Seagriculture Conference’s Post

Celebrating World Fisheries Day: The Role of Youth in Shaping a Sustainable Future Today, on World Fisheries Day, we reflect on the vital role fisheries and aquaculture play in ensuring food security, livelihoods, and sustainable ecosystems. This year, our CEO, Elizabeth Okullow, shared a powerful message on the role of youth in building a sustainable future for aquaculture during the Youth in Aquaculture Conference. Elizabeth highlighted: 🌊 Empowering Youth Participation Youth are not just the future of aquaculture—they are the present. Their innovative ideas, energy, and drive are essential to advancing sustainable practices and addressing challenges like climate change and resource depletion. 💡 Driving Innovation and Technology From water quality monitoring to sustainable feeds, youth are at the forefront of integrating new technologies into aquaculture. By embracing innovation, they are transforming traditional practices into efficient, climate-resilient systems. 🤝 Fostering Collaboration Building a thriving aquaculture industry requires partnerships between young leaders, industry experts, and policymakers. Elizabeth emphasized the need for mentorship, access to resources, and platforms that connect youth with key stakeholders. 🌍 Creating Impact Through their contributions, young people are ensuring a sustainable supply of fish while protecting our ecosystems. They are rewriting the narrative of aquaculture, making it more inclusive, innovative, and impactful. As Elizabeth shared in her keynote, "Imagine a world where fish are abundant, ecosystems are thriving, and communities are prospering. This isn’t a distant dream—it’s a future within our grasp, led by the energy and creativity of youth." On this special day, we celebrate the contributions of young aquaculture leaders and reaffirm our commitment to empowering them to shape a better tomorrow. Happy World Fisheries Day! 🌊🐟 Buumba HAMPUWO Mandela Washington Fellowship IREX OceanHub Africa BFA Global EMMIE: Erasmus Mundus Master in Impact Entrepreneurship PepsiCo Foundation Zagreb School of Economics and Management Shamaine Mhondiwa Douglas Otieno Geofrey Alila Peres Mikoma Jackline Cherotich Hansen Ezangala Nicholas Outa Erick Ogello (PhD) Mercy Chepkirui JOHN OSEKO Audrey Nyambura SWABRINE ALUOCH Mbalanya Macrae Duncan Omete Metrine Opiyo #WorldFisheriesDay #YouthInAquaculture #SustainableFisheries #LINC2024 #InnovationInAquaculture #Champions #FutureOfFisheries

Permanent Aquaponic Systems: A Symbiotic Harmony 🐟 🌱 In Aquaponic Systems the plants provide a healthy environment for aquatic organisms, while the aquatic organisms, in turn, offer nutrients that benefit the plants. And that’s a great self-sustaining system, we know. But the real magic happens when we consider the role of bees. 🐝 ⛳ Until now we have set as main goal how much food we can collect by catching the fishes and harvesting the plants directly from this system but…should we ? An Aquaponic System could be made permanent, where the focus is on sustainability rather than immediate consumption. Instead of traditional fish and harvested plants, this concept revolves around species that benefit the environment and support other agricultural endeavours. 🪻So, enough of lettuce, and try to switch to the Melliferous Quartet:  lavender, thyme, mint and rosemary. These plants are known for their melliferous qualities, attracting bees and other pollinators.  So what is missing to our system to be perfect it's a beehive next the pool. This permanent system not only contributes to biodiversity, but also supports honey production and guarantee that each single flower of our trees and vegetables will be pollinated. So we’ll get fruits and seeds, just a little later. 🍎 In conclusion, permanent aquaponic systems that utilise melliferous plants and aquatic organisms offer a promising approach to sustainable agriculture. By focusing on the long-term health of the ecosystem and supporting beneficial species, these systems can contribute to a more resilient and environmentally friendly future. 💫 #aquaponics #aquaculture #circularity #EUresearch #awareponics #bees #pollination European Research Executive Agency (REA) INNOVA - Technology Transfer and Valorisation Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Universidade Católica Portuguesa Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research CSIC Luiss Guido Carli University LabGov ETS European Aquaculture Society Green in Blue Ulster University AIGUANATURA DELS PORTS SL Università del Salento Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) 3C Engineering Universidade do Porto International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Autorità Idrica Pugliese Universidad Católica del Maule

