Promotion of sustainable aquaculture activities and the processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products receives 68% of the programme’s funds.
For the fishery and aquaculture industry of Hungary, times have been tough recently. Ponds and rivers are in the midst of the worst drought in a century; production costs of fuel and feed, like elsewhere in Europe, are at record levels; markets are yet to fully recover from the pandemic, and the Russian war against Ukraine is disrupting the industry in many ways.
December saw the organization of the general assembly of the Hungarian Aquaculture and Fisheries Inter-Branch Organization (MA-HAL), at which the industry was urged to carry on, even though 2022 saw some companies’ balance sheets turning red. New technologies are needed, as well as improved marketing systems for value-added growth, and tighter enforcement of rules against excessive and illegal fishing and other activities.
Technology and innovation support is forthcoming from the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences, assembly attendees were informed. At government level, the recent adoption by the EU of the Hungarian Fish Farming Operational Programme Plus, covering the period 2021-2027, will provide needed support and development of the aquaculture sector. Over two thirds of that programme’s funding that comes from the EU is part of a larger package of EU funds for Hungary that is still being negotiated.
