Slovenian fish and shellfish breeding is environmentally sensitive

by Thomas Jensen
Mussel harvesting

High quality marine and freshwater products

This article was featured in Eurofish Magazine 1/2024.

Slovenia is known for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. In addition to freshwater, it has also developed marine aquaculture breeding both fish and shellfish. The total production of marine fish and molluscs in Slovenia amounts to around 600 tonnes per year.

With a length of less than 50 kilometres the ­Slovenian coast is among Europe’s shortest. The territorial sea of Slovenia occupies one third of the Gulf of Trieste in the Adriatic Sea and covers more than 300 square kilometres. In ­Slovenian waters, 90 hectares of land are devoted to the cultivation of marine organisms, of which 77 hectares are for bivalve molluscs. These are cultivated at Debeli rtič, in the Bay of Strunjan and at Seča. Currently, five companies are cultivating mussels in Slovenia.

Depuration ensures safety for human ­consumption

The company Prosub d.o.o. currently rears mussels (and oysters as a trial) in the Sečovlje Nature Park, Strunjan, and Debeli rtič. In addition to investments in breeding lines and work processes, the company has also invested in infrastructure and has established a small bacteriological purification and shipping centre for shellfish, which enables independent sales on the market. Knowing that nature is unpredictable and the product a sensitive live food, all the mussels are bacteriologically purified and shipped under controlled temperature regimes to provide the safest and best quality for the consumer. The company follows the highest European standards, and its production is present in shops across Slovenia, and is also exported to ­Croatia, ­Austria, Romania, ­Hungary, ­Bulgaria among other destinations. Today exports account for two thirds of all sales. Constant efforts to improve production and business processes, and by learning from its experiences the company hopes to compete in the future with other shellfish farmers in Europe and beyond.

Seabass and seabream characterised by quality

Slovenia has one marine facility for fish farming where gilt-head seabream and European seabass are reared. The Fonda fish farm is located in Piran Bay on the southernmost point of the Slovenian sea, and is characterised by clean, deep water and strong sea flow. At the facility, each Piran seabass bears a mark of origin and a guarantee of quality. This kind of marking, introduced as a novelty on the Slovenian market, enables the product to be traced back to the point of origin.

The Fonda Fish Garden, which was established in 2003, is the only Slovenian marine fish farm facility with a specialised approach to the breeding and sale of fish. It is located in the Sečovlje Salina national reserve in an ecologically typical coastal area of the Piran Bay. From the outset, the company’s commitment to quality, sustainability, competitiveness, and animal welfare has been unwavering. With careful management of fish farming, adherence to industry best practices and strict traceability, the company consistently produces high value and tasty products. The Piran seabass and seabream grown by Fonda are sought after both by local chefs and prestigious restaurants. Key factors contributing to this success include careful selection of juveniles, high-quality feed, manual feeding, and slow growth. Moreover, the company eschews the use of toxic products that prevent fouling of the nets. Fonda is also the pioneer of a unique educational tourism programme that has brought the company numerous awards and the prestigious title “Single Experiences of Slovenia”. The programme invites lovers of nature, sea, fish, and food to explore the unspoilt marine environment.

Freshwater aquaculture in Slovenia

Slovenia has abundant water resources which support about 100 active fish farming facilities, where farmers cultivate different species of fish. More than 90 species of fish live in Slovenian rivers and lakes, of which 33 species are permanently protected. Native fish species predominate, which is why Slovenia is also considered an excellent fishing tourist destination. About 1,100 tonnes of freshwater fish are bred annually and about 150 people are active in the freshwater aquaculture sector. Most facilities are engaged in cold-water breeding, a minority in warm-water breeding, a handful uses RAS systems, and one works with aquaponics. Some associations of fishermen are responsible for fisheries management in fishing districts on the basis of the Freshwater Fisheries Act. These bodies are also engaged in the breeding of fish for fishing purposes. Some Slovenian fishing districts are extremely popular among tourists because of their unspoilt nature and the rich fisheries resources, for example the Soča River with the marble trout.

