This article was featured in Eurofish Magazine 1 2026.
The mid-term assessment of the implementation of the EU Strategic Guidelines for Aquaculture, published in October 2025, provides a comprehensive review of how the EU’s aquaculture policy framework is being implemented and where further efforts are required.
The sustainable development of aquaculture in the EU is anchored in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The CFP Regulation established both the objective of sustainable aquaculture development and a coordinated policy approach to achieve it. This approach is based on strategic guidelines adopted by the European Commission, Multiannual National Strategic Plans for Aquaculture (MNSPs) developed by Member States in line with those guidelines, and the exchange of good practices facilitated by the Commission. Financial support for aquaculture under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) must also be aligned with the national strategic plans.
The assessment evaluates actions taken by the European Commission, Member States and the Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC), and examines how effectively these actions are contributing to a more resilient, competitive and sustainable aquaculture sector through the implementation of the Strategic Guidelines and the related MNSPs. Prepared by the EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism (AAM), the report reviews progress in implementing recommended actions, assesses how efficiently funding and measures support policy objectives, and analyses financial support at both EU and national level.
Meaningful change is limited despite support
The report confirms that the Commission, both directly and through the AAM, has played a key facilitating role in supporting authorities, industry and stakeholders. At the same time, it underlines that meaningful change on the ground depends on determined and coordinated action by competent national and local authorities. While the assessment finds that important groundwork has been laid, tangible impacts remain limited. Member States have generally aligned their national plans with the EU strategy, with progress in marine spatial planning, partial streamlining of licensing procedures, and increased support for innovation, training and knowledge transfer.
Funding under the EMFAF has been substantial, with around €210 million committed by Member States under shared management between 2021 and 2024. Most resources have been directed towards resilience and diversification (35%) and the green transition (43%). By contrast, investment in animal health and climate adaptation—both essential for long-term sector resilience—has remained comparatively limited.
Structural issues need to be addressed for the sector to grow
The report also notes that the long-standing stagnation of EU aquaculture production has not yet been reversed. Productivity has declined, diversification remains limited in scale, and licensing procedures are still often complex and lengthy. Uptake of renewable energy, circular economy practices and structured climate adaptation strategies has been slow, while low-trophic sectors such as bivalve farming continue to face mounting environmental and climate-related pressures. On a more positive note, animal welfare and social acceptance have gained greater prominence. More than half of Member States have introduced measures to improve the welfare of farmed aquatic animals and launched communication initiatives to strengthen the sector’s social licence to operate. However, the report highlights the need for greater harmonisation and wider implementation of these measures across the EU.
Looking ahead, the assessment concludes that meeting the 2030 objectives will require accelerated streamlining of licensing procedures and local-level spatial planning, the adoption and funding of climate adaptation strategies, increased investment in animal health and welfare, wider uptake of renewable energy and circular economy practices, and stronger dissemination and uptake of Commission and AAM guidance on good practices among authorities and aquaculture producers. The full report and supporting documents are available at https://aquaculture.ec.europa.eu and https://aquaculture.ec.europa.eu/key-documents
Tamas Bardocz, Eurofish,
tamas@eurofish.dk
