators from invasive marine species like crabs, by-catch jellyfish, and star fish and cleaner fish from aquaculture to extract collagen from skin and produce collagen spiked yoghurt, and extract chitin for chitosan-pectic hydrogels for encapsulation purposes.

Biobased solutions in a circular economy The circular bioeconomy has potential for applications outside food and feed. There is a large range of blue biobased health applications from wound healing to antibiotics. The project SuReMetS (Coordinator: Jeanette Hammer Andersen, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway) developed three food-grade high-value protein

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Katharina Nøkling-Eide, SINTEF

[ PROJECTS ]

Scientists at SINTEF have developed ways to extract a range of useful components found in seaweeds.

ingredients from biorefining of low-value fish biomass with promising bioactive ingredients against metabolic syndromes in humans. The Project MedSpon (Coordinator: Joachim Henjes, Alfred Wegener Institute) improved RAS technology for sponges and produced sponge extracts for antibiotics and that worked against the ESKAPE (a group of six highly virulent and antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens) panel. In the project AquaHeal3D (Coordinator: Karin Giljam, Regenics AS) scientists developed a completely marine, 3D printed wound healing hydrogel dressing called Collex, where the bioactive substance came from unfertilized salmon roe. The wound healing agent is to dress burn wounds and hard-to-heal wounds and is ready for human trials.

The richness of circularity can be seen in the diversity of applications from the same raw material. In the project Caseawa (Coordinator: Guiseppe Falini, Univeristà di Bologna) they used fishery industry waste seashells from clams, scallops, and oysters to produce chemically and physically functionalised biogenic calcium carbonate particles (FbCCP). They found the biogenic calcium carbonate (bCC) could be converted to apatite for use in bone substitutes, which reduced energy costs and CO2 emissions, but also that the particles (FbCCP) can be sustainable and effective electrically conductive particles that can serve as antistatic agents in Levirex® compounds and meet the ISO standards for antistatics in shoe soles and filler in polymeric compounds.

Blue, bio-based solutions for the future There are tremendous opportunities to sustainably solve the most pressing current issues with blue, bio-based solutions.

From a selection of the projects funded by BlueBio, new innovative uses have been developed of underutilised algae species, and waste material from fisheries and aquaculture to achieve zero waste. More of the marine microbiome is understood and there are new synergies with land-based production in areas such as food and feed production and processing, biorefining, bioenergy, biomaterials, chemicals, and nutrients.

To improve aquaculture and wild harvesting of stocks, we need innovative feeds, improved

broodstocks, new species, and to encourage the adoption of novel production technologies. This will ensure the sustainable future of the blue bioeconomy. In the coming years, results will be published and brought to the market by the 49 BlueBio projects. If you are interested in exploring the results further, you can find the projects on the BlueBio website or individual project websites. There are also individual factsheets made for each project, that highlight the commercialisation potential and needs. If you are an investor or accelerator, you can look at our website to find the factsheets sorted by topic like algae, health, food, feed, fisheries, and others.

Ingeborg Korme, Coordinator, H2020 Blue Bioeconomy ERA-Net COFUND, iko@forskningsradet.no, https://bluebioeconomy.eu

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International Carp Conference highlights pond aquaculture’s role in Europe and beyond

Ecosystem services deserve greater attention The sixth International Carp Conference, held in Szarvas, Hungary, was organised by leading carp farmers’ associations and is one of the most important events dedicated to enhancing European carp aquaculture. The members of the organising committee represent the most significant carp producing countries in Europe: Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Germany, Romania, Croatia, and a 2023 newcomer, Austria, represented by the Austrian Lake Fisheries and Aquaculture Association.

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he first International Carp Conference was organised in 2011 by the Polish Fish Producers’ Association. After that the international organising committee decided to hold the event every two years in different countries.

The decision to organise the next conference in Hungary was taken at the 2019 conference in Germany, but due to the COVID epidemic, it did not take place until 2023.

Balanced representation from European producers and international organisations The sixth International Carp Conference was organized jointly by the Hungarian Aquaculture and Fisheries Inter-branch Organisation (MA-HAL) and the Research Center for Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE-HAKI) in Szarvas, Hungary between 30 August and 1 September 2023.

Over 110 participants from 17 countries represented the carp value chain at the two-day conference. They included farmers, fish feed producers, farmer’s associations, government representatives, NGOs, scientists, and several international organizations that play an eminent role in the development of

European and global aquaculture as FAO, Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATIP), European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission (EIFAAC), Eurofish International Organisation, and the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Central and Eastern Europe (NACEE). The conference was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Hungary; Hungarian Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (HUNATIP); Noack Magyarország Ltd. and other sponsors.

Carp farming needs to be more widely acknowledged Although international recognition of carp production and pond farming in Europe has increased slightly over the past 15 years, this particular aquaculture sector still faces many challenges. Its visibility and recognition are not in proportion to the complex environmental, social and economic values that pond farming creates and sustains.

This is why the motto of the 6th International Carp Conference was “Get the carp to its rightful place in aquaculture”. The focus of the conference was to strengthen the “carp segment” within European

From left, Javier Ojeda, FEAP; Bernhard Feneis, VDBA; Béla HalasiKovács, MATE-HAKI; and David Basset, EATiP.

aquaculture; improve the image of carp as well as the recognition of pond aquaculture as our common European heritage; and to increase the European contribution to the development of global carp aquaculture exploring the opportunities offered by carp in “blue aquaculture”. The conference also aimed both to bring scientific results and European policies closer to the producers.

president of MA-HAL, and Béla Halasi-Kovács, director of MATEHAKI. They provided a review of Hungarian carp production; the challenges and opportunities faced by the sector; and its position vis a vis European and global carp production; as well as the status of research in the field.

After the opening remarks a short video was presented entitled “The beauty of carp”.

Opening speeches were provided

by Mr. Gábor Csörgits, Head of the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management representing the Ministry of Agriculture, Hungary; Mr. István Németh,

Panel of internationallyrecognised experts address the audience Topics of the conference were interpreted and communicated

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both by keynote presentations and panel discussions, where the audience also received the opportunity to ask questions or provide their own views or experience on specific topics, and so actively participate in the discussions.

The speakers of the plenary session were internationally acknowledged experts in carp farming and related research. Mr Dong Zaijie from the Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (FFRC-CAFS), delivered a comprehensive presentation on the history and current status of Chinese carp production. He introduced different carp culture systems implemented in China together with requirements and characteristics of the carp market and various products well-received by consumers. In his presentation Mr Dong highlighted that Chinese pond production faces many of the same challenges as European production, such as environmental issues and low income for producers. Mr Catalin Platon, president of National Association of Fish Producers, Romania (ROMFISH) provided a thorough overview of the history of carp production and current trends in Europe. He emphasised the importance of collaboration within the sector. Béla Halasi-Kovács, Director of MATE-HAKI, presented carp production in relation to the global aquaculture scene. He detailed the values, threats and potentials of carp aquaculture, emphasising the necessity of innovation along the whole value chain. Ana Gavrilovic representing EIFAAC talked about the role of her organization in European carp aquaculture. From Mr Nándor Puskás, CEO of Biharugra Fishfarm, Hungary, the audience also received information on specific aspects of sustainable extensive pond aquaculture seen from the position of a farm manager.

The sixth International Carp Conference was held in Szarvas, Hungary at the end of August this year and attracted over 110 participants from across Europe.

Five sessions address all the key issues facing the carp sector Panel sessions played a key role in the programme. The five sessions led by acknowledged European aquaculture experts covered the main issues of carp farming: (1) Strengthening the role of Europe in global carp aquaculture led by Mr Javier Ojeda, (FEAP); (2) Pond aquaculture as European heritage, environmental benefits provided by pond aquaculture and discussion on possibilities to create awareness of the traditional pond aquaculture moderated by Mr László Váradi NACEE, HUNATiP); (3) Development of carp rearing systems and technologies through innovation along its value chain that was led by Mr David Basset (EATiP); (4) Future opportunities in carp genetics and breeding, moderated by Mr Marco Frederiksen (Eurofish); (5) Recent and future challenges on carp health and welfare, moderated by Mr Bernhard Feneis (VDBA). Questions from the moderator and participants were answered by recognised experts on a particular topic from Austria, China, Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Malta, Moldova, Poland and Romania.

The conference provided a good opportunity for scientists to

introduce their research results in the scientific poster session.

After the official programmes there was time for informal professional discussions and networking, including the gala dinner, where traditional Hungarian carp foods were also served.

Consensus on the need for innovation to further development Based on the discussions it was agreed by all that carp production should have a future as the species is very adaptive and pond culture has good potential to develop. Pond farming maintains a diverse ecosystem, contributes to enhance biodiversity connected to wetlands, and provides complex ecosystem services. Maintaining the volume of production from European ponds is the major responsibility of stakeholders, however innovation is necessary for further development. The participants also agreed that stronger collaboration in the sector and between stakeholders along the value chain, as well as better communication are also important to strengthen the role of carp aquaculture in Europe and globally.

On the second day of the conference, participants had the

opportunity to visit the live carp gene bank and experimental infrastructure of HAKI. In connection with the Carp Conference, the 47th MA-HAL National Fish Cooking Festival, was organized by MA-HAL with a fish cooking competition, which was open to conference participants as well. Attendees were also invited on a sightseeing tour of Szarvas.

Concluding declaration offers a pan-European development strategy for carp One of the most important outcomes of the International Carp Conference is the approved “Szarvas Declaration”. It provides the backbone of a strategy to develop the carp aquaculture sector at national and EU levels. The document, after an introductory part describing the recent situation, proposes to decision-makers and stakeholders the means that could be used to improve the position of the pond carp production sector in Europe. It emphasises that carp farming should be given its rightful place as a unique segment of European aquaculture that, in addition to the production of sustainable and healthy food, creates, maintains, and protects

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complex socio-economic and environmental values. Pond farming is in perfect harmony with circular Blue Bioeconomy and One Health concepts and contributes to the European

Green Deal, the Blue Transformation of the FAO and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Recognition of pond carp farming can also be improved by its enrolment as a part of the FAO

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAAHS) and the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage System (ICHS). The full text of the Szarvas declaration can be viewed at https://

eurofish.dk/2023-hu-int-carpconference/ Béla Halasi-Kovács, Director, MATE-HAKI, Halasi-Kovacs.Bela @uni-mate.hu

MAHOP Plusz (Hungarian Fish Operational Programme Plus) supports sustainable aquaculture

Future-proofing fish farming in Hungary The goal of MAHOP Plusz is to support micro, small, and medium-size enterprises in ways that increase the competitiveness and sustainability of their fish production and processing. The goal is to increase innovation and digitalization while also reducing environmental impact. An important aspect is to support climate- and environment-friendly farming methods, increase the number of production systems which are based on the principles of circular farming, and maintain and develop the biodiversity of water and wetland habitats.

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he fish farming sector includes fish production from pond farms and recirculation aquaculture systems, fish processing, and management activities related to the utilisation of natural waters for recreational fishing. The main task of Hungarian fish farming is to supply consumers with healthy and safe aquaculture products, but also to contribute to job creation and the preservation of traditions.

Priorities and their main target areas for support Hungarian fish farms usually undertake all the stages of fish production, from fry rearing to table fish production, by themselves. As the main supplier of fish, the aquaculture sector supports food security in Hungary and provides stocking material to restock natural waters and recreational fishing ponds.

As wild marine stocks dwindle,

Investments in renewable energy such as these solar panels are supported under the Hungarian Operational Programme as they contribute to mitigating fish farms' impact on the environment.

demand for healthy fish protein can increasingly be satisfied from aquaculture. To realise this, Hungary plans for an economically and environmentally sustainable expansion of production capacities by renovating and modernising existing aquaculture farms, and by creating and deploying innovative solutions.

In Hungary, pond fish farmers are trying to increase their production capacity by restoring ageing

fishpond infrastructure instead of creating new ponds, which require high levels of investment and offer slow returns. In 2019, operating pond area was 27,056 hectares, 29 hectares of new fishponds were established, and 206 hectares of pond area were restored. Considering this, the primary goal is to expand the production of existing farms instead of increasing the pond area. Expanding the scope of activities of pond fish producers and reducing production costs

Growing new species, including African catfish, a fast growing fish with few bones popular among farmers and consumers, aligns with official policies for the aquaculture sector.

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Intensive and circular aquaculture systems with high yields and low environmental impact are also supported.

by upgrading technology is critical to increase stability and enhance the income-generating capacity of the fish farming sector. Production processes rely too much on manual labour and technical efficiency is low. Investments that aim to develop and improve pond management by modernising obsolete infrastructure contribute to improve the health and well-being of fish leading to higher product quality and food safety and reduced need for pharmaceuticals. Under MAHOP Plusz, in accordance with the relevant directives on habitat and bird protection, the purchase of devices that aim to protect fish farms from predators will also be supported as this too contributes to improved health and well-being. Innovation can contribute to improving fish welfare, eliminating the use of antibiotics, and achieving environmental protection objectives, and will be supported.

Introducing new species and developing innovative production technologies It is important to introduce new species that are competitive on the European export market into aquaculture production, as well as to develop new production technologies to improve the

supply of fish products. MAHOP Plusz provides support to companies to expand their range of species and to diversify, intensify and develop the necessary production technology, as demand for more valuable predatory fish is higher than for herbivorous species. Thanks to MAHOP Plusz support, producers can diversify their production to satisfy the growing and changing consumer needs, as well as the needs of the growing number of recreational anglers. A significant increase in the proportion of fish pond areas with ecological certification is not a realistic goal until the share of consumers willing to pay a higher price for these products can be increased. However, MAHOP Plusz supports the production of organic fish and wants to achieve this with an increase in the proportion of fishpond areas certified to organic standards.

