News Digest n.8 / 2022
Aquafeed and Aquaculture Additives: A game Changer in the Food and Nutrition Industry
Increasing consumption of seafood, given its potential protein benefits, has been fueling the demand for aquafeed and aquaculture additives over recent years. The demand for seafood protein is anticipated to grow profusely, as is the consumption of seafood, which is influencing the global market outlook for the aquafeed and aquaculture additives industry. A study by Global Market Insights Inc. expects the market share to surge beyond $117 billion by 2030.
To feed the world, we need to waste less fish. Here's how
Currently only around 7% percent of the protein consumed by humans comes from "blue food", or food from aquatic sources. Given global population growth and the potential to produce food more sustainably in the ocean than on land, this must change. The perfect aquatic food system would be resilient to human and environmental shocks, including climate change. Global aquaculture (seafood farming) has been the fastest growing food production sector since 2010, with an annual growth of more than 5 percent. Aquaculture is the part of the seafood industry that has the potential to grow sustainably, as it produces highly nutritious food, with flexibility and low emissions.
EU-Mauritius fisheries protocol extended for six months
The European Parliament recently gave its consent to the extension of the EU-Mauritius fisheries protocol which allows the EU fleet to fish in the waters of Mauritius for tuna and tuna-like species. Six months extension of The Fisheries Partnership Agreement allows the EU fleet to fish for up to 2,000 tonnes. In turn, Mauritius will receive an EU financial contribution of €287,500 (US$284,700), of which €177,500 (US$175,770) is reserved for the development of Mauritius’ sectoral fisheries policy. The parliament said continuation of the agreement should not only provide access to Mauritius fisheries resources for EU vessels from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, but also to strengthen cooperation between the EU and Mauritius in the area of sustainable fisheries policy.
Ireland will benefit from €1.4 billion in Cohesion Policy funding between 2021-2027 to support the sustainable development of its economy. Around €142 million from the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) will enable the adaptation of the Irish fishing and aquaculture sectors to the present challenges. The funding will support the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy, the growth of a sustainable blue economy and healthy, safe and sustainably management of seas and oceans. Investments in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors will also contribute to the green transition in Ireland, by promoting development of small-scale coastal fisheries through community-led local development.
Fisheries: End to bottom fishing on protected deep-sea ecosystems in EU waters
In line with the ambition to protect nature and restore biodiversity, as stated in the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the Commission has acted to close 87 sensitive zones to all bottom gears in the EU waters of the North-East Atlantic. After the ban on bottom trawling below 800 meters, which was introduced in 2016, these closures offer further protection to help restore vulnerable marine ecosystems such as cold waters coral reefs, sea mounts and sea pens in deep waters.
EU Cohesion Policy greenlights €23 million in blue economy spending for Slovenia
Slovenia will receive €23.9 million in EU funding to support its emerging aquaculture and fisheries sector over the next five years. The block of funding is part of a larger €3.26 billion investment in the European Cohesion Policy between 2021 and 2027 to support the sustainable development of Slovenia’s economy. The money will come from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and it will target investments in the sector, along with conservation of marine biodiversity and protecting marine ecosystems in the Adriatic Sea.
