EMPA president Addy Risseeuw, left, and Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, vice-president of the European Parliament’s fisheries committee, at the event at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.

Shellfish farmers renew call for recognition by European Union

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The European shellfish sector has called on EU policymakers to recognise molluscs as a cornerstone of sustainable food systems, during a conference at the European Parliament chaired by Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, MEP and vice-president of the fisheries committee.

Organised by the European Molluscs Producers’ Association (EMPA), which includes members from the UK, the event “Food of the Future: the Shellfish Vision for 2040” highlighted how shellfish farming can:

  • Deliver on the European Ocean Pact’s ambitions for healthy, low-impact food production.
  • Strengthen Europe’s food autonomy by producing nutritious protein locally.
  • Support coastal communities and jobs in line with the EU’s blue economy priorities.
  • Provide vital ecosystem services, from improving water quality to enhancing marine biodiversity.

Cleaner seas, healthier food

EMPA president Addy Risseeuw underlined the need for Europe to fully integrate shellfish into the European Commission’s Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture 2040, making them a pillar of climate resilience and sustainable diets.

“Give shellfish producers a chance, and they’ll give Europe cleaner seas, better jobs and healthier food,” said Risseeuw.

Raphaëla le Gouvello, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) expert and founder of IUCN member association RespectOcean, stressed that mollusc farming is not just an industry but can be an ocean-positive activity that is part of the regenerative blue economy, as recently adopted by the IUCN World Conservation Congress this month.

Shellfish aquaculture can produce healthy food with lower carbon emissions.

A panel debate moderated by MEP Yon-Courtin featured contributions from Lorella De la Cruz, head of the aquaculture team at the European Commission’s Maritime Affairs and Fisheries department, Lorenzo Gennari, president of the European Aquaculture Technology & Innovation Platform (EATIP), MEP Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral and MEP Nicolás González Casares.

Strategic role for shellfish

As a conclusion, Yon-Courtin reaffirmed the EU’s responsibility to recognise the strategic role of aquaculture in Europe’s food future.

“Tonight’s debate showed how shellfish farming can be at the heart of Europe’s sustainable and resilient food system and contributes to the development of our coastal regions. The shellfish farming sector, its professionals and all their products must not be left behind: they deserve a rightful place in the EU’s maritime and food policies,” said the MEP.

Last year, EMPA called for the strict implementation of environmental regulations related to wastewater treatments and water management, to help a sector which it said is in crisis.

Support needed

The shellfish farmers also demanded political support for the sector’s development, and for the valorisation and compensation of the ecosystem services such as water filtration provided by the sector.

They highlighted the EU’s strategic guidelines call for the “diversification of EU aquaculture towards non-fed and low-trophic species with a lower environmental footprint”.

“The EU envisions a future where sustainable aquaculture plays a pivotal role in food security, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience,” said Risseeuw at the time.

“Unfortunately, the reality on the ground is very different. Not only the sector is not growing: we are decreasing year after year.”

blue economy sustainable food systems european union european molluscs producers’ association news shellfish farming