It is important to emphasise that the intensification to be achieved does not simply mean a higher volume of production, which would automatically bring with it a greater environmental impact, but a higher yield achieved with innovative solutions and/or a similar yield achieved at a lower cost (including a lower environmental impact). Many pond fish producers, especially the smaller ones, do

not have fish storage facilities of sufficient quantity and capacity for their fish. For this reason, during the autumn catch, part of the fish caught is sold immediately, mostly live, at dumping prices which makes these producers vulnerable to traders. MAHOP Plusz also supports initiatives that aim to deliver aquaculture products to consumers more efficiently, for example, by establishing fish shops, mobile sales, or by investing in suitable transport equipment.

Use of renewable energy to mitigate the sector's environmental impact In many cases, sustainability and climate neutrality goals are related.

Hungary can improve the environmental sustainability of domestic aquaculture systems by developing sustainable and low carbon footprint fish production technologies based on the use of renewable energy sources. With this in mind, investments in sustainable fuels will be supported. Besides the development of existing businesses, MAHOP Plusz plans to put more emphasis on supporting activities connected to the main activity of fish production, and the role of fish ponds in maintaining nature value. In Hungary, the primary form of fish production is semi-intensive pond fish farming, which, in addition to creating job opportunities and sustaining traditions, can also be considered close to nature. The spread of a multifunctional fish farming concept can also play a role in the social acceptance of pond aquaculture. By opening pond farms to visitors and by offering tourist services related to fish farming (fishing tourism, eco-tourism, gastro-tourism, etc.), fish farming comes closer to people who will better understand and accept the farmer’s activity. One of the main purposes of MAHOP Plusz

is to assist pond fish producers to diversify their activities, i.e. to increase the number of multifunctional pond farms.

In the maintenance of biological diversity European pond farmers preserve and enrich valuable water and aquatic ecosystems thanks to their pond management techniques and the use of combined intensive-extensive systems. Here the minimisation of harmful environmental effects is a priority, which is primarily managed by the establishment, renovation, and modernisation of fish ponds. Wellmanaged fish farms can also help to adapt to climate change. Due to the microclimate created by fishponds, annual temperature fluctuations are smaller, thus the expansion and maintenance of fishpond systems could be a suitable tool to mitigate the local effects of extreme weather conditions and climate change. There are several options to retain excess water, additionally, extensive fish ponds can also function as water purification facilities.

Pond systems are able to improve chemical parameters of water used in fish farming by removing certain pollutants (mainly nutrients) present in the water. In view of this, investments for fish-producing enterprises/companies which are able to reduce negative impacts on water utilization and water quality, particularly investments that are able to reduce the amount of water, chemicals, antibiotics, and other medicines that are used, and improve the quality of discharge water (e.g. multitrophic aquaculture systems) will be supported by MAHOP Plusz.

Intensive-extensive cultivation offers the best of both worlds Climate neutrality efforts are supported by freshwater aquaculture, especially through pond

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species and are able to ensure a continuous supply of fish. In addition, the amount of waste water and the environmental impact of recirculation systems is minimal.

Better working conditions may attract more people to the sector

Innovations such as the use of coloured light to favourably influence the physiology of larvae and juvenile fish is eligible for support under the programme. Here, red light is used for the rearing of juvenile pike-perch.

management and the use of combined intensive-extensive systems. An important aspect of the development of such systems is to increase resilience against the effects of climate change. To develop domestic aquaculture, construction, development, and wide distribution of innovative, combined fish production systems is important. These are able to efficiently combine the profitability of intensive systems with the environmental sustainability of pond farming systems. MAHOP Plusz therefore aims to support the use of combined intensive-extensive fish production systems in Hungarian aquaculture. All subsidised aquaculture investments must fully comply with the EU environmental protection regulations, with a particular focus on avoiding the negative environmental impacts of intensive aquaculture facilities, including impacts on protected species and habitats.

Production of the aquaculture sector has been increasing worldwide, but in Europe it has been stagnant for years. The EU is a net importer of aquaculture products.

A possibility to reduce import dependence is to increase the volume of fish produced in Europe which could be done by boosting intensive cultivation. In 2019 in Hungary 21 companies operated

intensive fish production plants/ systems at 23 sites/premises.

Hungary has excellent capacities for intensive production, including the availability of geothermal waters and waste heat sources, which are able to cover part of the water demand and part of the heat demand of fish production.

As geothermal resources provide a competitive advantage, the share of intensive aquaculture in Hungarian food fish production is constantly increasing. MAHOP Plusz intends to support investments aimed at using geothermal resources and circular farming solutions. The aim is to support the establishment of intensive fish production plants where it is possible to produce several species of fish with minimal environmental impact. Such systems can more simply adapt to changes in market demand, thus enabling a continuous supply of fish. In the case of intensive fish farming, the organic matter load of the wastewater of the flow-through water systems is exceptionally high, so a primary aim is to support projects that focus on water purification and the recycling of utilised water. Support is also available for recirculating fish production.

Such plants can be established in many places, require little land and water supply, can be adapted to the production of many fish

MAHOP Plusz supports investments in work safety, hygiene, health, and physical infrastructure that are able to improve working conditions. In 2019, a total of 1,246 people were employed fulltime in pond farms and intensive aquaculture systems. The objective is to increase the number of people employed in fish farming not only by supporting the startup of new businesses, but also by expanding staff numbers at existing businesses. To achieve this the improvement of working conditions is essential to make them more attractive.

The area of fish pond farming in Hungary is 27,056 (2019) hectares, which is a considerable area both for nature conservation and water management. The fish ponds are sources of high biodiversity and offer numerous valuable ecological services. Several Hungarian pond farms are located in protected or NATURA 2000 areas, as many species covered by habitat protection and bird protection directives are associated with fish ponds at certain stages of their life cycle or even during their entire life, e.g. utilising them as living, hiding, breeding or feeding places.

The presence of such species often causes damage. The target for 2029 for areas managed by operations promoting good environmental status and the aim to protect, preserve, and restore biodiversity and ecosystems is 150 km2. In the extensive and semi-intensive production methods mostly used in

fish production, agro-chemicals, and energy-intensive inputs only have a minor role, production processes are not very mechanised, and resources for fish production are used in an environmentally friendly way. There is a real risk that producers abandon fish production in ponds that maintain significant ecological values and switch to more intensive production methods or other forms of management in search of greater economic profit. This may result in a large loss of biodiversity and a significant decline in the level of ecological services. MAHOP Plusz aims to support production methods that are able to maintain wetlands as well as improve the resilience of the sector, increase biodiversity, and reduce the effects of climate change.

Recreational fishing contributes to healthier habitats Since 1 January 2016, when commercial fishing in inland waters was forbidden, fisheries management in natural waters has been through recreational fishing. Hungarian fishery legislations places obligations on the recreational fishing community to collect garbage at fishing sites before starting to fish. Failure to do so will result in sanctions, meaning that the recreational fishing community directly contributes to reducing plastic pollution in waters and at waterfronts. In 2020, there were 2,660 registered water areas for fish management totalling 172,297 hectares. By protecting and strengthening native fish stocks and protecting habitats, fisheries management contributes to the improvement of the environmental condition of stagnant waters and watercourses. The goal for 2029 is the rehabilitation of an approximate area of

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600 hectares by implementing 24 measures. MAHOP Plusz supports science-based fisheries management practices, such as those aimed at protecting and developing habitats in natural waters and ensuring the

migration route of migratory fish. In addition, the aim is to support recreational activities, selective fishing for ecological purposes aimed at catching nonnative invasive species, and fishing for demonstration purposes.

MAHOP Plusz, the Hungarian fish operational programme plus, aims to increase the resilience and sustainability of pond fish farming and to exploit the ecosystem services the sector provides to create a more profitable

and attractive industry for entrepreneurs, employees, and consumers alike.

Klára Szűcs Szathmáriné, Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Hungary

An entrepreneur in Hungary breeds high quality pike-perch for the international market

A demanding fish to breed and rear Pike-perch is a high-value freshwater fish species found in lakes and rivers in Northern and Central Europe among other regions.

The fish has also long been grown in polyculture with carps in the large earthen aquaculture ponds typical of Central and Eastern Europe. More recently, fish farmers in several European countries have started growing the species in recirculation systems where the water used to grow the fish is cleaned and reused. This technology is expensive to buy, install, and operate, but the high price the fish commands makes it worthwhile.

A

n agricultural engineer at Almásfüzit village in Ko m á r o m - E s z t e r g o m county, north-west Hungary, István Vida recognized an opportunity amidst the industrialization of this area of fertile land and gravel deposits. Mr Vida saw the bed of the gravel mine, continuously replenished by water from the Danube, become a haven for various fish species: bream, carp, perch, and pike-perch.

Experience growing several species Ten years ago, Mr Vida established Fodina Fish Ltd.—the farm where originally only sterlet was hatched and grown. At a later stage, new species were added to the range: Russian sturgeon, beluga, and striped bass.

Pike-perch was another species that attracted his attention: high demand on the European market and scarce supply were good preconditions to add this fish to the farm’s range.

In 2022 Fodina started rearing larvae and on-growing pike-perch in

the farm’s recirculation facilities.

The larvae are placed in cylindrical tanks with conical bottoms.

Here an upwelling flow is supplied until the larvae develop swim bladders, which finishes about three weeks after hatch. Sprayers keep the water surface within the tanks clean to enable proper swim bladder inflation. Until the swim bladders are developed, fish are given live diets comprising highly enriched Artemia. The Artemia is enriched to ensure the quality of the larvae which in turn secures the quality of the final product. The enrichment process comprises keeping the Artemia in well oxygenated water, to which commercial products rich in fatty acids have been added, for 12 to 24 hours. When the swim bladder is inflated and fish start developing stomachs, both the diet and the flow change. The fish are weaned off Artemia and switched to artificial feed, and the flow of water within the tank becomes circular which, although more challenging for the fish, enables much better hygiene and much lower microbial density. The conical base is useful for cleaning the

Dr Uros Ljubobratovic, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE-HAKI) and a consultant for Fodina Fish; a company employee; Istvan Vida, owner and manager of Fodina Fish; and Dr Beatrix Beres Szabone, Ministry of Agriculture

tanks as the sludge can be easily flushed out by a single person.

Once the juveniles reach a certain size, usually around 200-300 milligrams, they are transported to another unit with rectangular tanks, where they are placed in.

Using light technology to optimise growth Istvan Vida together with Uros Ljubobratovic, a researcher at the Research Centre for Fisheries and

Aquaculture of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE-HAKI), who also works as a consultant for Fodina Fish, is experimenting with artificial lighting in the early stages of fish development. With the evolution of technology, artificial lighting has become a crucial component of modern aquaculture practices, especially in indoor and controlled environment systems. Light influences fish growth, reproduction, behaviour, and overall health.

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Feed management is facilitated with floating diets

another system of tanks where they grow to 20-50 g. The floating pellets are better, Dr Ljubobratovic finds, at reducing the variation in the fish size which is an important market consideration. They are then transported to an indoor facility supplied with lake water which has a total capacity of three hundred cubic metres divided between twelve equal concrete tanks where first year growing-out takes place. Generally, in extensive and semi-intensive facilities pike-perch commonly swim with other fish—carps, bream, and other species; at Fodina’s intensive facilities pike-perch is accompanied by sterlet. I call sterlet the shepherd of the pike-perch, says Dr Ljubobratovic, as it tends to prefer the sides and the bottom keeping the pike-perch in the middle.

The final grow-out to commercial size in second growing season takes place in outdoor concrete tanks of volumes 100-300 cubic metres per tank.

After weaning the fish are introduced to floating diets. This acclimatisation is very important, says Dr Ljubobratovic, because the management of the feed is very difficult without floating diets in the given grow-out conditions.

Once they are accustomed to the floating feed they are moved to

Growing fish in an outdoor facility has obvious advantages: the flesh is a lot tastier compared to the fish coming from indoor units. The fish does not need purging which normally takes in RAS from eight days to two weeks, before the fish will be accepted by the market. The welfare of such fish is indeed higher,

The juvenile on-growing facility where red light is used to illuminate the tanks. Light has been shown to affect many physiological processes in fish.

Mr Vida uses two types of light in his indoor facility: in the early development of larvae, in-tank illumination with yellow light is used until the fish start developing retina when the light intensity is gradually reduced. When fish are moved to rectangular tanks, red light is used, and fish react well to it, since they are already adjusted to darker conditions and are capable of grazing in the dark. Above-tank red lighting though still allows the farmer enough light to monitor the fish.

This is important because pikeperch in their early life stages are highly cannibalistic and therefore have to be graded often to ensure that fish of different sizes are not

together in the same tank as this tends to foster aggression and cannibalism. Mr Vida is hopeful that as successive generations are bred this tendency will attenuate.

Waste water is pumped into an enclosed area within a larger pond to allow the sludge to settle. The remaining water is mixed with the water in the main pond and circulated back to the system.

and their immune system is a lot stronger. Outdoor breeding is also beneficial for delivering the fish to the angling and restocking markets, as neither of these channels is quite satisfied with the fish they get from indoor recirculation facilities.

Mr Vida’s idea was not to maintain a broodstock and yet do the reproduction. “Virgins”, female fish ovulating for the first time are used for this purpose. From the reproductive point of view, pikeperch are a very strong species—a female has up to 200,000 eggs per kg of body weight. To run a facility like Fodina Fish, one needs to start from half a million eggs—so two females would be enough, but the virgins have low quality eggs with poor survival rate, therefore more virgins are needed. This year the company selected the best fish to be reproduced and are currently working with 20-30 fish, and for the next year 50 or even more pairs are planned. The fish are selected for their appearance, shape, robustness, and for the growth rate.

