On June 5, the European Commission adopted a European Ocean Pact, a comprehensive strategy to better protect the ocean, promote a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of people living in coastal areas. The pact brings together EU ocean policies under one single reference framework, addressing the significant threats facing the ocean, its coastal communities, islands and outermost regions.
The European Ocean Pact focuses on six priorities: protecting and restoring ocean health; noosting the competitiveness of the EU sustainable blue economy; supporting coastal, island communities and outermost regions; advancing ocean research, knowledge, skills and innovation; enhancing maritime security and defence; and strengthening EU Ocean diplomacy and international ocean governance.
Aquaculture is one of the sectors included in the EU blue economy. To ensure thriving EU fisheries and aquaculture, the Commission will present a long-term vision for these sectors in 2026.
Strategic research and innovation agenda in aquaculture breeding and genetics
With the launch of the EU Ocean Pact, the Farm Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology Platform (FABRE TP) released its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for Aquaculture Breeding and Genetics. Developed through dialogue with experts and inputs from stakeholders, the document outlines shared research and innovation priorities in the sector to support sustainable and competitive aquaculture in Europe.
Bringing aquatic animal genetics to market, particularly for less mainstream species, demands a long timeline and substantial resources, making long-term investments in research essential.
The FABRE TP document has been developed around four interconnected pillars:
- Building resilience and competitiveness
- Engaging in the green transition
- Advancing knowledge and innovation
- Promoting social acceptance and consumer trust
FABRE TP calls for coordinated EU-level action, leveraging instruments like Horizon Europe and the upcoming FP10, and funding mechanisms for long-term research, to also translate science into solutions that are economically profitable for farmers, environmentally sustainable, and socially accepted.
This document also reflects FABRE TP’s continued efforts to bridge the gap between science, the public and private sectors, and policymaking, creating a shared understanding of research needs and opportunities for collaboration.
This initiative complements FABRE TP’s broader mission, including its science-based contributions to update every 3 years Code EFABAR, a voluntary code of good practices for the private sector, supporting responsible and balanced breeding, also in aquaculture.
Nikos Zampoukas, policy officer, Research and innovation for fisheries and aquaculture, DG RTD, EC, said that “this publication provides valuable insights for setting research agendas across Europe.”
Download the agenda in the link below.
