1. Aquaculture in the Common
Fisheries Policy Reform
Viktoria Varga Lencses
DG for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Brussels, 22/5/2013

2. Aquaculture in the EU
• 1.3 million tons production:
50% shellfish, 28% marine
finfish, 22% freshwater
• Worth 3.1 billion €
• 80.000 direct jobs
• Many different species and
production systems

3. Fish stocks: reduce overfishing
• 75% of EU fish stocks are overfished.
• The CFP reform aims at ensuring that our fish
stocks are replenished and fished sustainably.
• However, even at Maximum Sustainable Yields
(MSY), capture fisheries alone will not meet our
growing seafood demand

4. Filling the gap
EU Captures
25%
EU
Aquaculture
10%
Net imports
65%
EU seafood consumption

5. Blue growth: job creation in
coastal and inland areas
• With current labour productivity, every
1% of our seafood consumption
produced by EU aquaculture will help
creating 3-4.000 full-time jobs
• Mostly in coastal and rural areas,
important local impact

6. Aquaculture in the "CFP
reform package"
• new "Basic Regulation"
• new "Market Regulation"
• Financial instrument: EMFF
• Aquaculture and EU Research:
"Horizon 2020"
• Aquaculture Advisory Council

7. Aquaculture in the new basic regulation:
the Open Method of Coordination
• "Soft" approach – no change in EU legislation
• Union strategic guidelines: common priorities and
targets
• Multiannual national strategic plans
• Exchange of information and best practices

8. 1. Reduce administrative burdens
2. Facilitate access to water and space
3. Improve competitiveness
4. Exploit competitive advantages –
"level playing field"
Union Strategic Guidelines
COM(2013)229

9. • Time to get a licence for a new…
• Agricultural farm: 4-6 months
• Offshore wind farm: 18 months
• Aquaculture farm in Norway: 6 months
• Aquaculture farm in the EU: often 2-3 years,
sometimes even 7 years
• Entrepreneurship 2020 action plan: this should
not take more than one month
• Costs? Uncertainties?
1. Reduce administrative burdens

10. • "Lack of space" or "No access to space"?
• Use of spatial planning to identify best location
and make aquaculture development:
• More sustainable
• More socially acceptable
• Less uncertain (and more interesting for
investors)
2. Facilitate access to space and water

11. 3. Increase competitiveness
• Promote R&D, innovation, business differentiation
• Exploit business opportunities (e.g. integration
with angling and tourism, offshore wind farms)
• Valorise environmental services (e.g. extensive
ponds and habitat conservation)
• Stronger producers organisations

12. 4. Exploit competitive advantages –
"Level playing field"
• EU aquaculture offers high
standards of:
• Environmental protection
• Health
• Consumer protection
• Inform consumers (food labels,
information campaigns)
• Exploit niche markets (certification
schemes, organic aquaculture)

13. Multiannual national plans
• Based on Strategic Guidelines and specific
conditions in the Member States
• Define Member States' objectives and the
measures to achieve them
• Should be submitted by end of 2013
• Cover the period 2014-2020
• Consistent with EMFF planning

14. Advisory Council for Aquaculture
• A consultation body
• To bring together all relevant stakeholders
• To provide legitimate, reliable and useful
recommendations to policy-makers

15. Thank you for your attention!