Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Aquaculture
Innovation and Opportunities
*****
Inovação e oportunidades
Aquicultura
Alexandra Leitão
7th Annual Conference of Tourism
Funchal, 3rd May 2013
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Outlines

Facts and challenges for the aquaculture industry

EU Legislation & Funding

Innovation in aquaculture

Off-shore production

Conclusions
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
• Aquaculture production has
significantly increased globally
(+7% /year)
• EU production fairly static
(+0.5% /year)
• EU import 65% of the fish
Off-shore
Conclusions
Production in Million Tonnes
Facts and
Challenges
Source: FAO-Stat, 2011
Why the EU is missing the track?
Demand, Technology, Training are available !
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
The Strengths of the EU
• Leader in Technology and
Research
• Strong and trained
entrepreneurial base
• High quality standards
• Diversified water systems,
climate features
Source: EATIP, SRA 2012
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
The Challenges
• EU imports 1.6 millions tons
• Provide the European consumer with desirable products of the
highest quality at an affordable price
• Assure that aquaculture’s impact on the environment is minimal
• Respect the conditions for optimal livestock health and welfare
• Develop and integrate new technologies within the entire value
chain
• Improve economic performance at each level of the value chain
• Guarantee the training and skill development of those working in
the sector and attract talented professionals
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
The Opportunities
•
•
•
•
The market
Product Quality and Safety
Research and Innovation
Social and Economic Development
FAO Report, "The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010."
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
EU Legislation & Funding
The overarching European policy affecting aquaculture is found in the
Common Fisheries Policy and its related legislative instruments:
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is primarily concerned with the
management of the stocks of wild fish in European waters
The Common Organisation of the Markets for Fisheries and
Aquaculture Products (COM) looks to assist establishment of the
best conditions for the markets in Europe.
The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) is the financial
instrument for supporting and implementing the CFP and the COM.
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
(EMFF)

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for the period 2014-2020
accompanying the implementation of the CFP with the necessary
financial resources

Focus on people and communities dependent on fisheries

Boost to the development of EU aquaculture

Stable financing for IMP
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
Europe 2020 and EMFF
Supports aligned with 3 thematic objectives of Europe 2020:
Promoting employment and labour mobility
Enhancing the competitiveness of the fisheries and aquaculture
Protecting the environment and resource efficiency
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
Europe 2020 and EMFF
Boost for Aquaculture
Growth and jobs :
 Encouraging new aquaculture farmers
 Investing in human capital: support to management, advisory and relief
services and life-long learning
Innovation and new forms of aquaculture:
 Off-shore and non-food aquaculture;
 New forms of income through multifunctional aquaculture
 Adding value to products through ‘in-house’ processing, marketing and direct
sale
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
Europe 2020 and EMFF
Boost for Aquaculture (2)
Environmental sustainability:
 Increasing the potential of aquaculture sites through spatial, infrastructure,
and environmental planning for aquaculture areas.
 Promotion of aquaculture with high level of environmental protection and
delivering environmental services (ponds).
Addressing the risks - Human and animal health:
 Development of best practices or codes of conducts on bio-security or on
animal welfare
 Facilitating access to stock insurance
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
Europe 2020 and EMFF
Market measures
Better products
Adding value through marketing and processing measures
Support to POs (in line with CMO Regulation)
Measures specifically designed for Producers Organisations
Production and marketing plans
Storage aid for POs (phasing out)
Bringing outermost regions closer
Specific compensation for additional costs in outermost regions for fishery and
aquaculture products
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
Innovation
Diversification
scale and
types of
operation
Added value of
the final
product
• Off-shore aquaculture
• Market demand (development
• ofFinal
product transformation
indigenous
species rather
• Integrated aquaculture
than exotics)
systems
• High-value
additives
• Life• cycle
mastering
Marketing
• Integration
into eco-tourism
sector
• Enhance
Algae
culturing
• Organic and mass
Certification
• Environmental sustainability
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
Innovation
Diversification
Scale and
types of
operation
Added value of
the final
product
• Invest in and support relevant research
area
• Multi-disciplinary programmes so as to
promote innovation
• Assure the knowledge 
commercialisation
• Balance high quality standards /
economics
• Assure attraction of young people
/professionals
• Transparent, open and clear
communication with society
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
Offshore Aquaculture
The SeaStation 300 off the coast of Hawaii. Photo NOAA.
Photo: SeaFoodBusiness.com
Photo by: GIO Photographer
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Main production areas:
Sagres
Lagos
Off-shore
Conclusions
Armona
APPAA (Area: 34 ha; Bivalve production capacity: 4000 ton / year)
Testa e Cunhas SA (Area: 16 ha; Production capacity : 9000 ton/cycle)
Finisterra (Area: 33 ha; Production capacity : 2000 ton/year)
Ostracultura e Mexecom (Area: 9 ha; Production capacity 250 ton/cycle)
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
APPAA (Pilot Aquaculture Production Area of Armona):
• Initially 30% of the aquaculture production in the APPAA intended to be for bivalve production .
• Each plot has 8 ha of useful area.
•Presently one company operating: Current production: 100 tons / year; Expected production: 1500
ton / year
•10 projects are licensed for bivalve production.
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
Production systems: Long-lines
• System of submersible long-lines, which
best fit the zone hydrodynamics;
• Suitable for the production of all species
of interest;
• Easy to maintain;
• Expansion capacity.
Smartlines
•System best suited to the production of
mussels;
•Resistant to the zone strong hydrodynamics;
•Production of higher quality mussels;
•Fast manipulation;
•Reduced maintenance costs;
•Environmental and visual impact reduced
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
Main species produced:
• Oysters (Crassostrea e Ostrea)
The production depends on juveniles from natural
banks and foreign hatcheries
• Mussels (Mytilus)
The production depends on juveniles from natural beds
and local capture
• Scallop (Pecten)
The production depends on juveniles from foreign
hatcheries
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Facts and
Challenges
EU Legislation &
Funding
Innovation
Off-shore
Conclusions
Conclusions
Several opportunities for the aquaculture industry (High market
demand, Regional resources: technologies, RTD and labour and Local
favourable assets)
Stable and favourable EU financing scheme (EMFF)
National capabilities and demonstration sites for off-shore aquaculture
“If aquaculture did not exist we would have to invent it.”
Commissioner Maria Damanaki
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013
Aquaculture: Innovation and Opportunities
Thank you for your attention
VII CAT Madeira. 3rd May 2013