Most enterprises are micro or small enterprises, and for many aquaculture is only a secondary activity. With a few exceptions, all producers sell mostly on the local market. For reasons of economic sustainability, producers often seek added value through processing, offers for tourist, and recreational fishing, among other activities. Currently there are two warm-water fish farming facilities of hot water species and some shellfish production that are officially certified as organic. Most fish farming facilities cultivate fish in classical, streaming concrete raceways, but new closed recirculation technologies are being introduced, where water is re-used several times.

Common Fisheries Policy and opportunities under the EMFAF 2021-2027

The way in which aquatic organisms are typically bred also includes care for the environment and is therefore also supported by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027. Under this programme, EUR10.5m is earmarked for investments in promotion, innovation, processing, and research in aquaculture. The investments are intended to modernise fish farming facilities to make them more climate friendly. The EMFAF allows for diversification and therefore also investments in on-farm activities that are complementary to aquaculture. It supports the transition to organic breeding. A key challenge in cold-water fish-farming establishments will be to ensure an adequate yet ecologically acceptable flow rate: by improving the quality of water (using aerators, nanobubbles, etc.), aquaculture farmers will be better prepared for longer periods of drought caused by climate change. In addition, the construction of new, sustainable, facilities such as closed RAS systems will be promoted in conjunction with investments in energy efficiency, algae-based technologies for wastewater treatment, and biomass production for animal nutrition, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and organic fertilisers. All this will contribute to meeting the objectives of the Circular Economy Action Plan under the European Green Deal. The fund will also support digitalisation and robotisation (e.g. for storage and on-line monitoring). It will also encourage investments in aquaponics, combining agriculture and aquaculture in a closed water circuit, and algae cultivation, in renewable energy sources, and in initiatives that minimise environmental impact. Most aquaculture takes place in small family-owned fish farming facilities, which are often linked to agricultural or other activities. Such enterprises will have simplified access to funding, for example, without having to submit a business plan, and are encouraged to introduce technological solutions to make better use of natural resources, improve their own products, and sell directly to the final consumer. These fish farming facilities have a lower production intensity, but at the local level they constitute an important source of good quality food. Through simplifications of this kind the EMFAF will contribute to a clearer, less onerous, more transparent, and more flexible administrative framework, which are also among the key priorities of the Strategic Guidelines for EU Aquaculture.

Fish farmers rear a ­variety of species

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As a rule, freshwater aquaculture requires water from a natural source and, when breeding in classic raceways, the water should be flowing. The Goričar aquaculture company is the largest fish farm facility for freshwater fish farming in Slovenia, producing rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, huchen (Danube salmon), Siberian sturgeon and African catfish from eggs. The company also has its own fish processing facility, where the fish is cleaned, filleted, as well as warm- and cold-smoked. Delicacies, such as various fish spreads, are also produced at the facility. In the future the company intends to add ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat fish dishes to its product portfolio. Another planned activity is to offer training programmes with expert tours of the fish farm to show the whole process of breeding—from eggs to market-sized fish. The tours will conclude with fish and fish-product tasting.

In semi-closed and closed recirculation systems, water is reused several times by pumping it through filters and aeration systems, thereby reducing water consumption. The load of waste material on watercourses is also lower with this form of production. There are currently three companies in Slovenia that have RAS systems. Recirculation systems represent a new way of intensively rearing fish, where water enrichment with oxygen, wastewater treatment, and water reuse allow for increased intensity of cultivation. Traditional fish farming using raceways can be upgraded with different recirculation systems by adapting them to the needs of each existing farm or designing a new system based on individual selected components. From an economic point of view, the use of RAS brings a number of advantages, although there are higher investment and operating costs. Compared to flow-through farms RAS support a significantly higher density of fish depending on the species and size of the fish.