Water is thermally conditioned for use in reproduction, larviculture, and juvenile nursing Groundwater is used for RAS Fodina’s units—indoor larvae

The final on-growing stage takes place in outdoor concrete tanks which results in fish of higher quality than if they were grown in a traditional indoor recirculation system.

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rearing and juvenile nursing and pre-growing. Its initial temperature is around 12°C, and the temperatures in the units vary between 4 and 29 degrees centigrade. Larvae grow at temperatures from 16°C when they are larvae up to 25°C when they are ready to be moved to the next unit. The juveniles are nursed at 20-22°C, as it is better for bone development, and because temperatures higher than that may promote cannibalism. At the outdoor facility during cold months the water temperature is around 4°C. So, depending on the destination the incoming water is either heated up or cooled down to provide the optimal conditions.

One of the novelties of Mr Vida’s approach is to send the wastewater to the walled-off section of a large pond to allow the sludge to settle.

Some 70 percent of the sludge is pumped out to be used as agricultural fertiliser while the rest sinks to the bottom. The water from the settling pond is slowly mixed with that of the larger pond and then pumped back into the cultivation system. This arrangement combines recirculation with the use of existing infrastructure and is among the factors contributing to the high quality of the final product. According to Mr Vida getting certified to an international standard would not call for any major changes in the way of production.

An organic certification would

call for the use of organically certified feed, of course, but it would be relatively easy to comply with maximum density requirements and with stipulations on the use of medicines. The fish is already being sold abroad but buyers are limited because of the modest

volumes. Once we increase the production so that we can offer more than the current 20 tonnes or so I expect greater interest from foreign buyers, he says.

Aleksandra Petersen, Eurofish, aleksandra@eurofish.dk

Fodina Fish KFT Chief Executive Officer: Istvan Vida Scientific collaborator: Dr Uros Ljubobratovic Activity: Breeding of pike-perch Market size: 0.8-1.2 kg Volume: 20 tonnes/year Markets: Hungary, Germany Employees: 2

Varosmajor u. 30 2900 Komarom Hungary Tel.: +36 30 436 6637 fodina@tvn.hu https://www.fodinafish.hu/en/ fodina-fish-en/

Hortobágy Fish Farm adapts production to more unpredictable climate conditions

Summer droughts and warmer winters are the new norm Hortobágy Fish Farm (Hortobágy Halgazdaság Zrt) has a history of more than 100 years and is the largest lowland diversion pond system of Hungary owned entirely by the Hungarian state. Regular monitoring of the water in the ponds, chemical and biological analysis of water samples, stock transfers to wintering ponds, and the use of defences against predatory birds are some of the measures the company uses to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

S

ix independent but centrally managed pond units are used to farm carps at Hortobágy Fish Farm. The 3,000 hectares of pond surface are in a strictly protected Natura 2000 area of Hortobágy National Park.

Ponds replaced the swamps drained during the regulation of the Tisza River 150 years ago.

The soil underlying the ponds is saline and so unsuitable for crop production. Water from the Tisza River is channelled to ponds where carp for the table is produced in polyculture with other species within three-summer

periods. The company works with three strains of carp, Hortobágy mirror, Hortobágy scaly, and Hortobágy wild, developed by themselves on site.

Vertical integration of production A full production system basically means that the company produces everything from roe to table-size fish entirely on its own.

It maintains its own broodstock and has developed its own breeding protocols as well. Chemicalfree manure from organic farming

is used for the production, which is based on algae and plankton.

The fish is fed on cereals together with vegetable protein in addition to the naturally occurring feed in the pond. Seventy percent of the production is common carp, while the remainder includes silver and bighead carps, grass carp, European catfish, perch, a small volume of pike and wild fish (e.g., crucian carp), which ensures the entire nutrient base of the ponds is utilised. Each age group raised in polyculture is removed from the ponds at the end of the summer and, to increase living space,

is usually stocked in smaller populations into other, larger (50-100 ha) ponds. The primary target is to sell table-sized fish (2-3 kg), but the surplus from younger age groups is also marketed.

Market-size fish are sold both live and processed at a primary level mainly to Hungarian consumers through large supermarket chains—Auchan, Metro, Spar—or they are exported live to Romania.

For these reasons, the company needs to harvest all year round.

For the sake of profitability, ponds fished during the breeding season

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Harvesting starts typically in the fall. The water is released from a pond and the fish are gathered in a corner using nets.

are used again within the production period, i.e., after refilling with water the ponds are restocked usually from large ponds where for better growth the density needs to be reduced.

Despite being a huge menace cormorants are virtually untouchable The ponds’ location in a Natura 2000 area means the company must comply with specific rules and regulations regarding the environment including the local flora and fauna. However, the damage caused by fish-eating birds, mainly the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and the pygmy cormorant (Microcarbo pygmeus), has significant effects on fish production.

The Hortobágy National Park Administration permits great cormorants to be scared off and their numbers reduced based

on a specific quota. On the other hand, the pygmy cormorant is strictly protected, so scaring it off or culling it is prohibited.

Based on experience, the daily volume of fish consumed by a large cormorant is 0.8-1.5 kg, and by a pygmy cormorant is 0.05-0.1 kg.

Single-phase fry rearing technology, where fish fry are transferred to ponds directly from the hatchery, is used on the farm. This requires a continuous increase in living space for the larvae, which are first stocked in water a few centimetres deep. The slow flooding of a pond requires several weeks. Periods of summer droughts and the lack of water jeopardise the production of one-summer-old fry if the operating water level is not achieved in time and, additionally, the damage caused by pygmy cormorants also multiplies.

Production starts after the harvesting of table fish which starts in October. This is referred to as the fall harvest. Cleaning, disinfection, and refilling follows leading to the production/growing period. Two- or one-summer-old fish, or fry are moved into these ponds in the winter. In the past the possibility of damage caused by birds is reduced to a minimum by hard frosts that usually start at the end of November, when the ponds freeze. The ice cover ensures a peaceful wintering for carp at 4 °C. The farm manager uses the water temperature and the knowledge that carp starts feeding at a water temperature of 8 degrees C, but its metabolism only becomes active at 12 degrees C, along with other relevant information to estimate the growth rate.

The 5 t/ha manure introduced as basic fertilizer once the ponds have been disinfected and refilled

over the autumn and winter ensures a peak in plankton levels in spring. Additional fertiliser introduced during the year based on the needs of the ponds ensures a high plankton level at the end of the summer. Supplementary feeds, corn, wheat, barley, triticale, or rye, help to optimise the growth rate of carp. When the plankton or benthic organisms produced in the pond decline, a supplement of plant protein is required, like sunflower seeds or lupins. This establishes an appropriate ratio of protein and starch which contributes to maintaining the sensory properties of the carp flesh.

Warmer springs have prolonged the growing season The effects of climate change started to impact production operations 15 years ago though at the time only minor adjustments had to be made to the production technology. Today one of the greatest challenges is caused

From the pond the fish are hoisted out in a net attached to a crane.

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Hortobágy Fish Farm may not be as much affected by the lack of water due to droughts as Transdanubian dam ponds, which were created by blocking a stream.

The water supply of such ponds depends on the flow of water in the stream. Water flow of the Tisza River which feeds the farm is usually adequate, although water restrictions have also appeared in recent years. However, there have been several years where the reuse of ponds harvested during the summer to increase profitability has been impossible due to an inadequate water supply.

Evaporation from a huge area can be as much as 2-3 cm/day in hot weather, which requires a lot of replacement water to maintain the average operating water level of 120 cm.

Little can be done against cormorants, an ever-present threat to the fish, due to their protected status and the sheer numbers present on and around a farm.

by changes in the seasons, i.e., a mild winter is followed by a spring with summer temperatures, resulting in a clear increase of the growing season. The primary problem is mild winters because of the lack of severe winter frosts and ice cover. Frozen lakes and rivers of the north magnify the invasion of great cormorants and pygmy cormorants, resulting in the migration of hundreds or even thousands of individuals.

Waters in Hungary do not freeze, so the birds do not move on, but spend the winter in the country and are a serious threat to pond farms and to fish natural waters.

It is almost impossible to keep them away with shooting, as they are even able to prey at night if it is clear. With this experience, in the fall the entire stock—groups of one-, two- and three-summer old fish—must be harvested and moved to wintering ponds from

November to April with a continuous water flow. The damage caused by cormorants is not limited to losses due to predation, but also results from the fish being constantly disturbed by the birds in the winter period if the fish are not moved to wintering ponds. As a result, their reserves are quickly exhausted leading to health problems in spring among depleted individuals.

Climate change tends to increase the cost of production The cost of harvesting and wintering increases, among other things, due to multiple handlings of fish. Forage feeding of wintering stocks also means additional costs. To protect wintering ponds, “threading” offers a solution, which means strings stretched every 10 meters across

the pond surface. To some extent this arrangement prevents the birds from making a risk-free departure with a full stomach especially if a hunter is in attendance. Another effect of climate change is the increasingly frequent heatwaves and periods without precipitation, especially in spring and summer which, in addition to affecting the level of water in the ponds, is not favourable for fodder production either.

Fluctuations in feed prices make preliminary calculations of the yield connected to feed uncertain and difficult to plan. Production results based on the earlier used technology of the company (0.3 tonnes of stocking/ha) approach guidelines for extensive production (0.15-0.2 tonnes of stocking/ ha), where fish are raised to market size based on natural food, with a minimum amount of additional feeding.

In-house laboratory monitors a wide range of parameters The company operates its own laboratory where water chemistry and plankton tests are performed, together with other examinations related to production. Monitoring water quality and especially oxygen levels is very important as fish are very sensitive to this parameter, especially when water temperature unexpectedly rises.

By jointly analysing plankton and water chemistry it is possible to foresee what kind of intervention is needed to prevent fish mortality in ponds. During plankton investigation types of zooplankton and qualities of algae are determined. If blue-green algae (harmful algae) are detected in the water of the pond, which are not consumed by zooplankton or fish and can also produce toxins, intervention is needed, which usually means a bleach powder treatment. Algae are photosynthesising organisms, the amount and species composition of

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which also affects the amount of oxygen. During the day they produce oxygen, but at night they consume it. At the end of the summer as the harvesting season approaches nights become longer, and diurnal oxygen producers consume more oxygen during the night. Additionally, some of the fish have reached market size and consume more oxygen. Demand for oxygen is thus high at a time when supply may be constrained. This can be prevented from potentially becoming fatal by ensuring a water flow in the ponds and by using aerators.

Oxygen saturation of water is a very important factor during the wintering period, too, as during this period a lot of fish are present in a relatively small area. Adequate oxygen saturation can only be guaranteed in high quality, uncontaminated water. Climate change has fundamental effects on the technology used by Hortobágy Fish Farm and more generally on the production of carp in polyculture at farming sites across the country.

Eva Kovacs, Eurofish, eva@eurofish.dk

Hortobágy Fish Farm Hortobágyi Halgazdaság Zrt Halasto 02755/8 hrsz.

4071 Hortobágy Hungary Tel: +36 52 369 110 info@hhgzrt.hu, https://hhgzrt.hu/ Managing director: Róbert Pásztor Activity: Production of carp and associated species in ponds Total pond volume: 3,000 ha Number of ponds: 6

Species: Common carp (70%), silver, bighead, grass carp, European catfish, perch, pike, crucian carp Volume of common carp: around 1.200 tonnes of table fish Markets: Hungary, Romania Product forms: Whole round, gutted, fillets, portions, live fish is exported Channels: Retail chains in Hungary, importers in Romania (a big wholesaler and some small retailers)

A Hungarian perspective on the sustainability of pond fish aquaculture

An activity that merits greater recognition

P

ond aquaculture is a key contributor to human nutrition even as the world population continues to grow. The sector plays an important role in the food supply due to the depletion of marine resources. However, to be sustainable in the long term, several factors need to be considered and appropriate measures and actions need to be taken.

A holistic approach is environmentally, socially, and economically responsible The aquaculture sector is covered by the FAO’s 1999 summary of sustainable agriculture objectives: contribution to food security; employment, income

generation in rural areas, with particular attention to poverty reduction; conservation of natural resources; and protection of the environment. It is noticeable that since 2015, the concept of sustainability has been used more and more widely in the assessment of different activities and forms of management, despite the fact that in many cases there is currently no definition of the concept that can be applied to a given sector or sectoral area. Moreover, in most cases, sustainability is approached only from a narrow environmental perspective, whereas it should be understood in a sector-specific way.

In defining sustainability, the relevance of pond fish production to

B. Szendifi

A distinctive feature of aquaculture in Central and Eastern Europe is that much of the fish is produced in earthen ponds, a tradition that goes back centuries. Today, however, this form of production also faces serious challenges.

Pond fish farms support a wide diversity of flora and fauna that live in and around the ponds. They also play an important role in water management and water quality by storing water, preventing flooding, and removing nutrients from the water.

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Environmental elements of sustainability

II.

pond-to-pond systems) and the use of environmentally friendly water treatment processes can help to reduce harmful emissions. Moreover, the micro- and macroinvertebrates, vertebrates and plants and their assemblages living in the ponds filter and purify the organic-rich water, i.e., the quality of the effluent water is often better than that of the inflow water.

III. Disease management and use of antibiotics: responses to fish diseases or preventive measures are key to the sustainability of pond aquaculture. For the Carpathian Basin, official surveys have confirmed that higher temperatures expose fish species farmed in various freshwater aquaculture systems to disease vectors that they have never been exposed to before. For sustainability, the preference for alternative disease management methods such as probiotics or vaccines needs to be reconsidered. Extremely low stocking density, the high natural food supply (benthic, planktonic) and genetic

variance due to the high initial number of broods results in a healthy immune system and prevents the spread of diseases, so that the use of medicines in pond farms is currently negligible.

