Development and transfer of innovative and sustainable aquaculture technologies in the South Baltic area

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Aquaculture – the farming of aquatic organisms, such as fish, mussels and algae – has been identified by the European Commission as one of the five Blue Growth sectors with the highest potential for sustainable jobs and growth. However, fish farming is also linked to a number of environmental challenges, including negative impact on water quality from fish effluent or the use of wild fish population as fish feed. Algae and mussel aquaculture can not only provide protein and other high-value compounds for a wide variety of biotechnological applications, but also improve water quality.In the South Baltic region, aquaculture is not a widespread established sector with the exception of Denmark, which has a developed fish-farming sector. To turn the sector into a future core growth sector with positive impacts on the region’s blue and green economy as well as environment, innovative technological developments and integrated systems are needed. Especially closed land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are a promising alternative to traditional aquaculture systems as they allow the cultivation under controlled conditions without affecting the environment. Also there are increasingly innovative and sustainable combinations of RAS with plant production in aquaponic systems and with renewable energy production to be found.In parts of the South Baltic region, there is a high level of know-how and competence with regards to such innovative technologies and combinations. But there is a clear territorial disparity and lack of critical mass for SMEs and start-ups to act on their own within their respective region or country. On this foundation, the idea for the main project is to improve the cross-border development and transfer of innovative and sustainable aquaculture technologies to relevant actors and SMEs in preparation for future production facility establishment, infrastructure and services development.

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