Excited to share a new article by Casper Friederich, Koen Frenken and me in Progress in Economic Geography on 'growing pains' in Norwegian aquaculture! In the article, we consider adverse effects during the upscaling of (allegedly) sustainable innovations as an integral and co-constitutive part of transitions. Particularly in the bioeconomy, upscaling innovations can generate unintended environmental consequences. We look at Norwegian salmon farming, which has recently faced stagnating growth despite ambitious policy targets, with the parasitic sea lice as a primary cause. The upscaling of innovations to prevent and treat sea lice have had adverse effects on ecology and fish welfare. We perform a Constructive Technology Assessment involving diverse stakeholders in a Multi-Criteria Mapping exercise to explore the viability, opportunities, and risks of different innovations that cope with sea lice in Norwegian aquaculture. We find that this method is well-suited to identify diverse anticipatory views on possible solutions to the sea lice problem, allowing decision-makers to consider more democratic, holistic, and sustainable pathways to upscale the bioeconomy. https://lnkd.in/e6jDg_RK

AWARE Leaders #7 Meet Marta Lopez Cabo: A Champion of Sustainable Aquaculture 🪪 Marta Lopez Cabo, a seasoned researcher at the Marine Research Institute in Spain (CSIC), is at the forefront of the AWARE project, aimed at revolutionising the aquaculture industry. With deep expertise in food microbiology and safety, particularly in the context of fish products, Marta ensures the safety and quality of the produce generated by a novel aquaponic system. Marta's involvement in the AWARE project is driven by her passion for sustainable practices and her belief in the potential of aquaponics to address issues like climate change and food security.  🔬 As the leader of the work packet dedicated to food safety and quality, Marta is playing a pivotal role in ensuring that the products from the aquaponic system meet the highest standards. Her work is not only about guaranteeing safety but also about ensuring that the produce is of exceptional quality, ready to be enjoyed by consumers. 🌿Looking ahead, Marta envisions a future where the aquaponic system becomes a widely adopted model for sustainable aquaculture. She hopes to demonstrate the efficiency and viability of this approach, paving the way for its implementation in various locations around the world. By fostering a more sustainable and responsible approach to food production, Marta's work is contributing to a brighter future for both people and the planet. #AWAREProject #SustainableAquaponics #InnovativeResearch #Aquaculture #FishFeeds #CircularEconomy #SustainabilityInAction European Research Executive Agency (REA) INNOVA - Technology Transfer and Valorisation Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Universidade Católica Portuguesa Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research CSIC Luiss Guido Carli University LabGov ETS European Aquaculture Society Green in Blue Ulster University AIGUANATURA DELS PORTS SL Università del Salento Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) 3CENGINEERING SRL SEMPLIFICATA Universidade do Porto

The 2024 groundfish survey conducted by Iceland's Marine Research Institute provides critical insights into the state of the country's marine ecosystems and the health of key fish stocks. Here are the main highlights and implications of the report: ### Key Findings: - **Cod Stocks (Gadus morhua):** - The biomass index for cod remains stable and above the long-term average from 1996 to 2024. This stability comes after a period of decline observed between 2018 and 2021. - **Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus):** - The haddock population continues to thrive, benefiting from strong recruitment in recent years. This suggests a potentially favorable environment for haddock spawning and survival. ### Ecosystem and Diet Observations: - **Cod Dietary Shifts:** - Cod smaller than 85 cm have reduced their consumption of capelin and shrimp over the last decade. - Larger cod have shifted to preying more on other fish, such as herring and blue whiting. - **Haddock Diet:** - Haddock are predominantly feeding on benthic creatures, including brittle stars and bivalves, indicating their reliance on benthic habitats. ### Methodology: - The survey spanned 371 sampling stations across Iceland's continental shelf and its deeper waters. - A standardized bottom trawl method was deployed, involving both research vessels and commercial trawlers, ensuring wide-ranging data collection across various species. ### Implications for Fisheries Management: - The survey’s findings highlight the continuous challenges in sustainably managing Iceland's marine resources. - There is a need for adaptive management strategies to maintain ecosystem balance while supporting the economic interests of the fishing industry. - Icelandic marine authorities are moving towards further analyses and consultations with stakeholders to refine conservation and management efforts, focusing on preserving marine biodiversity and the fishing sector's economic viability. Through continued research and adaptive management, Iceland aims to address ecosystem changes and ensure the long-term health of its marine environments. This approach will help in crafting policies that are responsive to ecological dynamics and supportive of sustainable fisheries.

𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗟 𝗙𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗦 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 This groundbreaking study reveals the surprising benefits of seaweed and mussel aquaculture farms on their local ecosystems. Rather than depleting resources, these farms contribute positively by offering nourishment, shelter, and sanctuary for various wild species to thrive and reproduce. Remarkably, the research demonstrates that these farms can support even greater biodiversity than the natural habitats around them, with one farm boasting nearly triple the number of fish species. While further investigation is necessary, this presents a hopeful indication that human activities, like oceanic food harvesting, can be conducted sustainably with minimal environmental harm. It's an optimistic glimpse into a promising future! Read more: https://lnkd.in/eEUT3Tai

We're thrilled to share highlights from the ULTFARMS poster presentation at the UN Ocean Decade gathering happened last April in #Barcelona, brilliantly showcased by our colleagues loretta cornacchia and Jana Lim from Deltares. This work, in collaboration with @EditoModelLab , focuses on the significant potential for #shellfish #aquaculture within #offshorewindfarms in the #NorthSea. 🌊 Poster Title: Shellfish Aquaculture in the North Sea: Production Potential and Impacts on Carbon Cycle 🔍 The poster offered a deep dive into habitat suitability for #aquaculture and analyses the potential effects on #carboncycling, underlining the dual benefits of #sustainableaquaculture and #environmentalstewardship. This initiative not only highlights the possibilities for increasing mussel production but also emphasizes the broader ecological impacts, contributing to a sustainable ocean economy. #OceanDecade #SustainableAquaculture #OffshoreWindFarms #MarineResearch #Deltares #ULTFARMS #EditoModelLab #UNOceanDecade #AquacultureInnovation OLAMUR EUROFISH S.A. FEDERATION EUROPEENNE DES PRODUCTEURS AQUACOLES - FEDERATION OF THE EUROPEAN AQUACULTURE PRODUCERS EATIP

Danajon Bank is common property of the Philippines’ people, consigned to jurisdiction by at least 17 separate Local Government Units. Natural resources of the Danajon Bank commons have been devastated over the past 80 years by destructive actions and over-exploitation to the point where the region is no longer economically self-sufficient in marine ecosystem services. Even supposedly “sustainable” economic activities such as the once-prolific seaweed farming had failed value chains by 2021. The Danajon Bank situation is an environmental calamity of exhausted fisheries caused by exploitation of common-property resources without regard for long-term consequences to present and future generations. Enterprise ecology solutions apply arts, sciences and technologies that influence, manage and control biosphere ecosystem services valorized through fair ecoeconomic market systems. This is how we can partner with fisherfolk, seaweed farmers and other aquaculturists to build sustainable enterprises along sustainable seashores. Please join us by collaborating toward tragedy solutions. See www.seakitshub.com #EnterpriseEcology #Philippines #commons #AgroEcology #BlueOcean #biodiversity #EcosystemServices #phyconomy #seaweedfarming #seashores

#Funding - The European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (#EMFAF) call for proposals to advance a sustainable blue economy in Europe is now open! 📅 #CallOpen until 18th February 2025 💰 € 5.7 million are available for flagships projects in EU sea basins on two different topics: 🔹 Smart specialisation in the sustainable #BlueEconomy to support the Smart Specialisation Thematic Platform in this sector. 🔹 Regenerative #OceanFarming and #algae innovation. This topic aims to prove the feasibility of setting up and operating ocean farms in various EU marine regions. Projects should also promote algae innovation by developing new algae-based products and services. More info: https://loom.ly/PhsUe9M EU Funds

Last week was Aquaculture Week in Australia: We had a great time at the Aqua Farm conference in Surfers Paradise, discussing our perspective on the "Future of Aquaculture" with international industry leaders. It was inspiring to see the enthusiasm in this sector (and meeting great people and learning from some really interesting talks).  At the same time, in Sydney, there was a great opportunity to get an update on the opportunities in this area with the Ocean Impact Organisation, Blue Economy CRC and especially with Australia's most innovative Aquaculture business Aquacultr as part of the Climate Action Week Sydney. It's evident that future technology developments in this field hold immense potential, and we firmly believe it will serve as a pivotal technology platform for food manufacturing in the (not so far) future. The time has come to shine a spotlight on Aquaculture in Australia and to recognise that this is a growth opportunity for our economy that is highly undervalued at the moment. We are excited to be at the forefront of this development (and we are glad that we are not entirely alone). #Aquaculture #FutureOfFood #Innovation #Australia #futureofseafood Jose Manuel Fernandez Polanco, Roy Palmer, Lourdes Gant 🦋, Geoffrey Bell, Nick Chiarelli, Elisa-Marie Dumas, Mathew Goddard