Instruments to implement sustainable aquaculture in the European Union

The article gives an overview of instruments aimed to promote sustainable aquaculture which is used in European Union legislation and policy. Pursuant to FAO’s definition aquaculture involves the reproduction, breeding, cultivation and marketing of aquatic plants and animals, in controlled or semi-controlled environments. Today, a one fifth of the fish and seafood produced in the EU already comes from fish farms and other forms of aquaculture. The EUs’ regulation of Common Fisheries Policy comprises: protection, management, and exploitation of living aquatic resources, aquaculture, processing and trade in fishery and aquaculture products. A large number of regulations, guidance documents and policy papers have been produced in the past decade in the EU which address many implementation issues which are relevant for aquaculture. Attention is drawn not only to the Common Fisheries Policy but also to the uneven development and current importance of aquaculture globally.