FEAP

FEAP Calls for a New Policy Approach to Unlock European Aquaculture

FEAP — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:25:49 +0000

Brussels, 2 July 2026 – The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) participated in the European Commission’s Implementation Dialogue on EU Aquaculture Policy, bringing the European aquaculture sector’s perspective to discussions on the future of the industry with Commissioner Costas Kadis and stakeholders from across the aquaculture value chain.

FEAP welcomed the constructive dialogue and the broad participation of producers, retailers, researchers, advisory councils, NGOs and Member State representatives, highlighting the shared commitment to strengthening sustainable aquaculture in Europe.

During the meeting, FEAP stressed that, despite continued policy efforts, EU aquaculture production has remained largely stagnant for the past 25 years. The Federation emphasised that the sector’s main challenge is an increasingly complex regulatory environment that limits competitiveness and investment, calling for a new policy approach that supports sustainable growth while maintaining Europe’s high environmental standards.

FEAP also urged policymakers to look beyond licensing procedures and better understand the practical regulatory barriers faced by farmers. The Federation advocated for closer engagement with producers through on-site “reality checks” to ensure future simplification measures reflect operational realities.

In addition, FEAP highlighted the need to address the persistent challenges facing organic aquaculture, including the availability of organic juveniles and feed, species-specific regulatory constraints, climate-related pressures and limited market demand.

FEAP welcomed Commissioner Kadis’ commitment to advancing a more effective and practical policy framework and looks forward to continuing the dialogue to help build a competitive, resilient and sustainable European aquaculture sector.

FEAP warns the European Commission that its fish welfare report misses science and critical practical realities

FEAP — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:30:15 +0000

Read the Press Release

EU aquaculture left behind: FEAP condemns structural bias in Commission’s CFP evaluation

FEAP — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:31:41 +0000

The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) issues a stark warning over the European Commission’s evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation 1380/2013, published on 30 April 2026. While welcoming the Commission’s effort to assess the past decade, FEAP concludes that the evaluation is structurally biased against aquaculture, fails to draw necessary conclusions from clear evidence of stagnation, and offers no credible foundation for the upcoming 2040 Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

View the FEAP Position Paper

Read the Press Release

Pioneer of Polish aquaculture receives FEAP Award for Excellence 2026

FEAP — Wed, 27 May 2026 06:21:31 +0000

READ the press release

FEAP elects Anna Pyć as new President, succeeding Lara Barazi-Geroulanou

FEAP — Wed, 27 May 2026 06:18:28 +0000

READ the press release

The Ocean Board must deliver solutions, not more regulatory burden: EU aquaculture needs a real turning point

FEAP — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:09:32 +0000

Brussels, 8-April 2026.- Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the European Ocean Board in Brussels on March 31^st, 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.

Read the full press release

European aquaculture sector calls for regulatory precision in EU plastics directive

FEAP — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:56:13 +0000

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.

FEAP welcomes Vision 2040 but warns that bold action, not only simplification, is needed to save EU aquaculture

FEAP — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:33:28 +0000

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.

FEAP strengthens NextGen initiative with second “Deep Dive” training for young aquaculture professionals

FEAP — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:31:22 +0000

The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) successfully organised the second edition of its NextGen “Deep Dive into EU Institutions” training on 17–18 March 2026 in Brussels, bringing together a selected group of young aquaculture professionals from across Europe.

Following the successful launch of the initiative in 2025, the FEAP NextGen programme continues to support generational renewal in the sector by strengthening young professionals’ understanding of European policymaking and encouraging their active engagement in shaping the future of aquaculture in Europe.

Read more

FEAP–GFCM Technical Consultation reinforces the strategic role of sustainable aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea

FEAP — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:11:04 +0000

On February 11 & 12, 2026 more than 70 participants in person and around 50 online gathered in Athens for the FEAP–GFCM Technical Consultation on Sustainable Aquaculture Practices, highlighting the importance of structured producer engagement in regional aquaculture governance. The two-day event was jointly organised by the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, with financial support from the European Union, and in collaboration with our member association HAPO.