The European Commission in a new effort to encourage more investment in aquaculture among its member states, announced this week it was issuing a new set of voluntary strategic aquaculture guidelines, according to a release.
The guidelines, according to the EU, are designed to help coordinate sustainable aquaculture efforts across member states, but they are not legally binding obligations.
The new guidelines follow the revamping of the Common Fisheries Policy, which is under negotiation among member states fisheries ministers after a recent parliamentary vote to accept the redesigned policy. In that policy, aquaculture was highlighted as a viable alternative to overfished stocks.
“Today, obtaining a license for a new farm can take up to three years, which obviously deters investors,” said European Commissioner for Maritime Affaires and Fisheries Maria Damanaki. "I want to work with member states to cut red tape and help the competitiveness of this sector building upon the high level of consumer and environmental protection we currently have."
Along with cutting red tape, the commission noted seafood farmers also need access to space and water, a requirement to increase the sector's competitiveness and a need to level the playing field by exploiting the competitive edge of "made-in-the-EU" fish products.