IV. Sustainability of feed sources: in pond fish farming the protein, as well as the vitamines, minerals, and trace elements, necessary for fish growth are provided by planktonic organisms. The consumption of certain zooplankton species also introduces into the digestive tract of carp an enzyme culture capable of breaking down the plant cell wall, thus helping to efficiently digest cereals given as supplementary feed. Thanks to this, the technology of feeding low trophic fish—carp produced purely on plankton and with a low grain coefficient without external protein sources (e.g., soy, fishmeal)—is practically unique among farmed animals and is of course remarkable in terms of sustainability. The use of alternative protein sources, such as plant-based

E. Melles

The environmental elements of the sustainability of aquaculture in pond farming include factors that aim to minimise environmental impacts and conserve natural resources. These environmental elements allow for the long-term sustainability of aquaculture pond farming.

I. Water management and water quality: the annual specific water demand of Hungarian pond farms (approx. 26,000 ha) is 16-18,000 m3/ha, the annual water use is about 400 million m3, and the fish production is 05-0.15 kg/m3. The pond farmer is right to ask: is pond aquaculture watersaving or water-wasting? To answer this question, it is important to stress that, in addition to their productive activity, fishponds play an

important role in a) water retention - water storage; b) flooding - inland water protection; c) microclimatic impact; d) groundwater level; e) irrigation; f) freshwater supply - increasing water resources. It can therefore be concluded that the environmental impact of the utilisation of water from fishponds is very positive, and its importance is increasing in the context of climate change, i.e., the specific quantity of fish produced per cubic metre is irrelevant. Another key element of aquaculture sustainability is the maintenance of good water quality. This can be achieved through regular monitoring of water quality and making interventions where necessary.

Organic matter management and effluent treatment: efficient water treatment systems are needed to minimise the environmental impact of organic waste and pollutants from aquaculture. Recycling (freshwater IMTA (integrated multitrophic aquaculture) systems,

N. Puskas

sustainability should be assessed from three perspectives: environmental, economic, and social.

The intersection of these three aspects provides the basis for sustainable aquaculture.

Harvesting is typically in the fall and winter and involves using nets to collect the fish in a corner of the pond from where they are removed manually. The work is demanding and calls for a lot of manpower.

Ponds host several consumption species which enable all the trophic levels in the pond to be exploited. However, common carp predominates by a wide margin.

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A. Mazula

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Pond fish farmers must strike a balance between a profitable production and caring for the environment.

Avian predators illustrate the tension between these two objectives.

or algae-based feeds, or possibly insect protein-based feeds, shows potential but there is a need to develop fish species and age-specific feeds.

V. Preserving genetic diversity: preserving the genetic diversity of aquaculture species is also a key element of sustainability. A healthy genetic stock with fixed value-added traits reduces the risk of disease and ecological disturbance, and makes feed conversion and other production indicators more efficient.

VI. Monitoring and mitigation of environmental impacts: the use of precision technology applications is currently underdeveloped in the majority of extensive pond farms in Hungary. Production security is based on the need to regularly monitor environmental

changes, which are accelerating and becoming more extreme, to prepare for potential problems and to minimise negative impacts. To this end, modern equipment is available (e.g. water quality monitoring, smart buoys, robotic drones), which can increase production safety and security.

VII. Biodiversity protection: the spread of invasive and alien species in pond fish production is seen as a factor reducing the sustainability of production.

Preventing the population growth of these species (silver carp, stone moroko, brown bullhead, Chinese sleeper etc.) and managing the stock is important to protect biodiversity.

VIII. Reducing the ecological footprint: although the energy consumption of fish

farms is already very low, it can be further optimised.

To reduce the ecological footprint of pond aquaculture, farms need to switch to energy-efficient technologies and use renewable energy sources where possible.

The social components of sustainability The social sustainability of pond aquaculture focuses on the relationships and impacts between local and regional communities and aquaculture farms. i. Supporting local communities: fishponds were mainly established in rural areas, often in underdeveloped regions. Often the pond farm is one of the main employers in the area, so it is important to work closely with local communities and support their development.

This can include job creation, providing educational opportunities (further education and practical training) and supporting community development programmes. ii. Taking cultural and social aspects into account: aquaculture enterprises should support local cultural and social values and traditional fishing and fish farming practices. In the design and operation of new fishponds and service facilities, it is important that the architectural traditions and character of the area are respected, and that the views of local communities are considered. iii. Workers’ rights and safety at work: farms must ensure workers’ rights and good working conditions. Respect for human rights, a safe working environment, and fair wages contribute to social sustainability. iv. Training and education: pond enterprises should provide training and education opportunities for workers and local communities.

This will contribute to the development of the workforce and promote social mobility. In Hungary, there is a serious shortage of skilled labour in the sector and one of the solutions to this is through adult education programmes. v. Communication and transparency: fish farms must maintain open communication with local communities and other stakeholders who regulate work and economic activity. Transparency can help prevent potential conflicts and strengthen support from local society. vi. Social justice: the sustainability of aquaculture in

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ponds involves promoting social justice. Businesses must avoid discrimination and social exclusion and contribute to the well-being of local communities and workers and help minorities to find work. vii. Local markets and food security: pond farms contribute to local food security by ensuring the availability of fresh and sustainable food in local markets, meeting the needs of the local population. viii. Community participation: farms should provide opportunities for local communities to participate in the planning and decision-making processes of business developments. Community participation increases the level of sustainability and social acceptance.

The economics of sustainability The economic elements of the sustainability of pond aquaculture aim to balance economic interest with long-term sustainability. i. Economic efficiency: Increasing productivity, reducing costs, and increasing income (profit) are important objectives that can be achieved through precision nutrient and feed management and related technical innovation. ii. Market readiness: businesses must meet consumer needs and market expectations. Demand for sustainable products (certified conditions of production) will strengthen a company’s position. A key

challenge in this context is to use social media to provide consumers with relevant information. iii. Product quality: producing quality products is key to retaining (expanding) markets and pricing. Pond aquaculture products must be fresh, healthy, and tasty in terms of quality. iv. Water use efficiency: efficient water management and treatment and properly maintained infrastructure (canals, monks, structures, etc.) helps to reduce water use and thus costs. v. Diversification of production: the production of several species of fish in each pond (polyculture) contributes to economic sustainability. This can reduce the production risks associated with certain species (e.g., species-specific diseases) and create opportunities to serve a wider range of markets. vi. Innovation and technology: the use of novel technologies can help increase productivity. It is a sad fact that pond farms have seen few production-enhancing innovations over the past 100 years. Mechanisation of the sector has accelerated significantly over the last 15-20 years, thanks in part to EU support, but high-tech is still rarely applied in the sector. Better exploitation of knowledge and cooperation with universities and research institutes could increase the innovation in the sector. vii. Value chain management: pond aquaculture farms need to pay attention to the whole value chain,

including fish production, fish processing, and fish trade. Value chain management helps maximise revenue and minimise losses, reducing the exposure of pond farmers to economic reversals.

The challenges facing pond aquaculture The impact of climate change with water scarcity, flood damage, extreme pond water temperatures and the resulting lack of oxygen emphasise the need for wise and rational water management and treatment. EU support schemes do not weigh the environmental and conservation value of a fishpond ecosystem and a terrestrial ecosystem equally. Maintaining the agroecological value of fishponds results in a significant loss of income, but the level of support associated with this is still far below the level of support for agricultural sectors. In addition, the aquaculture sector is excluded from many other forms of support under the agricultural and rural development programmes placing aquaculture products at a competitive disadvantage in the market compared to other agricultural sectors.

Increasing energy costs and rising feed prices also call for the introduction of new technologies, modernisation, and the importance of natural feed (plankton and algae biomass).

Organic fertilisation of ponds to maintain plankton and algae stocks is part of the technology of pond production, and this technological element is slowly being lost to farmers: in the absence of livestock, organic fertiliser is not produced. The

issue of predation by cormorants is a problem that goes back decades and for which pond owners receive no financial compensation. Solutions involving all the concerned EU Member States need to be developed to be effective. Finally, the sector is also affected by the lack of labour. This needs to be addressed with a reform of the education system and by exploiting the opportunities offered by adult education.

Pond farmers are deserving of special attention for the ecosystem benefits they deliver Pond fish production fits the EU’s sustainability criteria. The fish produced by the sector are produced in an environmentally friendly way and meet the criteria of a circular economy based on the input and output elements of the fish production system. Pond farms play an important role in rural development. A holistic approach to the sector shows that modernisation and improvements are essential and cannot be postponed, but the potential of the sector suggests that pond fish producers should receive special attention for their value-adding and sustainable activities.

Nándor Puskás, Biharugra Fish Farm, 5538 Biharugra, Halas utca 1., Hungary Béla Urbányi, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Department of Aquaculture, 2100 Gödöll , Páter K. u. 1., Hungary, Urbanyi.Bela@uni-mate.hu

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Joint efforts: A winning formula for Hungary’s leading fish producers

Wide range of value-added fish products V95 Kft. of Nagyatád and Bajcshal Kft. of Kisbajcs are owned by two Hungarian families cooperating in fish farming, processing, marketing, and trade.

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his close cooperation between the two entities has not always been the case: due to the geographic location (Bajcshal in the north, and V95 in the south of the country), the companies operated independently for a time, but the introduction of new species, increasing market demand for high-value products, and the need to reduce costs brought the two closer to each other.

Modernising the facilities made possible with the support of EU funds The journey of the two companies began in 2003, when the current owners acquired the land and facilities of Nagyatád from the Balatoni fishing company and started pond fish production in a vast 300-hectare area.

Within a year, the owners made the strategic decision to enhance their capabilities by integrating processing and marketing activities. This expansion took place in Kisbajcs, Gyor county, where they acquired the former Gyori Elore Fish Farmers Cooperative, inheriting the ongoing production there.

Production continued In Nagyatád, while in Kisbajcs, after careful research and evaluation, a process that spanned three years, strategic new investments were

initiated. The majority of these endeavours was made possible through substantial support from the European Union. This support, amounting to 50-60% of the total investment, inspired the team with the confidence to venture into intensive production.

The funding also enabled them to modernise and expand their processing facilities.

Adding high-value species to create market advantages Both companies strategically tailored their production methods, opting for fish species that thrive in high-quality water conditions, even though these species pose greater challenges during production. This deliberate choice significantly augmented the value of their output. By focusing on high-value species less commonly cultivated by others, they created a niche market advantage. This approach also enabled an increase in the traditional production of the most commonly produced species like carp, grass carp, bighead carp, breams, and pike, increasing competitiveness in the market.

High-value species include pike-perch, the production of which started in 2010, African catfish which was added to the range in 2013, and sturgeon species such as sterlet, Siberian

Attila Boros, production manager at V95, a company producing African catfish.

sturgeon, Russian sturgeon, and beluga. The sturgeon species are utilized for caviar and meat production, as well as for restocking natural water bodies. This strategic diversification allowed the companies to maintain a strong foothold in the market while simultaneously contributing to the conservation and

sustainable replenishment of wild aquatic habitats.

Smaller head and thicker body are the key components to win consumers Traditionally, V95 Kft specialised in breeding various carp and bream

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Fish are harvested from a tank in a process that involves both men and machines. The net will empty the fish into a grading machine.

African catfish has become very popular among consumers because of its meaty and boneless flesh.

species, pike, and later pike-perch, in polyculture, using extensive methods in the company’s pond facilities, while Bajcshal focused on sturgeons. The growing competition between the traditional and new species, together with growing demand for the latter encouraged Bajcshal to add African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to the portfolio. Production grew to the point where increasing it was not possible without reducing the production of valuable sturgeon and so it was decided to move the catfish production to V95, as the facilities in Nagyatád were better suited to it.

The new unit—an intensive closed

Modern consumer preferences, in large part driven by millennials, dictate that fish be boneless, odour-free, and with a high flesh yield compared to the fish’s body mass. In this view, the almost boneless and “clean” tasting African catfish is perfect—with one “but”. Its head is too big, about 30% of the body length on average.

This, on the one hand, reduces its value for the end consumer as well as for the HoReCa sector, and on the other hand, places extra demand on utilising the offal. Recognizing this, V-95 Kft., with the involvement and cooperation of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), began to develop two selected lines using traditional mass selection. In one of the two lines, the goal is to reduce the size of the head of market-sized catfish, while in the other, it is to increase the circumference of the body while maintaining the same weight.

system that uses thermal water— was launched in 2013 and finalised in 2015. It complies with European standards and 1,000 tonnes of catfish are produced per year—compared to the initially planned 300 tonnes. The production is vertically integrated: V95 has its own broodstock, a hatchery, and 32 flow-through rearing tanks with a total capacity of 1,280 cubic meters, so the fish does not leave Nagyatád until it reaches market size. After harvesting the fish is transported to Kisbajcs for processing. All along its journey from egg to plate the catfish remains, so to say, in the same hands.

Adding value to own farmed fish

African catfish production is vertically integrated at V95 starting from the broodstock to the market-sized fish. Some 32 tanks, such as those shown, are used to grow the fish.

In Hungary, most freshwater fish is still sold live or on ice. It is available directly from farms, through the shops attached to the farms, or through the retail sector. Adding value to their own farmed fish

by processing it was one of the top priorities for Bajcshal from its inception. Now they are one of the country’s leading producers of processed fish with an annual output of between 1,800 and 2,000 tonnes annually. The slaughtering unit is also located at Bajcshal.

The range of products based on the fish bred by both Bajcshal and V95 includes, in large part, fresh fillets with or without skin, steaks, and gutted fish. Some carp fillets are processed into a “boneless” product in the sense that cuts are made halfway through the meat reducing the bones present in the flesh to very small pieces and making the product more convenient to eat.

