aquaculture It is the activity for which you are responsible fish and algae farming in both freshwater and saltwater. Today, according to the official figures of the relevant ministry, approximately 0.02% of National Gross Value Added (GVA) and 0.55% of Agricultural GVA, which includes agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and aquaculture.
Spain It is a member country of the European Union largest aquaculture harvest23% of the total. economy blue provides employment to 95.4 million people in Europe and gross value added 500,000 million euros per year.
under the hood Aquaculture is the engine of conservation and socioeconomic development in SpainSponsored by El Periódico de España, Ibérica Prensa Group Spanish Aquaculture Cooperation (Apromar), He held a meeting of experts in Madrid to analyze, among other things, the following issues: economic, social and environmental impact overcoming the challenges the industry has and will face in the future.
Javier Ojedamanager To approve, assured 60% of all seafood What is available to the public in the worldor I come from farms” and pointed out that this figure is in Spain. about 25%. He acknowledged that there was little information about the activities carried out by the sector: “Like the Fish Farm, although it is old, it is community run, but We have difficulty recognizing ourselves (as an industry) because we are not very visible. “Our facilities are located in the middle of the sea or in a valley in the mountains and are not close to big towns,” Ojeda said: “Spain is one of the places where the most fish is eaten in Europe” “Even in the world,” he said, adding that this consumption is one of the reasons why aquaculture has such potential. Historical, cultural and gastronomic consumption of fish made it easier for our pioneers to get started in the aquaculture industry because they knew there was a market“, he added. But it wasn’t until forty years ago that this activity “began to emerge.” innovate until we get to what we know today,” Ojeda explained.
Lorenzo Maynardfinancial director of a company specializing in continental aquaculture Cultivation of aquatic species accepted in Spain”better known locally” and above all in the places where some of these facilities are located. “What people don’t know is what’s behind it, How to work in the aquaculture sector in Spain? Many people feel a certain rejection of this activity because ignorance“added.
Aurelio Ortega, member of Spanish Committee of Scientific Experts on Aquaculture (CEAE) and Fisheries Regional President Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), In this sense he agreed with Maynard, but now “the traceability andIt is easy for the consumer to know whether what they are eating is from aquaculture or extractive fishing.” The expert assured that it still exists. Many myths related to aquaculture activities, but he was convinced that “The situation is changing and evolvingand such problems are being improved.”
Eduardo SolerResponsible for Sustainability in a company seafood farming announced in spain difference between two types of aquaculture There is. During continental He explained that it works “with fresh water”, Sea It takes place in “sea water”. The expert also explained that the processes “take a long time and require a lot of effort.” He also stated that they were “of course.” severe weather conditions, market and supply changes This forces us to constantly check the entire system to ensure that the crop in two years’ time has the conditions it should have.
Carola González Kessler, Deputy General Manager of Aquaculture, Fisheries Marketing and Structural Actions Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, He said: “Aquaculture It contributes very positively to the social development of rural areas in coastal and inland areas, with the launch of new initiatives, business diversification projects, Environmental services for the protection of the environment or Creating employment opportunities for youth and women“.
environmental sustainability
Javier Ojeda explained that one of the advantages of aquaculture operations is that it “produces more with less.” “With very few natural resources We produce too much food high quality and very nutritious“This is the most important thing,” he added. The Apromar manager analyzed some aspects. Advantages offered by aquaculture activities. Among them, these crops occupy a place, he said. very limited physical space and this carbon footprint they produce “too small.”
Lorenzo Maynard stated: energy used by aquaculture facilities”It is very small and does not require large consumption. efficient design and its characteristics.” In addition, “Aquaculture facilities very respectful to him environment and the sector is constantly Investing in R&D to improve its effect.
Eduardo Soler said: consequences of climate change As another issue that concerns the sector. The expert said that aquaculture activity is “the most important A safe alternative to solve the global sustainability problem“.
Carola González stated that according to available studies: aquaculture has a low carbon footprint and that this activity “has the potential to contribute to the achievement of the objectives” European Green Deal (Green Deal) referring to reducing carbon emissions And Transition to more sustainable food systems“.
challenges
Javier Ojeda explains that one of the main challenges the industry is currently facing is administrative bureaucracy. Procedures “come a level of excess that does not contribute and makes life nearly impossible for companies,” the executive said. Ojeda also noted that aquaculture “is a “It is a healthy and competent sector that needs to grow.”But he admits that “getting permission to build a new facility practically in spain it’s impossible today“. “It shouldn’t require four or five years of work,” he warned.
Lorenzo Maynard noted that some: Aquaculture targets for future periods these growth and innovation to comply with “increasingly challenging legislation.” Maynard explained that companies dedicated to this activity start from “facilities that are fifty or sixty years old, requiring specific expertise.” investment effort very important”.
Therefore, the current challenges “Regulatory requirements and the economic sustainability of the company financing, needs to be increasingly larger to adapt productions to specific conditions modern amenities something that allows for profitable aquaculture.” “It’s a Investment challenge in technology and digitalization“It was stressful.
The executive said his company is clear that the key to success in the aquaculture world is to “deliver an approach.” very high quality product This is comparable to, or even better than, any product you might find at a fishmonger’s.” “This can only be achieved invest a lot of money and do research “In all kinds of fields,” he added.
Eduardo Soler agreed with the idea of bringing it to the sector “more operational” not only in the administrative field, but also Supply Management so they “increasingly optimal, more sustainable and more convenient to the physiology of fish.” “We need to go one step further and have alternative raw materials “This compensates for the extraction of existing raw materials,” he said.
Soler added that aquaculture is also important, “technological innovation challenge“: “Aquaculture produces huge amounts of data, is stored and therefore we needWe develop databases This allows us to manage all this information and process it well.
Aurelio Ortega drew attention advantages artificial intelligence can contribute to efficiency Aquaculture techniques. He emphasized that “it is vital for companies to become increasingly profitable and improve their sustainability in their daily lives.”
Carola González emphasized that “aquaculture, like fishing, contributes to generations.” sustainable food systems Yet food safetyprovide food very nutritious, high quality protein and a natural source of omega 3“. The ministry representative emphasized: The value of aquaculture in creating employment in Spain, Where more than 11,000 direct jobs are linked to their farms.