As things
stand, developments within the management of the aquaculture sector are taking
place at break neck speed at the European level with the Commission, the
Parliament and Member States all getting in on the act.
Plans, guidance and councils
Currently,
Member States are working on their multiannual strategic plans, which they have
to submit by the end of 2013 to the European Comission in order to apply for
funding under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. In order to support
Member States in this task the Commission is also working on Strategic
Guidelines which are due to be issued any time now.
The European
Commission also published a guidance document last year on aquaculture and
Natura 2000, including best practices to illustrate how nature protection
provisions can be compatible with sustainable aquaculture development.
Recently, the Commission also announced its intention to develop similar
guidance on aquaculture under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
In parallel to
these processes, work has also started on the establishment of the future
European Aquaculture Advisory Council - one of the proposals on the table for a
reformed Common Fisheries Policy - as already agreed upon by the European Parliament.
This stakeholder forum will bring together representatives of the industry as
well as of consumer organisations, NGOs and other interest groups.
Concerns from NGOs
While the
Commission profiles aquaculture as a sustainable solution to meet future
seafood demands, NGOs are concerned about the consequences in terms of pollution
and habitat destruction, escaping fish and their impacts on ecosystems,
diseases, parasites, the use of chemicals and impacts on wild fisheries for the
production of fish meal and fish oil. There are as yet many gaps in knowledge
and data on the various impacts, which warrant a precautionary approach to
future developments.
Seas At Risk
will be coordinating the NGO input into the processes mentioned, in order to
ensure that the sector develops in an environmentally sustainable manner and
that environmental stakeholders are well-represented in the new Advisory
Council.