Bajcshal also produces the base for the famous halászlé - Hungarian fisherman’s soup. The nation’s signature dish, the soup is consumed mainly at Christmas and during summer vacations.

Customers often buy a stock and add pieces of their preferred fresh or frozen fish to it. Customers are also offered a concentrated fish soup stock which they can dilute 5 to 1. In addition to soups, the company offers pâtés, fish salads, and smoked fish. The smoked fish products line is currently expanding in the retail sector, with various species, sliced, on a tray,

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the company’s international presence. In London, agreements with high-level restaurant suppliers are increasing the market there, including for caviar products.

While the focus has primarily been on Hungary due to the challenges of transporting freshwater fish with limited shelf life, the company is exploring international avenues. They are considering further exporting caviar and products from sturgeon meat, as well as high-value products like fish soup and smoked fish. Currently, discussions are underway with a Danish company interested in smoked and sliced African catfish. However, the Hungarian market is still hungry and will remain the most important market for both companies.

African catfish need to be graded at intervals to ensure that only fish of the same size populate a tank.

Otherwise, smaller fish will be subject to aggressive behaviour and cannibalism.

Aleksandra Petersen, Eurofish, aleksandra@eurofish.dk

and easy to consume. Moreover, Sturgeon caviar, produced by Bajcshal, has been recognised both domestically and abroad.

The companies have now reached the level where 70-80% of the processed fish comes from their own production. Common carp, silver, and bighead carp, grass carp and carnivorous species raised in the Nagyatád unit together with African catfish have created a solid base that is able to support the processing unit and also ensures the economic security of the Nagyatád unit. The rest of the volumes for the processing operation are sourced from partners in Hungary and sometimes from abroad.

V95 Kft

Bajcshal Kft

Halastopuszta 3 7500 Nagyatad Hungary

Arany János út 22.

9062 Kisbajcs Hungary

Tel.: +36 30 625 9302 halaszat@v95.hu www.v95.hu (in Hungarian)

Tel.: +36 (96) 560 220 bajcshal@bajcshal.hu https://bajcshal.hu/

Production manager: Attila Boros Activity: Breeding African catfish Volume: 1,000 tonnes/year

Managing director: Gábor Szilágyi Activity: Fish and seafood processing Products: Fresh fish, ready to cook products, fish stock, caviar, patés, smoked fish, fish salads Volumes: 1,800–2,000 tonnes per year Species: Common carp, sturgeons, pike-perch, African catfish Markets: Hungary, Europe, Singapore

Hungary remains the most important market Bajcshal, as a leading Hungarian company, enjoys longstanding

connections with supermarkets.

Their primary sales channels are large stores, but for stability, they also operate their own outlets.

The oldest store in Gy r’s Csarnok area has been running successfully for over 30 years. Later the company expanded to Budapest, Székesfehérvár, Siófok, Érd, and Mosonmagyaróvár, aiming to reach a wider audience. These company-owned stores not only enable the spreading of risk but also receive direct feedback from consumers, allowing the company to adapt based on real-time information. Bajcshal’s caviar, particularly from Siberian and Russian sturgeon, gained recognition, earning stars at prestigious events like the Great Taste Awards in London in 2019 and 2021. Partnerships in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and even Singapore create good opportunities for expanding

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Paper data registration of catches and other data is on its way out in Latvia

Mobile application for electronic catch reporting The Baltic countries are living up to their reputations as highly digitally capable societies also when it comes to the fishing sector.

Electronic catch reporting is increasingly becoming the norm as apps to register data from fishers become mandatory after a gradual in-phasing.

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he obligation for coastal fishermen to register their catch data electronically in the state information system, Latvian Fisheries Integrated Control and Information System, the owner of which is the Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia, is defined within the Latvian national legislation. From 1 January 2021, the requirement was mandatory for coastal commercial fishermen, and it also became mandatory for self-consumption fishers from 1 January 2023. In addition, the option to provide catch data electronically also exists for inland water fishermen on a voluntary basis. However, from 1 January 2024 this too will become mandatory.

Ministry organises app development To facilitate the catch data reporting for small- scale fishermen, the ministry commissioned the development of a mobile application called LZIKIS. The application is available free of charge for Android devices in the Google Play store and for Apple devices in the App Store and fishermen are encouraged to use it. These days, when smartphones are common, this technical solution is offered for convenience. The possibility to use a computer or smartphone for data entry via the information system’s web page still exists.

The mobile application has been created with simplified catch data entry in coastal and inland fishing logbooks to facilitate the recording of catches using smart devices (smartphones or tablets).

The user submits the credentials granted for access to the information system when logging on from within the application.

Consequently, it does not require any additional effort to register the user.

Data can be recorded via the app or a browser The Ministry of Agriculture has declared that the full functionality of the system is still available and can be used as before, by accessing the information system from an internet browser, which can be done both using computers and smart devices.

Both methods can be used to enter catch data, which is stored in the system and is accessible both to the fisherman who entered it and to the appropriate authorities for control purposes, regardless of the device and method used for data entry.

Aside from the obvious benefit of having the data available for control purposes, it can provide multiple other benefits, such as assisting the fishermen in planning their activities by providing historical data, allowing for

The app is easy and convenient to use, but fishers who prefer otherwise can still use a browser to log into the system and submit their data.

analysis of the previous catches, and for planning purposes. Information is also promptly available for statistical analysis by the researchers and authorities leading to a better understanding of fish stocks which is increasingly important today.

Fishers closely involved in the app's development During the development of the mobile application, consultations were held with representatives of fishermen’s organisations, and individual fishermen were involved in testing the application, providing valuable feedback that helped to make it more intuitive and user-friendly. In addition, the ministry intends, in cooperation with the Latvian Rural Centre for Consultation and Education, to hold information activities (seminars, presentations, etc.) to assist fishermen

become proficient users of the application. A video manual on how to use the mobile application LZIKIS was developed and published on the ministry’s website. Moreover, ministry experts are available to assist in the case of any technical problem. Since then, feedback received from the fishermen indicate that many users find it very convenient, user-friendly, and believe that it saves time—no need to fill out a paper logbook manually when everything can be done with just a few taps in the app.

Work on improvements to the information system in cooperation with local governments, competent control authorities, and fishermen will continue to make it easier to use for fishermen, institutions, and operators.

Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture

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Fish resource restocking in Latvia

Century-old activity gets a makeover Currently, we stand at a point, when we must look back, assess our implementation of the long-term fish restocking programme, appreciate where we are today and look ahead, envisage the direction, and take the next steps to maintain sustainable and diverse fish resources in Latvia’s inland waters.

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he Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment (BIOR) is currently the most significant juvenile fish producer in the Eastern Baltic region, primarily fulfilling the state’s fish resource restocking programme. Every year, the institute releases juveniles and fry of various fish species into Latvian public waters.

The most important species that supplement natural stocks are salmon, sea trout, vimba, river lamprey, and pikeperch.

Restocking helps to maintain natural stocks of fish Every year, the state fish farms, Tome, Karli, Dole, and Pelci, release an average of 700,000

one-year-old salmon smolts, 260,000 one-year-old sea trout smolts, 16,000 two-year-old sea trout smolts, and 1,140,000 pikeperch, vimba, and whitefish fingerlings. In addition to the mentioned species, the institute is also involved in releasing eel and periodically restocks pike.

Among other countries, Latvia is unique because each year natural stocks are supplemented with approximately 13,000,000 river lamprey fry. Migrating lamprey spawners are translocated upstream across the dams to the areas with natural spawning sites.

Besides, the institute participates in the reintroduction programme for Baltic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus. For private Latvian aquaculture companies and pond farms the institute raises rainbow

Ivars Putviķis, manager of the fish farm, Tome, of the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment, BIOR.

trout, sturgeon, pikeperch, and carp fingerlings. The current scale and quality of juvenile production did not appear overnight but have been achieved through prolonged work and knowledge transfer through generations of scientists and practitioners.

The centenary of the Tome Fish Farm approaches The Tome fish farm was established in 1929 after the reorganisation of the previously fragmented structure of the sector. At that time, Latvia had a planned comprehensive national electrification plan as an interest in the preservation of salmon stocks. The state established Tome fish farm near the planned hydroelectric

power station site Ķegums. Initially, the farm used water from the Pruupe spring, later water was drawn from the Licupe River, but since 1984 the Daugava River via the HPP reservoir has served as the natural water source for the nursery. An interesting aside is that in the early 1930s, when the main means of transportation were trains, horse-drawn carriages, and the first automobiles, Latvian fish farmers exported salmon and whitefish eggs to supplement wild fish stocks as far away as Germany, Netherlands, and France.

A century ago, salmon and sea trout were only raised till the fry stage. It took significant and prolonged scientific work to understand how to grow the fish to

Santa Purviņa, senior researcher at the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment, BIOR.

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larger sizes. Initially, the focus was on raising them till the fingerling stage and then till the smolt stage.

Salmon have always been, and still are, a resource of national importance in Latvia. The state supported research to find out how to compensate for the loss of migratory fish resources due to the planned construction of the Daugava hydroelectric power stations. The breakthrough in farming occurred approximately fifty years ago when granulated fish feed KRT was invented. This innovation coincided with the completion of the last Daugava hydroelectric power station, Riga, resulting in a significant leap in the rearing of salmon and grayling juveniles. The institute interrupted the release of fingerlings and shifted to the largescale release of salmon at the smolt stage, i.e., to the stage that is ready to migrate to the sea.

The hydroelectric power station Riga started operating in 1974, and in 2024, the fiftieth anniversary of the artificial maintenance of the Daugava salmon population will be celebrated. For almost 50 years, the fish farms Tome and Dole have successfully

maintained the Daugava salmon stock. Latvian salmon have preserved their homing instinct, they recognize their native river, and continue to return to spawn in the Daugava River. Here they are caught by fishermen, farmers perform fertilisation, and eggs and fry are reared on the fish farms.

After approximately two years, the reared juveniles are released into the Daugava River to perform their feeding migration to the Baltic Sea.

Rearing needs to adapt to the challenges it faces today While juvenile rearing methods developed in the last century have proven their sustainability, they need to be adapted to the requirements of this century, considering changes in wild fish populations, in stock management, in the environment, and in climate patterns. The extended warm season and increased water temperature in the Daugava River prolong the period of pathogen activity. Although this leads to an increase in fish illness, the aquaculture sector must reduce its use of antibiotics

Baltic Salmo salar juveniles, the most important species in terms of numbers of juveniles produced in the Latvian restocking programme.

Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) juveniles

and the discharge of these medicines into the environment.

The development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a significant problem today, not only in the aquaculture sector but also in other agricultural industries. These are among the challenges Latvia is currently facing and studies are needed on how to adapt production, introduce new innovative solutions, preserve the stock, and continue to breed and release healthy fish juveniles.

New aquaculture centre to develop innovative solutions With funding from the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), a national Aquaculture Innovation Infrastructure Centre is being constructed and will be equipped with the latest technologies. The building will house eight different experimental recirculating systems for broodstock maintenance, egg incubation, fry rearing, juvenile feeding, and fish juvenile rearing. The centre will not only meet nearly zero-energy building standards but will also be equipped with solar panels.

Heat pumps will provide heat for fish farming. It will be an example

of sustainable and innovative solutions that will contribute to changing the direction of water ecosystem management.

The design and construction of the Aquaculture Innovation Centre in an area of 1,540 square meters is being undertaken by a local firm, while a company from Malta develops the technology project and supplies fish-rearing equipment and apparatus. Construction of the centre should be completed by the end of 2023, when the systems will gradually be implemented and fish fry rearing started. The plan is to start with the incubation of pike-perch and adapting its rearing methodology to Latvian conditions, as it is a species that is important for the aquaculture industry.

In addition, the rearing of juveniles of carp and other species will continue.

However, more information will be provided when the recirculation centre is completed, when the tanks are installed, the feeding systems are connected, when water is introduced into the system, and when the fish fry rearing process is started.

Dr Santa Purviņa, Senior Expert, BIOR

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[ ENVIRONMENT ] Can plastic-eating bacteria offer a viable solution to the problem of oceanic waste?

Waste prevention is more efficient than attempts at restoration Recent studies have shown promising results regarding the potential of plastic-consuming bacteria in addressing plastic waste in the oceans. However, it is crucial to ascertain the feasibility of this objective rather than viewing it as a mere optimistic notion.

Encouragingly, scientists have already identified various strains of bacteria that can effectively decompose specific types of plastic.

What is the current state of this research and what is being investigated?

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hould we recall the catastrophic explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil platform in April 2010, which had devastating repercussions on the environment of the Gulf of Mexico? Between April 20th and September 19th of that year, an estimated 700,000 tonnes of crude oil and 500,000 tonnes of natural gas, predominantly greenhouse gas methane, were discharged into the sea before the well was ultimately sealed. This event not only resulted in an environmental crisis but also posed a threat to the climate, as methane is 25 times more detrimental to the climate than CO2 when present in the atmosphere. While attempts were made to disperse the partially burning oil slick using specialized chemicals (according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than seven million liters of these products were sprayed), the gas caused relatively fewer issues. Contrary to the expectations of many experts who had anticipated severe environmental damage for years, this problem seemed to resolve itself.

By September the escaping methane gas had almost completely disappeared. This occurrence was attributed to the actions of methane-degrading bacteria, which oxidized the gas and neutralized its harmful effects. Although methane levels inexplicably

A stark reminder of the dire consequences of plastic pollution as discarded plastic bottles and debris flood the ocean, threatening marine life and ecosystems.

dropped drastically after two months, just as suddenly as they had previously increased, it was made clear that microorganisms can be extremely helpful in solving environmental problems in the sea.

