Removing obstacles to sustainable aquaculture in Europe (Exploratory opinion requested by the Commission)

Background

European aquaculture is stagnating by contrast with increasing rates of aquaculture production at world level and, in particular, in Asia. To try to dampen this trend, the Commission aims to promote aquaculture through the Open Method of Coordination (a voluntary process for cooperation based on Strategic Guidelines and multiannual national strategic plans). The Guidelines address four priority areas:

1. Simplification of administrative procedures and reduction of licensing time for aquaculture farms;

2. Coordinated spatial planning for overcoming the hindering effect of the lack of space;

3. Enhancing the competitiveness of EU aquaculture;

4. Promotion of a level playing field.

Relevant EESC opinions

• NAT/605 Strategic Guidelines for the sustainable development of EU aquaculture
• NAT/521 Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy
• NAT/445 Building a sustainable future for aquaculture – A new impetus for the Strategy for the Sustainable Development of European Aquaculture
• NAT/167 A strategy for the sustainable development of European aquaculture

Key points

The EESC notes that the main cause of slow administrative procedures applicable to the practice of aquaculture, and the unavailability of locations, is the complex implementation of EU environmental legislation, mainly the Water Framework Directive, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the rules on the Natura 2000 network by the public administrations of Member States and their regions. These obstacles are occurring mainly in public administration departments in Member States that were not involved in drawing up the multi-annual national strategic plans for aquaculture and, consequently, are not aware of them. The active involvement of these departments in implementing the strategic plans is therefore required.