Aquaculture in Europe: can it become climate-neutral?
- dr.ir. SWK (Sander) van den Burg
- Senior Researcher Sustainable Blue Economy
A climate-neutral European aquaculture sector by 2050 is possible only if the industries around it also decarbonise. Fish farmers as well as feed producers, transport companies and energy suppliers will all need to reduce their emissions. Sander van den Burg answers five questions about the challenges and opportunities facing net-zero aquaculture.
Why does aquaculture produce greenhouse gas emissions?
“In 2019, when the European Green Deal was launched, the EU aquaculture sector emitted around 2 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent per year. Under the European Climate Law, the EU has committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The aquaculture sector will also need to contribute to this objective.
The largest share of emissions does not come directly from fish farms themselves, but from feed production and energy use. Around 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are linked to feed. Feed often contains wild-caught fish, soybeans or grain, all of which need to be produced and transported.
Shellfish such as mussels and oysters do not require feed, but transport can still have a significant impact. Boats generate emissions, so a large part of aquaculture’s climate footprint is indirect.”
Is climate-neutral aquaculture by 2050 achievable?
“Yes, it is technically achievable, but it will be a major challenge. In our study (see below), we examined what the sector itself can do. There are already many promising examples. The Norwegian platform AquaCloud uses AI to monitor fish health, feeding and water quality. This enables farmers to feed more efficiently and detect diseases more quickly, potentially reducing emissions by around 20 per cent. Alternative feed ingredients such as insect meal, microalgae and single-cell proteins have a much lower carbon footprint than conventional fish feed. Some alternatives generate less than 1 kg CO2-equivalent per kilogram of protein.
Renewable energy also offers enormous potential. Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources could reduce energy-related emissions from aquaculture by more than 95 per cent. We see considerable variation in energy consumption between farms. Mapping where and how energy is used is not a particularly innovative step, but it is an important starting point for action.
However, even with these innovations, climate neutrality will not be possible without changes in other sectors. If agriculture, energy and transport fail to decarbonise, aquaculture will remain dependent on carbon offsetting measures to address its remaining emissions. In addition, aquaculture production is expected to grow, meaning total emissions could increase unless effective measures are implemented.”
What else is needed to reach net zero?
“The entire value chain must change, and this will not happen automatically. Regulation has an important role to play. At present, Europe has strict rules governing which ingredients may be used in fish feed. This can make it difficult to introduce new, more sustainable raw materials or utilise by-products and waste streams.
Consumer choices also matter. One could argue that salmon has a relatively high carbon footprint and that consumers should switch to oysters and mussels instead. However, it is unrealistic to expect a large-scale and immediate shift in consumer behaviour.”
What message would you give to policymakers?
“Policymakers should actively support the sector, both financially and through policy measures, in the transition to low-carbon aquaculture. This includes investing in energy efficiency and digital technologies such as AI and smart feeding systems; accelerating the adoption of renewable energy and cleaner transport; supporting breeding programmes for more efficient and resilient species; providing greater support for non-fed aquaculture; developing clear rules for carbon offsetting; encouraging consumers and markets to choose low-carbon products; and simplifying regulations and permitting procedures to make sustainable investments easier. There are already many examples of innovation, particularly in the development of cleaner vessels.
Our study clearly demonstrates how difficult it will be for the sector to achieve climate neutrality. Strong collaboration between EU Member States, the energy sector, the agricultural sector and the aquaculture industry is essential. We also want to show Europe that caution is needed when setting such ambitious targets, because the aquaculture sector cannot achieve them on its own. Its progress depends heavily on actions taken elsewhere in the value chain.
The greatest opportunities lie in a range of partial solutions that, together, can make a substantial difference. Achieving climate neutrality in aquaculture is a huge challenge, but it is not impossible.”
Sander van den Burg is the lead author of the recently published report EU Aquaculture: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Costs and Pathways to Net Zero by 2050. The report examines how the European aquaculture sector, including fish and shellfish farming, can achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The study was commissioned by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.
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