To boost the development of EU aquaculture, the European Commission has issued strategic guidelines, thereby cooperating with Member-States and stakeholders in overcoming the challenges facing the sector.
The EU aquaculture sector has a significant growth potential and can help to spare over-exploited sea resources. The Guidelines presented on Monday will help coordinate efforts across all Member-States, the European Commission said in a statement.
They do not create new legal obligations, but present a series of voluntary steps that Member-States, the Commission, and stakeholders can take to promote an industry that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and provides consumers with healthy, high-quality seafood.
"Today, obtaining a license for a new farm can take up to three years, which obviously deters investors" said European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs & 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," he added.
The guidelines address the challenges facing the aquaculture sector and identify a mix of measures like administrative simplification, spatial planning, market organization, diversification, better labeling and information, to help market forces unlock the potential of the EU aquaculture sector.
The Commission will coordinate an exercise in identifying best practices to reduce licensing times to start new aquaculture businesses.
The Commission is promoting an integrated approach to spatial planning that will help guaranteeing fish farmers proper access to space and water while minimizing impact on the environment and on other economic activities.
European aquaculture offers top-quality products which comply with the highest standards for consumer health, environment protection and animal welfare. This carries cost implications for producers, but proper information on the products' quality, such as labeling, can turn it into a competitive advantage and improve consumers' perception.
The strategic guidelines are linked to the proposed reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) which aims to promote aquaculture through a so-called 'open method of coordination.' On the basis of these guidelines, EU Member-States will prepare their multi annual national strategic plans, taking into consideration each country's specific starting conditions, challenges and potential.
The Commission said it would help coordinating activities and exchanging best practices and in providing further guidance on how to reconcile, in practice, economic activities with EU legislation.
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