PRESS – FEAP The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:09:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2018/06/logo-feap-e1529574159138-32x32.png PRESS – FEAP 32 32 The Ocean Board must deliver solutions, not more regulatory burden: EU aquaculture needs a real turning point /2026/04/08/the-ocean-board-must-deliver-solutions-not-more-regulatory-burden-eu-aquaculture-needs-a-real-turning-point/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:09:32 +0000 /?p=10933 Brussels, 8-April 2026.- Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the European Ocean Board in Brussels on March 31st, the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) called for a fundamental shift in how the EU supports aquaculture. While welcoming the Board as a new high-level platform, FEAP stressed that European fish farming has made little quantitative progress since 2000, and that the Ocean Pact will only succeed if it tackles the root causes of stagnation.

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]]> European aquaculture sector calls for regulatory precision in EU plastics directive /2026/04/07/european-aquaculture-sector-calls-for-regulatory-precision-in-eu-plastics-directive/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:56:13 +0000 /?p=10907

Brussels. The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) has issued a formal statement responding to the European Commission’s call for evidence on the Directive on the reduction of the environmental impact of certain plastic products (SUPD). While fully supporting the Directive’s environmental ambitions, FEAP warns that unclear terminology, inconsistent implementation, and a failure to distinguish aquaculture from capture fisheries risk undermining its effectiveness and placing disproportionate burdens on fish farmers.

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]]> FEAP welcomes Vision 2040 but warns that bold action, not only simplification, is needed to save EU aquaculture /2026/03/31/feap-welcomes-vision-2040-but-warns-that-bold-action-not-only-simplification-is-needed-to-save-eu-aquaculture/ Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:33:28 +0000 /?p=10895

The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) has provided its official response to the European Commission’s Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture, endorsing the initiative as a timely and essential opportunity to reverse decades of stagnation in EU finfish farming, while warning that the Vision will fail unless it confronts the root causes of the sector’s decline. FEAP sets out five core elements the Vision must include: a clear definition of a desired future state, a binding EU aquaculture production target for finfish by 2040, a genuine analysis of fundamental challenges, principles for cross-administrative coordination, and a high-level policy implementation pathway with performance indicators.

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]]> Our 2025 Annual Report is out! /2025/12/18/2025-annual-report-is-out/ Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:39:21 +0000 /?p=10680 As 2025 draws to an end, FEAP is proud to release and share its 2025 Annual Report which will drive you through the highlights of our Federation’s life, events and projects.

This year has again been rich in landmark moments, achievements, innovative actions and emotions.
With this report, you will explore how we have once again continuously defended our dedication towards European fish farmers, how we took action to promote generational renewal and the work of young fish farmers and aquaculture professionals, how FEAP successfully teamed up with other European partners in initiatives and projects to push forward the resilience and development of European aquaculture… and so much more.

]]> FEAP NextGen Deep Dive 2: calling our next generation of applicants! /2025/12/08/feapnextgen-deep-dive-2-calling-our-next-generation-of-applicants/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 15:57:45 +0000 /?p=10581 FEAP is opening its second call for young aquaculture and fish farming professionals across Europe to join a two-day training in Brussels on March 17th and 18th, 2026.

With this new training opportunity, FEAP wants to help young professionals better understand the role of EU-level institutions, lobbies, networks, but also how to have a transformative impact on the future of fish farming in Europe, from farm to associations.

Who is it for? Fish farmers and aquaculture professionals under 45, eager to learn about Brussels institutions, ready to exchange in English. 10 participants will be selected to attend the training.

What will you get out of this training? This training will bring you the opportunity to join a community of knowledge, connect across Europe with like-minded professionals of all ages and horizons, help you in your career, open opportunities for your professional development and benefit the whole fish farming sector in the long run.

The program will include:
Visits and meetings with representatives of institutions and the ecosystem of aquaculture stakeholders on the Brussels scene, workshops with invited experts from the EU aquaculture sphere, group work, informal networking sessions and much more!

Expenses covered by FEAP:
• two nights’ accommodation in Brussels
• travels to Brussels and public transportation
• dinner in Brussels on 17th, lunch on the 18th.

How to apply: follow this link for the complete guidelines and application form !
We’re looking forward to receiving your application!

]]> FEAP and EUSeA met EU Commissioner Costas Kadis to call for a Blue Food Action Plan /2025/12/04/feap-and-eusea-met-eu-commissioner-costas-kadis-to-call-for-a-blue-food-action-plan/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:11:53 +0000 /?p=10618 On 1 December, the EU Seafood Alliance partners – FEAP, Europêche, EAPO and Seafood Europe – met with Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans , to call for an ambitious EU Blue Food Action Plan that would boost the production and consumption of aquatic foods across Europe.

With the Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture now included in the Commission’s 2026 Work Programme, stakeholders are urging that blue foods be fully integrated into this Vision. The proposal has already received strong backing from the European Economic and Social Committee, Members of the European Parliament, and several Advisory Councils.

For FEAP, this initiative is particularly important: a future Blue Food Action Plan would help strengthen Europe’s food security, highlight the nutritional and environmental value of farmed fish, and promote aquaculture as a strategic food-producing sector in the EU’s future policies.

