European Mollusc Producers Association president Addy Risseeuw, presenting the EMPA's Manifesto for the Sustainable Development of the European Shellfish Sector in Brussels.
Photo: EMPA.
The European Mollusc Producers Association (EMPA) has presented its Manifesto for the Sustainable Development of the European Shellfish Sector to the European Parliament, advocating for the strategic expansion of shellfish farming to improve the EU’s food security, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience. The manifesto was presented at a meeting in Brussels last week, by EMPA president Addy Risseeuw.
Pointing out that 70% of seafood consumed in the EU is imported, EMPA’s recommendations for the European Commission's 2024-2029 mandate call for more investment in sustainable domestic aquaculture, particularly molluscs and macro-algae, which have low or even negative carbon footprints and offer high nutritional value.
"This type of aquaculture is 100% natural, with no feeding or medication, and provides several ecosystem services such as reducing water turbidity and eutrophication through its filtration, absorbing nitrogen which limits the risk of algal bloom, habitats creation and local biodiversity increase, as well as carbon sequestration," the manifesto states.
"Shellfish are true sentinels of the good environmental status of coastal and marine waters, while being a source of protein and important trace nutrients with high nutritional value. Committed to greater circularity, the shellfish farming sector also increasingly offers new solutions such as alternative bio-sourced shell-based materials for multiple applications such as construction," it adds.
The manifesto presents five key recommendations from the Association, which represents shellfish producers, processors and related businesses in Spain, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy and Ireland.
Firstly, the EPMA asks that the EU acknowledge the role of shellfish farming in reinforcing Europe’s food sustainability, safety, sovereignty and nutrition. Shellfish, EMPA argues, offer a promising solution to Europe’s growing demand for sustainable protein sources. To capitalize on this potential, EMPA proposes that the EU define growth targets for shellfish production, particularly organic production, and promote sustainability certifications.
The organization also encourages efforts to increase awareness and consumption of aquaculture products, especially among young Europeans, to diversify dietary protein sources and reduce reliance on imports.
Oyster farming in Arcachon Basin, southwest France.
Photo: Adobe Stock / Francois Boizot
To meet the EU’s goals of increasing aquaculture production, EMPA calls for tripling the area dedicated to shellfish farming. They emphasize the value of shellfish farming as a contributor to marine ecosystem health, suggesting that shellfish farms could coexist and complement other industries, such as offshore wind farms.
The association proposes simplifying the licensing process and setting binding targets for 2030 and 2050 to ensure long-term space allocation. EMPA also urges EU support for economic studies to explore the profitability of shellfish farms in tandem with wind energy facilities.
Given shellfish farming’s dependence on clean water, EMPA stresses the need for better water quality standards to support the sector’s growth and sustainability. EMPA recommends a specific EU directive on shellfish water quality, customized to protect local environments.
Additionally, they advocate for stricter implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), promoting shellfish health as an indicator of marine quality. EMPA also supports implementing a “polluter pays” principle, allowing shellfish farmers to receive compensation when external polluters harm their waters.
Shellfish farming, EMPA notes, provides numerous “ecosystem services”—from water clarification to nitrate and carbon absorption. Despite scientific recognition of these benefits, they remain underrepresented in EU policy.
EMPA calls for policies that acknowledge these ecosystem contributions, including certifications for carbon sequestration and compensatory payments for farmers. The group suggests adopting standards for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies and establishing shellfish farming as part of conservation measures.
The final key recommendation outlined in the manifesto is that of a "common aquaculture policy" - something which has also been suggested by the broader aquaculture industry within the EU.
"A clear European vision and defined objectives are essential if shellfish farming, and aquaculture in general, are to fully meet the challenges of food safety, sustainability and sovereignty. In the context of the current open method of coordination, the aquaculture remains only a potential solution to these many challenges at European level, without robust foundations commensurate with the challenges ahead," the EPMA argues in its manifesto.
"Consequently, after two decades from the first European strategy for the development of a sustainable aquaculture, the EU has not managed to get aquaculture production off the ground in any significant way and to increase Europe’s self-sufficiency in aquatic food products," it continues, arguing that a Common Aquaculture Policy would "provide the necessary coordination, coherence and political impetus at the European level".