The company Silurus d.o.o. decided to invest in the construction of a recirculation system for the cultivation of African catfish, which is a high quality and relatively uncomplicated fish to raise. The company saw a future in local food production and breeding, especially when based on environmentally friendly breeding principles. The company believes strongly in the highest possible self-sufficiency and sees locally produced food as one way of achieving this, so they are very proud of the investment. The investment was realised with the help of funds from the European Union, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020 (EMFF), and from the Republic of Slovenia. The facility consumes very small amounts of water and is relatively highly digitised, both in terms of operations and in the monitoring and analysis of various production parameters. 

Marketing channels for local aquaculture products

Local production and short value chains in Slovenia enable a wide range of products on the market (eggs, juveniles, adult fish). At many small fish breeding plants, which are generally located close to consumers, one can choose between different types of freshwater fish. In addition to fresh fish and fillets, many fish farming facilities also offer hot- and cold-smoked fish, minced fish meat, and caviar, among other products. Local production has the added advantage of being very fresh and is of high quality, so consumers can safely make the most of the well documented benefits of fish consumption. Smaller fish farms mainly sell fish on the local market, while larger ones also sell to wholesalers and to other EU countries The most important species by volume are rainbow trout and brown trout, both of which are known for their taste and nutritional value. Most Slovenian fish farming facilities cultivate trout from juveniles to market size. Fry are purchased from specialised fish farmers who maintain broodstock for egg production.

In Slovenian fish farming facilities, fish farmers also grow other species of fish, including marble trout, brook trout, huchen, grayling, and African catfish. Carp is also popular in Slovenia, and is prepared in many different ways. It is considered the most important farmed fish in warm, lowland ponds, where it is grown in polyculture with other species including pike, a favourite among sports fishers.

Challenges and ­opportunities of ­Slovenian fish farming facilities

While Slovenia has no shortage of fish farming facilities that provide a fresh, local supply of different species of high quality fish, fish consumption per capita stands at about 11 kilograms per capita per year in contrast to the EU average of 24 kg. Nutrition experts suggest that a healthy diet should include a higher proportion of fish and a lower share of meat products. Production from the domestic aquaculture industry can meet any increase in per capita fish consumption in an environmentally friendly way. Aquaculture also offers undiscovered opportunities for tourism development. Fish farming facilities can attract tourists who want to learn about traditional fishing methods and taste local fish. One of the tourist attractions is commercial ponds or the possibility of preparing fish at the fish farm facility itself. Another possibility is to stock ponds with fish that are dedicated to anglers and sports fishers. Organising sport fishing competitions could help diversifying income sources. In other parts of Europe fish farmers offer bird and animal watching, overnight stays, restaurants, and even hunting. Tourism contributes to the local economy and preserve
cultural heritage.

New technologies could help mitigate the impact of climate change

Slovenian aquaculture has a lot of potential for growth. There is a particular opportunity for organic farming in warm water facilities. Today, Slovenian fish farming is based primarily on flow-through fish farming systems. Output from such farms depends on the quantity of permitted water abstraction from the watercourse. The primary objective of Slovenian aquaculture is to fulfil domestic demand for fish. This is becoming difficult to accommodate due to increasingly stringent environmental measures, frequent periods of drought or exceptional flooding, and the use of traditional flow-through breeding systems of limited capacity. Aquaculture farmers are forced to look for new technologies and to make improvements to existing facilities to achieve greater production capacity.

In addition to the fact that Slovenian fish farming facilities provide quality and tasty fish, they also play an important role in the conservation of natural resources. It is therefore important that consumers support local aquaculture and choose fish that are produced in a sustainable way. To this end, a campaign to raise public awareness of the benefits of consuming local fish and shellfish is being carried out with the help of European funds (EMFF and EMFAF).

Borut Kosi
Fisheries Division, Food and ­Fisheries Directorate
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food
Dunajska cesta 22
SI–1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

+386 1 478 93 70
borut.kosi51@gov.si
www.mkgp.gov.si

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