Aquaculture – fish farming
Aquaculture is the farming of fish, shellfishand aquatic plants like algae. One of the world's fastest growing food sectors, it already provides the planet with about half of all the fish we eat.
In Europe, aquaculture accounts for almost 20% of fish production, and directly employs some 65 000 people. EU aquaculture is renowned for the high standards of its products and production methods.
Yet this progress in excellence has not been reflected in growth of production. EU output has been more or less constant since 2000, while in the rest of the world aquaculture production has grown by one third. Looking more closely, we see that different aquaculture sectors are developing in almost opposite directions. While Europe's production of seafish continues to grow, both molluscs and freshwater fish have shown a steady decline over recent years.
The development of a more competitive and environmentally-friendly aquaculture industry is a major focus of European funding, both through the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and under EU research programmes . In 2009, the Commission proposed a strategy for the future of European aquaculture.
Further reading:
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Guide to EU fisheries policy
[2 MB] 
– see chapter 12 ("Aquaculture in the EU") [195 KB]
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Facts and figures on the CFP [9 MB]
- 2012 fact sheet on aquaculture species
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2012 fact sheet on aquaculture techniques [725 KB]
Official documents
Strategic Guidelines for the sustainable development of EU aquaculture -
COM/2013/229 [413 KB] - Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions (29/04/2013)
Regulation (EU) No 304/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 708/2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture
Commission Regulation (EC) No 710/2009 of 5 August 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, as regards laying down detailed rules on organic aquaculture animal and seaweed production
Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, Building a sustainable future for aquaculture, A new impetus for the Strategy for the Sustainable Development of European Aquaculture - COM/2009/0162 final
Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: A strategy for the sustainable development of European aquaculture -
COM/2002/0511 final