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]]> First FEAP-Laschinger NextGen Award delivered /2025/12/04/first-feap-laschinger-nextgen-award-delivered-in-munich/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:11:17 +0000 /?p=10543 The FEAP-Laschinger NextGen Award recognises exceptional entrepreneurship, business leadership, and innovation among young professionals in European aquaculture. Established jointly with Mr. Rudolf Laschinger, the award celebrates individuals who demonstrate initiative, resilience, and dedication to advancing aquaculture production.

In 2025, this first edition awarded Mr Josef Stier’s, a young aquaculture producer who developed a modern indoor fish farm in Bärnau, Germany. His innovative, holistic production concept is a prime example of sustainable and responsible food production and deserves recognition through the FEAP–Laschinger NextGen Award.

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Bernhard Feneis, VDBA President – Josef Stier, 2025 NextGen Award

Lara Barazi, FEAP President – Josef Stier, 2025 NextGen Award – Lauri Laschinger – Ulrike Müller

 

]]> FEAP calls for accurate seafood labelling to protect consumer trust and European aquaculture /2025/11/03/feap-calls-for-accurate-seafood-labelling-to-protect-consumer-trust-and-european-aquaculture/ Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:11:47 +0000 /?p=10479 The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) draws attention to a growing concern in international seafood markets regarding the mislabelling of fish species, particularly the use of the generic term seabass for products that are not European seabass but seek to benefit from the latter’s established reputation and market value. Recent market observations (see picture) have revealed that barramundi (Lates calcarifer), a fish species captured and farmed in the Indo-Pacific region, is often marketed simply as seabass in several Asian and Middle East countries. Read more

]]> EBCD and the EU Seafood Alliance engage with Commissioner Fitto’s Cabinet on the need for an EU Blue Foods Action Plan /2025/10/23/ebcd-and-the-eu-seafood-alliance-engage-with-commissioner-fittos-cabinet-on-the-need-for-an-eu-blue-foods-action-plan/ Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:30:29 +0000 /?p=10462 On 20 October, representatives from the European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD) and the EU Seafood Alliance – composed of EAPO, Europêche, FEAP, and Seafood Europe (former AIPCE.CEP) – met with the cabinet of the Commissioner for Cohesions and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, to discuss the urgent need to strengthen EU’s approach to blue foods.

The delegation included Despina Symons (EBCD), Esben Sverdrup-Jensen (EAPO), Anne-France Mattlet (Europêche), Szilvia Mihálffy (FEAP), and Katarina Sipic (Seafood Europe – AIPCE.CEP).

The organisations reiterated their shared call for the development of an EU Action Plan for Blue Foods, building on the momentum generated by the recent Ocean Pact. The group emphasised that fisheries and aquaculture — key providers of healthy, low-carbon, and nutritious food — should be recognised as strategic sectors within the EU’s food systems framework.

“The Commission linked agriculture and food in its Vision for Food and Agriculture 2040; the same ambition must now be applied to fisheries and aquaculture through a Blue Food Action Plan embedded in the Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture 2040,” the group underlined.

During the meeting, the representatives stressed the importance of:

  • Promoting competitiveness through simplification of administrative procedures and a genuine level playing field;
  • Attracting young people to the fishing and aquaculture sectors through targeted investment allowing for modernisation and innovation;
  • Strengthening policy cohesion and coherence across legislation impacting food systems and blue economy; and
  • Positioning blue food products as strategic to Europe’s food security, climate and biodiversity goals, and rural and coastal development.

EBCD and the EU Seafood Alliance agreed that many challenges could be unlocked through a comprehensive EU Action Plan on Blue Foods, which would support innovation, research, investment, and the decarbonisation of the seafood value chain.

Such an initiative, they argued, would ensure that the EU becomes a global leader in sustainable food systems and aligns with its commitments under the Ocean Pact and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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]]> EAS Honorary Life Membership awarded to Javier Ojeda /2025/09/25/eas-honorary-life-membership-awarded-to-javier-ojeda/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 08:10:49 +0000 /?p=10380 Valencia, September 22nd, 2025

At Aquaculture Europe 2025, the European Aquaculture Society (EAS) awarded Honorary Life Membership to our FEAP General Secretary, Javier Ojeda, recognising his outstanding contributions to the development of aquaculture in Spain, Europe, and beyond.

As highlighted by EAS:

Javier has dedicated his career to communicating the benefits and challenges of aquaculture to consumers, policymakers, and society at large. As General Secretary of FEAP and long-time leader of APROMAR, he has built strong bridges between producers, science, and the wider public. In Spain, his leadership has been instrumental – from shaping APROMAR into a model producers’ organisation to serving as Vice President of PTEPA, Counsellor to the Spanish Economic and Social Council, and Chair of the Spanish Standardisation Bureau on Aquaculture.
At the European and international levels, Javier has been a respected voice for responsible aquaculture through his work with the European Commission, European Parliament, FAO, IUCN, and many others. He has also contributed greatly to EAS, serving on the AE2025 Steering Committee and leading the Industry Forum programme.
The AE2025 conference theme, “Aquaculture for Everyone,” could not be more fitting for Javier, whose lifelong mission has been to ensure aquaculture is better understood, responsibly developed, and recognised for its role in feeding society.

Heartfelt congratulations, Javier! 🎉

Szilvia Mihalffy – Javier Ojeda – Catherine Pons

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