This September, Valencia will become the center of global aquaculture as it welcomes a record-breaking 2,500 delegates for Aquaculture Europe 2025 (AE2025). From September 22–25, the congress will bring together researchers, businesses, policymakers, and consumers from over 70 countries, promising to be the most ambitious edition to date. This strong international presence underscores the congress’s growing global reputation and reflects the enthusiastic response from both academia and industry. With over 600 scientific presentations scheduled across 36 parallel sessions the event will cover a wide range of themes, including reproductive biotechnology, digital innovation in production systems, aquaculture operations, market economics, animal welfare, and the environmental footprint of aquaculture.
The exhibition space is nearly full, hosting 170 companies, including a strong Spanish presence under a dedicated national pavilion.
A highlight of AE2025 will be the plenary lectures by internationally renowned experts. On September 23rd, Dr. Carlos M. Duarte will open with insights on regenerative aquaculture and its essential role in safeguarding planetary health. The following day, Dr. Elisabetta Giuffra will present a new European initiative and discuss the value of functional genome annotation for genome sequences of terrestrial and aquatic domesticated animal species. On the last day of the congress, consumer expert Joan Riera will discuss changing seafood consumption patterns in Europe, highlighting Spain’s unique position. Beyond the scientific program, AE2025 will foster exchange between academia and industry through the Industry Forum, the Innovation Forum, and a special FAO workshop on sustainable aquaculture guidelines. Parallel events will explore gender equality, consumer perceptions, policy frameworks and more, providing networking opportunities and ensuring a holistic view of the sector’s challenges and opportunities. The congress also integrates ThinkInAzul, the Next Generation Marine Science programme, with contributions from six Spanish regions presenting a portfolio of practical policy-focused solutions for the aquaculture industry. This initiative exemplifies AE2025’s guiding theme, “Science for Policy,” providing actionable proposals for decision-makers. Delegates will also have the chance to join technical tours showcasing Spain’s leadership in aquaculture innovation. One excursion includes a visit to the IATS-CSIC research facility and AVRAMAR’s Castellón processing plant, while another will take participants offshore near Alicante to see AVRAMAR’s advanced fish farms and the cutting-edge Alicante Aquaculture facility for amberjack production. Participants can look forward to four useful and informative days.