Shortly afterwards, scientists succeeded in isolating and scientifically describing a new bacterium

from oil-contaminated samples from the Deepwater Horizon accident. Despite belonging to the Roseobacter group, one of the most significant groups of marine bacteria, this bacterium was assigned to a completely new genus known as Tritonibacter horizontis. Tritonibacter demonstrated the ability to utilize sugars, amino acids, and aromatic

compounds, such as those found in petroleum, as carbon and energy sources. This unique capability has raised hopes that these bacteria could potentially be utilized in future endeavors to combat oil spills in the ocean.

Consequently, the global scientific community has been actively searching for other types of bacteria with even greater capacities

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[ ENVIRONMENT ] for hydrocarbon degradation in petroleum. This pursuit has yielded fruitful results, as international research teams continue to discover bacteria with similar capabilities. Notable examples include Alcanivorax borkumensis, which converts hydrocarbons into fatty acids and incorporates them directly into its cell membrane and Oleispira Antarctica, which remains effective even in the frigid temperatures of polar seas. It is important to note that oil-degrading bacteria are not a recent human invention; they have existed for millions of years.

The quantities of oil that are introduced into the sea during a disaster are the only man-made components. Marine ecosystems host specialized bacteria, known as marine hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria, which possess the ability to break down aliphatic hydrocarbons and utilize them as an energy source. These bacteria are present in seawater globally, albeit in limited numbers.

However, their population can increase significantly upon exposure to crude oil.

The recent discovery of bacteria capable of consuming plastic has sparked optimism Given the bacteria‘s demonstrated effectiveness in combating crude oil and gas, it seems logical to explore their application in addressing this urgent problem. It is estimated that approximately 300 million tonnes of plastic currently exist in the oceans, with an additional two truckloads being deposited every minute. The problem: plastics undergo an extremely slow decomposition process. Once introduced into the environment, some persist for several centuries.

Due to their complex polymer structure, plastics are composed

Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 and other plastic-consuming bacteria hold the potential to mitigate the global plastic crisis through their unique biodegradation abilities.

of lengthy chains of molecules that exhibit resistance to dissolution in water. The resilience of these chains is attributed to their strong bonds. This is primarily influenced by UV radiation emitted by the sun. This radiation disintegrates the molecular chains and chemical bonds, resulting in a porous material. Wouldn‘t it be advantageous if there were bacteria capable of expediting this process? It is also the case with oil and natural gas. However, the circumstances required for such a phenomenon could not be more distinct. Petroleum is a fossil natural resource that was formed 65 to 200 million years ago when dead marine animals and plants sank to the bottom of the sea and did not decompose completely due to the lack of oxygen. As a result, microorganisms had many millions of years of evolution to develop abilities to utilize these food and energy sources. Plastics, on the other hand, have only been around for a few decades. That is an extremely short period of time for evolutionary development processes! Consequently, many

scientists have expressed skepticism regarding the existence of bacteria capable of breaking down and recycling plastic.

Their astonishment was even greater when Japanese biochemists discovered bacteria with a plastic-destroying enzyme in a recycling plant in 2016. The bacterium called Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 is able to metabolise the plastic PET (polyethylene terephthalate) to meet its energy needs. Sakaiensis must have acquired this ability within a few decades, because PET has only been produced in large quantities since the 1950s. Unfortunately, Ideonella bacteria are extremely slow and therefore hardly suitable for the fight against plastic waste. It took the bacterium an impressive six weeks to completely decompose a 20 mm long and 15 mm wide strip of plastic film. However, the discovery of the plastic-eating bacterial species excited scientists around the world and triggered a real boom in research projects. Just two years later, a US-British research

team achieved significantly faster decomposition of PET by making a small molecular change to the enzyme. But even that is far from enough to achieve clearly measurable results in the fight against plastic waste in the oceans.

An abundance of different materials becomes a problem In addition, PET is just one plastic among many others from the group of thermoplastic synthetic resins. Around 90 percent of global plastic production comes from the following six materials (in order of frequency): polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU/ PUR) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The latter, PET, is primarily used for drink bottles and accounts for around 18 of global plastic waste. Nevertheless, many recycling efforts worldwide are focused on this plastic because PET is chemically more easily degradable than

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[ ENVIRONMENT ] contribute to the natural recycling of plastic, as this bacterium possesses a natural affinity for biodegradable plastics. However, specific conditions must be met for this process to occur, as the physical properties of most plastics make it exceptionally challenging for bacteria and their enzymes to degrade the material.

The molecules within the structure of PET and other plastics are so densely packed that they offer minimal “accessible surfaces” for the enzymes to act upon. Conversely, loose or porous structures are more amenable, as they provide greater opportunities for enzymatic degradation.

One of the harmful consequences of plastic pollution on marine life is the ability of fishing gear to trap marine animals long after it is discarded, abandoned, or lost.

polyethylene, polypropylene or PVC. Unfortunately, there is currently no practical solution for these significant “mass plastics”.

However, there is a promising solution for polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, as bacteria have been discovered in the intestines of mealworms that may be suitable for its degradation. It seems particularly difficult to find microbes that break down polyurethane, which is used in foam mattresses, household sponges and even sneakers.

Regardless of the small successes achieved, each new discovery allows researchers to delve deeper into the subject and gain a better understanding of how bacteria attack plastics and which enzymes are suitable for this purpose. A research team at the University of Hamburg has identified several hundred enzymes, known as PET hydrolases that have the ability to degrade plastic.

Above all, they all basically break down the PET very slowly. However, some types of bacteria even seem to prefer plastic material in water to their natural food. Studies on 29 European lakes showed that these bacteria grow faster on plastic than on natural substrates such as leaves and twigs. Some scientists even speculate that the proliferation of bacteria on plastic particles could potentially impact the aquatic food chains, as they serve as a high-energy food source for larger organisms like waterfowl and fish. The discovery that plastic pollution can stimulate ecological interactions within a lake is a highly curious revelation.

The number of suitable bacteria and enzymes has long been underestimated Scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow

and Landscape Research have identified microorganisms in the Graubünden Alps and the Arctic that can effectively break down two types of plastic, namely biobased polyurethane (PUR) and fossil-based butylene adipate-coterephthalate-polylactide (PBAT/ PLA), which is commonly found in compostable plastic bags. What is particularly noteworthy about this discovery is that plastic degradation can occur at relatively low temperatures, thereby potentially reducing the cost of implementing technical solutions.

The plastic-eating bacteria also include the species Rhodococcus ruber and the widespread bacterium Comamonas testosteroni.

According to a study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, Rhodococcus could digest nearly 1 of plastic in the oceans into CO2 each year and thus removing it from the water. Comamonas also has the potential to

Nevertheless, based on the promising research findings of recent years, it can be inferred that there are significantly more microorganisms in the environment that biologically attack and break down plastics than previously believed. In fact, over 18,000 plastic-consuming enzymes have been discovered in soil alone, with approximately 12,000 found in the sea. However, the ultimate effectiveness and efficiency of these enzymes remain largely unknown. Almost all the findings to date were obtained under optimized laboratory conditions at constant temperatures with a good supply of nutrients. This makes it quite difficult to transfer the results directly to nature, because the conditions there are quite unstable and vary over time and space.

In spite of some successes, bacteria are not a miracle weapon Their limitations in nature may be harnessed for technical purposes, such as in bioreactors designed for plastic upcycling. In such systems, bacteria can be provided with optimal conditions for

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[ ENVIRONMENT ]

Sustainable alternatives to plastic, such as biodegradable materials or eco-friendly packaging, emphasise the importance of preventing plastic waste at the source.

growth. Initial practical experiments have already been conducted, including those involving Pseudomonas bacteria. They swim in a “soup” of shredded, chemically treated plastic mixed with water. They feel extremely comfortable in this substrate and break down the plastic into molecules that can be used as building blocks for new synthetic materials, such as adhesives. The concept under consideration has not yet been implemented on an industrial scale, however, it appears to be equally effective as the “Poliloop” concept. A French start-up has developed a bacterial cocktail that can process plastic into a sludgy mass resembling compost made from fruit or vegetable waste, free from any toxic residues, within a period of approximately eight weeks.

The French start-up, known as Carbios, has progressed further and intends to establish a

bacterial PET recycling plant on a commercial scale by 2024.

More specifically, Carbios uses a bacterial enzyme to fully recycle PET bottles. Allegedly, the plastic is “indefinitely recyclable” with this process. This would be a significant step forward, as recycled plastics have generally been considered inferior and are only used for niche products. The catch, however, is that the recycled Carbios plastic will initially be more expensive than newly synthesized plastic. The success of this project, therefore, hinges on consumers‘ willingness to pay more for more sustainable packaging.

Society‘s acceptance also influences another innovative process, as bacterial enzymes can now be genetically modified to break down plastic PET at an unprecedented rate. With the enzyme mutation FASTPETase, bacteria can accomplish in a few days what takes

several centuries in nature, and at relatively low temperatures of around 50°C! This research is currently in its preliminary stages, however, the potential implications for environmental remediation are intriguing. The utilization of genetically modified bacteria could prove to be a valuable asset in the cleansing of plastic-contaminated regions and bodies of water. Nonetheless, this approach would only be feasible in isolated facilities where microorganisms are completely contained, as has been the standard practice in the biotechnology industry for some time. Genetically modified organisms must not be packed into normal sewage treatment plants and certainly not released into the open sea. The safety risk would be far too great. It cannot be ruled out that these “mutants” could also attack plastic sports and leisure boats. However, the situation is different in isolated systems without environmental contact; the use of genetically modified bacteria to break down plastic might be possible here. Of course, public acceptance of this approach is crucial.

It is our responsibility to address the issue of plastic waste ourselves, and as such, we are faced with a decision-making dilemma.

Despite the existence of plasticeating bacteria in nature, their slow rate of action makes it unlikely that they can single-handedly solve the problem of plastic pollution.

The release of genetically modified bacteria into the environment is not a viable option due to the incalculable risks associated with it. The image of bacteria effortlessly consuming vast amounts of plastic waste in landfills and oceans is a fallacy. On the other hand, the first possibilities are emerging—albeit tentatively—of perhaps solving the problem with technical methods

or at least gradually reducing it.

However, this would be expensive, because wastewater treatment plants for plastic degradation are likely to be costly, especially if genetically modified bacteria are used. The logistics of collecting, sorting, and transporting large quantities of plastic waste to the bacteria would also pose a significant challenge. This is a bad business model as products generated from the process have little value.

It is more expensive to repair environmental damage than to prevent it. Therefore, the question remains whether humanity is willing to make the necessary effort and financial investment to eliminate plastic waste.

Currently, we are limited to a single option: to expand the mechanical recycling systems and make them more efficient. This endeavor requires significant effort and substantial financial investment.

In cases where batches are contaminated with food or incompatible materials, disposal is often the only viable solution, typically through thermal methods such as incineration. It is estimated that a mere tenth of plastic waste is actually recycled on a global scale.

The term “recycling” is no more than a euphemism to alleviate our guilt, as worldwide, an excessive amount of plastic is discarded into the environment, rendering it nearly impossible for us to take action. The notion that plasticconsuming bacteria equipped with “super enzymes” could alleviate the burden of cleaning up our oceans and resolving the immense plastic crisis is highly unlikely and merely serves as a distraction from the true challenge at hand. Ultimately, the only effective solution lies in minimizing plastic waste and ensuring its prevention from entering the environment and oceans in the first place. Manfred Klinkhardt

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[ TECHNOLOGY ] Estonia’s fishing sector bears the hallmarks of a digital nation

A system benefiting fishers and managers alike

F

rom 2024, Estonia wants to switch completely to electronic data submission for all commercial fishing activities in Estonian waters. Until now a hybrid system had been used for submitting data related to commercial fishing in Estonia, where part of the data was received in electronic form and part on paper. The new system will make the electronic transmission of data mandatory.

Faster delivery of more uniform data The main goal of the new arrangement is to make the receipt of data more operative, relevant, and up-to-date, and would enable faster, more uniform, and more compact presentation, processing, and analysis of data. Electronic data presentation has been used for many years by fishing vessels, where fishing activity messages are sent to the commercial fishing register through the ship‘s Electronic Reporting System (ERS).

Similar to fishing vessels, from 2024, Estonian professional fishers would go fishing with a smart device—smartphone or tablet— and record a fishing trip in the PERK (a digital declaration system developed by the Estonian fisheries) application and submit all the required data regarding fishing activities during the fishing trip.

Presenting data on paper, which has been used so far, is an outof-date solution in a digitizing world. It does not allow targeted monitoring nor an operational overview of the use of fish stocks as a natural resource. Since Estonia has continuously developed PERK which, since 2018, has been necessary for the submission of coastal fishing data, the entire professional fishing community will soon be directed to use it. PERK can be used with any web browser, and in case of fluctuating or non-existent internet coverage, PERK stores the data provided in a buffer and sends it when the coverage improves.

In this way, fishers can focus on their daily work and business—fishing—and do not have to worry about possible reporting problems. Through PERK the data reaches the register of commercial fishing, where it is processed and analysed.

Data-based analysis will help the individual fisher too The advantage of using PERK is that the data can be provided immediately when the fishing activity takes place, and the fisher does not have to worry about it later. Fishers can also submit data simultaneously to multiple agencies that collect or monitor commercial fishing data. In addition, the state can also offer advantages

Ms Heli Annok

An electronic reporting system for fishers will replace the hybrid digital and paper approach from next year. The system allows fishers to concentrate on fishing rather than paperwork, while fisheries managers will be better able to analyse the data.

The PERK system demands the type of fishing gear, location, fishing place, and the catch ID among other data which is then transmitted to the authorities.

to the fishing community based on the electronic data received: for example, to provide statistics and an overview of the fisher‘s economic activities—where and when the best catches have been, where there are fishing resources in the area, etc. There is a lot of potential to develop this further and the fishers have also made several suggestions about what and how they would like information.

fisher chooses the device and the state pays a proportion of the cost. The transition to electronic data submission is one part of the overall digitization of the field of commercial fishing, the larger goal of which is to make the services offered by the state towards the fishing community digital and to the greatest extent possible self-managed by the commercial fishing community through the customer gateway portal.

The state offers support to fishers to purchase the first smart device necessary for the electronic submission of fishing data. The

Kristi Ilves, Eduard Koitmaa, Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture of the Republic of Estonia

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SLOVAK REPUBLIC

The aquaculture sector in the Slovak Republic

The challenges are not insurmountable given the strengths As a landlocked country, the Slovak Republic focuses on freshwater aquaculture, producing mainly freshwater fish species.

The production of other aquatic animals, such as crustaceans and molluscs, and aquatic algae cultivation is not as widespread. Nonetheless, the aquaculture sector is characterised by a diverse range of fish species.

Fish consumption in Slovakia has remained low for a long time. On average, a person consumes 5.9 kilogram of fish per year, but only 1 kilogram of freshwater fish. It is a policy objective to achieve a gradual increase in fish consumption in Slovakia. It can be done

by promoting healthy fish food, demonstrating the preparation of fish meals, offering fish specialities at various social events, and by other initiatives.

What’s on the menu?

Natural conditions dictate that the most popular fish species is undoubtedly the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), which accounts for up to 36.7 of the sector´s total production. In terms of production volume, next in line is the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), which accounts for 28.1 of total fish production in Slovakia. It is mainly farmed in warmer, lowland areas. Other species include the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), northern pike

Aquaculture facilities in Slovakia, 2022 Unit

Number

Slovak Angling Association Board

T

he aquaculture sector in Slovakia is small and most aquaculture enterprises can be classified as microenterprises, consisting mainly of family farms that achieve smallscale production intended for the local market. Nevertheless, a decisive share of the total aquaculture production is attributable to small enterprises and several medium-sized enterprises. In 2022, total aquaculture production amounted to 2,975 tonnes, which was under the 1 of the total EU aquaculture production.

Total area (ha)

Total volume (cubic m)

Companies

117

Ponds

502

Cages

136

16,799

Hatcheries

86

12,383

RAS

42

10,021

Concrete tanks

434

84,391

Plastic tanks

144

5,731

Fish-tanks

149

41,542

1,958

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic

Rainbow trout contributes the largest volume (37%) to the farmed fish production in Slovakia. Pictured, an aerial view of a trout farm.

(Esox lucius), wels catfish (Silurus glanis), pike-perch (Zander lucioperca), and European eel (Anguilla anguilla). The African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) produced in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) is also represented in the production.

Historically, aquaculture in Slovakia developed in two separate areas. One of them was pond fish farming, which is now the most popular method of fish farming and primarily found in the country’s lowlands.

It is characterised by taking advantage of the development of natural food, which is formed in the active layer of mud

(i.e. upper 15 centimetres) in shallow and very eutrophic ponds. Ponds are often used for mixed stocking, where the main fish is the common carp together with accompanying species, such as the white amur, bighead carp, northern pike, pike-perch. Nowadays, they also fulfil a number of secondary roles in the landscape, such as water retention, recreation, or irrigation. They play an important role in protected bird areas (NATURA 2000). However, this dual role significantly affects the level of fish production in Slovakia and is a subject of dispute between fish-farmers and ornithologists.

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Slovak Angling Association Board

SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Traditional earthen ponds are used to produce common carp in polyculture with other species. The fish are usually harvested in autumn.

The other development in aquaculture production is salmonid (mainly rainbow trout) farming. Trout farming in Slovakia is mainly related to the breeding of Oncorhynchus mykiss in breeding channels on small, family-owned trout farms. A significant portion of production takes place in cage farms situated in water reservoirs at higher altitudes. The conditions for breeding include a sufficient amount of quality water and industrially produced pellet feed.

Trout farms are mostly located in the elevated areas of Slovakia, where the environment is more suitable for cold water fish.

In recent years, a new group of recirculatory aquaculture system (RAS) breeders focusing on novel

species, such as African catfish and European eel, has emerged in Slovakia. The country’s annual production of African catfish is approximately 900 tonnes, which nowadays accounts for a third of the total fish production. This number is achieved entirely by the only farm that breeds African catfish in Slovakia.

In terms of marketing, a distinction shall be made between the production of fish for direct consumption and the production of juveniles used in aquaculture for further breeding or restocking of fishing grounds. In contrast to trout farming, which is dominated by the production of fish for direct human consumption, the production of European eel is mainly aimed at further breeding or restocking of fishing grounds. RAS too are mainly used

for production of fish for direct human consumption.

Strengths and weaknesses of the sector The strengths of Slovak aquaculture include the tradition of breeding freshwater fish species, a diverse array of species, the quality of the fish, and closed breeding cycles i.e., the presence of fish hatcheries in fish farms. Finally, none of the farms have experienced viral diseases in recent

However, there are also some weaknesses: the population’s low consumption of fish, low wages of fishery workers, insufficient technical and technological innovation, the absence of breeding programmes, as well as the absence of research and life-long education in this field. Lastly, there is a conflict between fish farming and environmental protection measures which causes problems for fish farmers due to fish-eating predators and the existence of strict management regulations in some protected areas. Protected animals, such as the river otter (Lutra lutra), the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), and the grey heron (Ardea cinerea) have long been a nuisance for fish farmers all over Slovakia, not only because of the direct damage to the fish they prey on, but also the indirect damage such as stress that reduces overall productivity of the sector. The level of damage to fish in the farms caused by these predators in Slovakia amounts Slovak Angling Association Board

Other methods of fish farming

years. The aquaculture sector can also contribute to the recovery of fish fauna in Slovakia by supporting the gene pool of important aquaculture species.

Employment in the Slovak aquaculture sector, 2022 Workers

Female

Male

Total

Full-time

60

261

321

Part-time

21

355

376

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic

African catfish are produced in recirculation aquaculture systems. In Slovakia the entire annual production of 800 tonnes is attributable to one company.

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Jaroslav Šubjak

Jaroslav Šubjak

SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Predatory birds cause a lot of damage to the farmer’s stock, not only by direct consumption, but also by injury, and by causing stress.

Farmers must contend not only with predation but also increasingly with extreme temperatures and a lack of precipitation.

to approximately EUR250,000 per year by the great cormorant; EUR350,000 by the grey heron, and EUR40,000 by the river otter.

a lack of professionally educated people interested in working in the sector, deteriorating water quality and quantity, the spread of invasive non-native fish species, restrictions by nature protection authorities, and increasing water consumption on farms.

Slovakia is a land-locked country with an abundance of freshwater sources including a rich network of rivers. Despite this, fish farmers are noticeably affected by loss of water needed for fish farming every year, due to drainage, climate change, and pressure from industrial and agricultural needs. Floods are also becoming increasingly frequent. They are mainly caused by torrential rains, which can wash away higherlying trout farms and destroy the production.

Many opportunities to seize The country’s aquaculture sector offers many opportunities such as the non-productive functions of ponds, ecosystem services of aquaculture, targeted marketing to increase consumption of freshwater fish, together with building a positive image of the sector, increasing fish production in existing farms, as well as building new fish farms, diversifying income and increasing the ex-farm sales of fish and fish products. To date, diversification

has been a rarely used approach in Slovakia to provide additional income for aquaculture entities, to counter the seasonal nature of fish farming and to compensate for any loss of income from the main activity. In addition to increasing production, aquaculture facilities can take advantage of another option for streamlining their operations and ensuring sustainable development: by diversifying their activities, they can increase the value their aquaculture products. One of the frequently used approaches is agrotourism. Another possibility is the introduction of new or nontraditional aquaculture species and fish products, which can also contribute to the increase of domestic fish consumption.

As part of this diversification, it might be possible to increase the support for production of gastropods, clams, crustaceans, algae, and aquatic plants.

Risks to the aquaculture sector As is the case of other sectors of animal farming, the aquaculture sector faces real threats like the spread of infectious diseases, declining sales of live fish during peak pre-Christmas period,

Animal welfare and biosecurity measures in aquaculture farms can contribute to achieving the objective of reducing the use of antimicrobials in farms. It is important to improve animal husbandry conditions through management measures to reduce negative environmental influences, improve animal health, reduce the number of veterinary interventions, and minimise the use of pharmaceuticals. The introduction of innovations in the field of prevention and control of animal diseases in aquaculture and to shift the breeding work of fish farms in this direction may also be beneficial.

However, the rate of development in the aquaculture sector that could help to combat these threats or adapt to climate change, increase fish production, and reduce the impact on the environment is still too low.

Particularly, there is a lack of

modern technology for recirculation systems that could successfully address these problems and reduce the demand for water.

Moreover, the physical nature of the work is provoking a shortage of trained staff. Cheap imports of fish and aquaculture products pose a serious threat to domestic producers, as they are unable to compete on price. This is a result of better technical development of aquaculture equipment in other countries and their governments’ assistance.

Major challenges lie ahead for the aquaculture sector, but the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund 20212027 will help tackle them.

The sector´s priorities include increasing the competitiveness of the freshwater aquaculture sector, adapting the industry to climate change, diversifying the range of species produced, developing and exploiting non-productive functions of aquaculture farms, boosting innovations in fish farming, and promoting the aquaculture sector in Slovakia.

Dominik Škoda, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, dominik.skoda@land.gov.sk

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UKRAINE

Ukraine’s seafood business: Impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine

Operating at Ukraine’s economic frontline Sergey Kardash is a co-owner and CEO of Klion Group Company. Having graduated from Donetsk State University as a marketing specialist, he never planned to relate his future life to fish. But…. as a child, he was proud of his aquarium and even managed to breed a Siamese fighting fish. Nothing happens by chance.

This is the fourth in a series of articles in the Eurofish Magazine dedicated to seafood businesses in Ukraine and how they work and survive during the war.

Number one in Ukraine Very soon, the company started to import directly and later purchased a processing plant built during the Soviet era. The plant was completely modernized and in 2009 production started.

Today, its seven processing units produce: frozen products (H&G fish, fillets, steaks, and various kinds of seafood); semi-processed products (minced fish, mixes of fish and vegetables); preserves from fish and seafood; fish roe-based products (salted roe of cod, Alaskan Pollock, herring, pates and spreads, and delicatessen salmon caviar); dried salted fish; smoked fish and seafood; and canned products The product range includes about 250 items and the combined capacity of all the units is 24,000 tonnes per year. The majority of the products are sold under the company’s own brand, Veladis, which was introduced in 2012.

Most of the raw materials are imported from around 40 countries worldwide—with Norway, the UK, Spain, Iceland, the US, Estonia, and Canada being the primary suppliers. Annual imports amount to about 60,000 tonnes, or about 20 of Ukraine’s imports of fish and seafood, which makes Klion Group Company the largest player in the market. Local fish supplies include pike perch, bream, carp, roach, crucian carp, and pike—these species are saltand dry-cured and traded as snacks, which are very popular among beer-lovers from Eastern and Central Europe.

The distribution channels comprise wholesalers of fish as raw material, selling fish in crates; sales under the Veladis brand directly to national retail chains, and through distributors to smaller shops, and restaurants; and sales via its own chain of Veladis stores located in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhya. An EU-approval number for the processing complex in 2016 opened new opportunities and new markets— the company now exports to the US, Israel, Spain, Germany, the Baltic states, Hungary, Poland, and other EU countries. Annual exports reach 2,000 tonnes.

Klion Group Company

K

lion Group’s first day of business was 7 December 2005. At the time the company was involved purely in trading fish and seafood purchased from other Ukrainian importers, but the management had greater plans and visions.

Sergey Kardash, co-owner and CEO of Klion Group Company

The company has cold storages with a total area of 15,000 sq. m, which can stock about 12,000 tonnes of products at –18 degrees C, and its own logistics center. The annual turnover is over EUR140 million. Before the war, the company employed 1,400 people.

Only 50 kilometers from the war Since the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022, Klion Group has not stopped its activities for a single day. The pressure has been extremely high as the company’s

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UKRAINE

In the early days of the war, the company’s priority was to survive, to save the company and its people. Autonomous, comfortable, and safe bomb shelters were built on the facility so that employees could continue to work in safety, and sleep there at night without fear for their lives during air raids.

Threats to national food security at the beginning of the war raised the demand for canned products, and Klion opened a new unit for canned fish production, which was distributed through retail chains in need or given away as charity together with the company’s other products.

Last but not least, adds Mr Kardash, we pay taxes—since the outbreak of the war, Klion Group has paid 800 million hryvnia (over EUR20 million) to Ukraine’s State Treasury underlining the role of large companies in the war effort. We are the economic frontline, he emphasises.

The ship still sails, often against the wind Disruption of logistic chains and temporary restrictions on foreign currencies in the early stages of the war created a lot of concerns about cooperation with partners abroad and fulfilling the company’s obligations. All our foreign partners, says Mr Kardash, understood our difficult situation and none of them put pressure on us.

Klion Group Company

The Company Klion Group actively supported the Armed Forces of Ukraine (ZSU), the State Border Guard Service, various charity funds and organisations, donating more than 8 million hryvnia (over EUR200 thousand) of products.

The company paid for the logistics and organised the distribution to

ZSU soldiers of tobacco products worth over EUR9 million, which were produced and donated by an American company specifically for the needs of Ukraine’s army. Klion also provides free storage of frozen products for volunteer organizations. After the destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydropower station, several tonnes of products were donated to the victims.

The company’s processing plant was built according to European standards, meets all ISO22000 (HACCP) requirements, and is equipped with custom-made, modern high-tech machines.

Klion Group Company

headquarters, the processing complex, and the coldstore are located only 50 kilometers from the frontline. Luckily, the gullies surrounding the area prevented the Russian troops from coming to its doorstep.

As a shareholder of an Uruguayan fishing company, Klion Group now owns two vessels with a combined catch volume of 12,000 tonnes per year.

Logistics remains one of the major problems—before the war, about 80 of the imports were coming through the port of Odessa, but now it is impossible, and the supplies go mainly through the port of Klaipeda and from there they are delivered by road. This route is not only longer—it is also more expensive, as the transport companies increase the prices. Staff are another problem—many Ukrainians have left the country, therefore job rotation, lack of qualified staff, and often the mental condition of people traumatised by the war is a major issue across Ukraine. It is also no secret, adds Mr Kardash, that some people manage to benefit from the war. This, in particular, concerns some bureaucrats who intentionally disrupt business activities and demand bribes.

Among other consequences, this results in unhappy customers who do not get their supplies on time and must bear losses.

Despite everything, Klion Group keeps making and implementing plans. In 2022, together with a Spanish partner, the company became a shareholder of an Uruguayan fishing company targeting hake, squid, and other species which are now distributed in Ukraine. The company also continues to expand its own retail chain of Veladis stores —two new ones were opened during the war,

and three others are under construction.

Can a war teach anyone anything?

The war taught us to adapt to fears and not to be frightened, says Sergei Kardash. The global financial crisis of 2008 made us fear for the survival of the company. Ukraine’s financial crisis of 2014 which started with the annexation of Crimea and was followed by military actions in the Donbass area made us fear too. We survived both calamities and then started to fear a full-scale war. Now it is here, but your brain adapts, and you respond, taking the necessary steps to cope with what is happening.

The war showed us who is who in our surroundings. Some, whom I’ve always trusted, turned out to be unreliable, while others, whom I’ve never associated with heroism, have proven to be genuine heroes.

In a way, the war tells us not to stop but to continue moving forward—not at breakneck speed, of course—but to keep a reasonable pace… sometimes even to stop and look around and consider where to go next, but always to move forward!

Aleksandra Petersen, Eurofish, aleksandra@eurofish.dk

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[

FISH INFONETWORK ]

EUROFISH INFOYU

INFOSAMAK INFOFISH

INFOPÊCHE INFOPESCA

/

T he FISH INFOnetwor k (FIN)

News

Positive meeting between Albania’s Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development and Eurofish

EUROFISH INFOYU

INFOSAMAK INFOPÊCHE

INFOFISH

INFOPESCA

/

The FISH INFONetwork (FIN) consists of seven independent partners who cover all aspects of post-harvest fisheries and aquaculture. Fifty national governments have signed international agreements with the different FIN services and are using the expertise of these services to develop the fishery sector worldwide.

The FIN pages are a regular feature in the four network magazines - INFOFISH International, - INFOPESCA Internacional, - EUROFISH Magazine - INFOSAMAK Magazine They present the FIN-wide spectrum of activities, showing actions and results.

The FIN has more than 70 full-time staff and works with more than one hundred international experts in all fields of fisheries.

Through its link from FAO GLOBEFISH to the FAO Fisheries Department, it also has access to the latest information and knowledge on fisheries policy and management issues worldwide.

The execution of multilateral and bilateral projects is one of the main activities of the network. It is also widely known for its range of publications and periodicals as well as for the organisation of international conferences, workshops and training seminars. All eight services offer different possibilities for co-operation with the private sector, institutes, government offices and donors.

For more information on the FISH INFONetwork visit the website http://www.fao.org/in-action/globefish/background/fishinfonetwork/en/.

From left, Roland Kristo, Deputy Minister; Anila Denaj, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development; and Marco Frederiksen, Director, Eurofish discussed ways in which Eurofish could collaborate with the ministry for the benefit of the Albanian seafood sector.

Anila Denaj, Albania’s Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development met with Marco Frederiksen, Director, Eurofish in Tirana on Wednesday, 15 November. Marco Frederiksen gave the minister a presentation on Eurofish and its activities, highlighting four of the ongoing projects Eurofish is involved in, and the Eurofish Magazine. The journal will in fact feature Albania on the cover of the February 2024 edition.

Ms Denaj, who has years of experience in international finance and who worked in Albania’s ministry of finance and economy evinced great

interest in the potential for industry to benefit from Eurofish, whether through participation in Eurofish-coordinated projects, B2B meetings, field trips, or promotion through the pages of the Eurofish Magazine. She was also keen on workshops that Mr Frederiksen offered to organise on a topic of interest for the industry. Eurofish has also produced a couple of guides in Albanian, one on packaging and the other on recirculation aquaculture that will be distributed electronically in Albania, when the final approval is obtained from FAO, which should happen shortly.

Reporters receive media training to prepare for Pacific Tuna Forum Nearly two-thirds of the world’s supply of tuna comes from the central Pacific region, and world markets as well as local villages depend on sustainable resources. The regularly held Pacific Tuna Forum provides stakeholders with the opportunity to meet and discuss matters affecting this resource. In preparation for the 8th Pacific Tuna Forum hosted by Papua New Guinea in September 2023, the government in collaboration with INFOFISH, and with assistance from other organizations, held a 3-day media training workshop for about 20 media practitioners to facilitate media reporting on forum discussions of the key challenges to the tuna fishery and its environmental and economic structure that are faced by PNG and other island nations inthe region.

Reporters covering events at this forum play an important role in disseminating information to the public in an understandable, reliable way. The media training workshop held by INFOFISH and the PNG government had two goals: to bring PNG’s media fraternity together to foster a culture of knowledge exchange and to provide a platform to disseminate critical and accurate information to media practitioners in Papua New Guinea. Presentations in the workshop varied by topic but all of them guided attendees toward what was called by one presenter “effective storytelling techniques,” or putting together facts that allow the reporters’ audiences to realize the importance of sustainable fisheries management and its impact on the environment and local economies.

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GUEST PAGES

EAS—a platform for exchanging information and promoting sustainable aquaculture practices

A science-based approach is key for the future of the aquaculture sector Bente Torstensen joined the board of directors of the European Aquaculture Society (EAS) in 2018 becoming its president in 2022, a position she will keep till the end of 2024. Ms Torstensen’s background is in nutrition research in which she earned a PhD from the University of Bergen and the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (Nifes) in 2000. Over the next 16 years she worked as a scientist, as research director for human nutrition, and as research director for fish nutrition at Nifes. Ms Torstensen was also appointed MOWI’s (those days Marine Harvest) Global R&D department’s team leader for fish feed and performance. She started as a director of the Aquaculture Department of the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (Nofima) in 2017 and in June 2023 became Nofima’s CEO. Bente Torstensen discusses here EAS’s role in consolidating the efforts of different players in the aquaculture sector to speed up its growth and sustainable development.

The European Aquaculture Society (EAS) is a non-profit international organization that aims to promote and develop European aquaculture in an environmentally and economically sustainable way. How is the EAS structured, and who are the members of the organisation?

Are there any selection criteria for a membership and what are the benefits of being a member?

EAS is a member organisation with a whole range of membership opportunities. Students are offered free memberships to encourage their participation in the society, conferences, and development of the future of EAS. All colleagues within aquaculture can become members of EAS, that means from industry, universities, research institutes, NGOs, government employees, etc. We also offer companies to be corporate members with special benefits related to trade shows and participation at the annual EAS events. Research organisations can have institutional membership with relevant benefits. I really encourage everybody to visit our web pages for more details on what we offer for the different

membership alternatives. And of course: all members pay a significantly lower participation fee for the annual Aqua events! For all who come to our Aqua events: there’s no reason whatsoever NOT to become a member of our society!

Aquaculture Europe is among the biggest sectorial conferences of its kind in Europe which brings together stakeholders from science, industry, NGOs, and many others. In 2023, the event was successfully organised in Vienna with the theme “Balanced Diversity in Aquaculture Development”. How do you see the overall results of the event, has it brought any tangible results and what was the main idea behind this theme?

The theme “Balanced Diversity in Aquaculture Development” surely highlights the potential for the aquaculture sector, already representing the world’s most diverse farming practices, to further grow sustainability by utilising the opportunities that lie in diversity.

What makes EAS annual events unique is the coming together

Bente Torstensen, President, European Aquaculture Society

of scientists, industry leaders and entrepreneurs, governmental bodies, and regulators from across Europe all sharing the same passion for aquaculture.

This year’s theme of diversification was reflected in the 32 scientific sessions over 3 days ranging from genomics to socioeconomics, covering the full scope of European aquaculture scientific disciplines and species. We gathered close to 2,000 attendees, more than 540 oral presentations, an international trade exhibition

with close to 170 booths, student sessions and activities, satellite workshops, and updates on EU research. In addition, two special events took place: the AE2023 Industry Forum and AE23 Innovation Forum. The value from this comprehensive knowledgesharing and networking obviously creates value for the European aquaculture sector as a whole.

Do you think that research properly covers all the areas currently important for fish production

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or are there areas which need more investigation? If yes, what is the reason behind research topics being ignored? How can researchers be encouraged to better investigate those areas as well?

In my opinion, the research-based knowledge necessary to succeed with the ambitions of the Green Deal, Farm to Fork Strategy, and transformation of food systems towards environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable circular food systems is much greater than what we see produced today.

Food produced in aquaculture and the opportunities to produce more food, also at low trophic level, in our oceans and inland waters is fantastic! It is our responsibility to develop and share this knowledge and solutions in the European and global food systems. But at the end of the day, all research must be financed by public and/or private funds. Therefore, working together is of the essence. We need more nutritious and safe food produced in a sustainable way, and aquaculture offers solutions when investments are made into research for knowledge-based development.

Space is one of the limiting factors to expanding the aquaculture sector, other factors are the pollution from the sector, and fish feed that still, to some extent, comes from wild species.

What are the major challenges EAS addresses to solve the aquaculture sector constraints for the future?

All of these areas are topics we highlight in Aqua events as solutions based on quality research and this is the way to go. For each event, the program committee with its conveners put in a lot of energy and attention to have the latest research presented in the scientific program. But it is always the actual implementation and impact

of research-based solutions and innovations that can make changes happen. Therefore, the Innovation forum, Industry forum events, and companies at the trade show are just as important to address the bottlenecks and the available solutions to remove these constraints.

While the previous guidelines from 2013 did not mention the word ‘welfare’, the Strategic Guidelines 2021-2023 have for the first time a dedicated section on animal welfare, which was also among the main topics at Aquaculture Europe in Vienna. What is the EAS view on fish welfare including farming, transportation, and slaughter in Europe, how it can be improved, and where is the European aquaculture sector now in that context?

High standards for animal welfare is one of the clear trends in all food production, and we expect nothing less than that from aquaculture. From EAS’s standpoint fish welfare is high on the agenda and will continue to be the topic of our annual events.

As President of the European Aquaculture Society, please say how EAS involves young people and raises their interest in the field of aquaculture? What initiatives or programmes does EAS have in place to encourage youth participation and to promote career opportunities in this industry?

As I have already mentioned, EAS offer free membership for students - as this is the new generation of EAS members when they move into positions as aquaculture farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and government employees, etc.

EAS also have a dedicated Student group, and its leader is a full member of the EAS board of directors.

The group has been very active in the past years and this is very important for EAS. We encourage

the young generation of aquaculture colleagues to engage in the society and use this opportunity to develop their network and carriers.

Innovation is essential for the growth and sustainability of the aquaculture sector. Can you share some insights into how EAS promotes and facilitates the adoption of innovative technologies and practices in the daily work of aquaculture professionals? Are there any specific examples of successful innovations that have made a significant impact on the industry?

EAS is the product of all our members. That means that innovative technologies developed by companies, through EU-funded projects and national-funded projects - presented and developed with collaborators through the EAS events, trade shows, and webinars - contribute to and impact the industry. The role of EAS is mainly to be a place where different stakeholders can connect, share knowledge, and hopefully develop new partnerships and ideas. With the great challenges we face in today’s world, it is more important than ever to be transparent and share knowledge and innovations to move faster forward together, rather than locking in the knowledge within each individual company or institute. Here EAS’ annual events and knowledge sharing through webinars and social media play an important role in creating these platforms for sharing.

Fisheries and aquaculture products represent an important source of protein, being a crucial component of a healthy diet. Nevertheless, seafood consumption varies widely among EU Member States. In addition, only a quarter of the seafood products consumed in the EU comes from aquaculture. Has EAS any current or planned initiatives to promote

seafood consumption and create awareness of aquaculture products among EU consumers?

How to develop future sustainable food systems is high on the agenda in the EU, and this includes safe and nutritious food for consumers. We need to change what we eat. More seafood is an obvious solution, but this will not happen if a strategy is not put in place to engage consumers and enhance their knowledge and awareness.

EAS will, of course, contribute by continuing to bring the community together, but this is a major undertaking that requires engagement across food sectors, retailers, and consumer organisations.

The EU strategic guideline for more sustainable and competitive aquaculture stresses the importance of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Horizon 2020 has funded two relevant projects CERES and ClimeFish which developed studies on several farmed species and tools to understand their vulnerability to climate change and to support decisionmakers and local actors. In this view, how is the sector currently dealing with climate-related hazards, what are the main challenges for the near future, and what are the main strategies implemented as of today?

The two EU-funded projects developed very important knowledge and highlighted the importance of climate adaptation. But the industry as a whole has to follow up on this with a much higher intensity.

Aquaculture and fisheries success depends on biology and the environment fish live in, and the climate changes are here already.

This research field has to be ramped up significantly to develop knowledge-based risk management plans, short- and long-term, for aquaculture and fisheries.

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