- Group advocates for diminishing bureaucratic barriers, encouraging the growth of aquatic farming.
According to the German Fisheries Association (DFV), regulatory hurdles and red tape persistently impede the expansion of aquaculture in Germany. The association highlights issues with water regulations, nature conservation, and fish disease laws. Prior to the commencement of the German Fisheries Day in Hamburg on Tuesday, the association reiterated its call for deregulation, as stated to the German Press Agency by the DFV. The full potential of mussel farming in Schleswig-Holstein can't be realized due to the presence of fish-eating predators such as cormorants, otters, and beavers, which cannot be deterred.
The national industry conference wraps up on Thursday. On the agenda are topics like food security, the evolution of fisheries, and fish's role in sustainable nutrition. The association represents around one million organized fishermen and anglers from various sectors, as per their own declarations.
Aquaculture is on the rise
Aquaculture involves the controlled breeding of various species including trout, carp, and mussels. As per the latest report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, global aquaculture production surpasses that of fisheries. However, according to the DFV, Germany's aquaculture sector is struggling to keep pace with this trend.
In 2020, German aquaculture operations yielded around 35,200 tons of produce, including algae, as per the Federal Statistical Office. This is less than the approximately 39,200 tons produced in 2011. The most productive regions were Schleswig-Holstein, Bavaria, and Lower Saxony.
On the other hand, offshore and coastal fisheries recorded roughly 157,000 tons of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks in 2020, as per a report by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food. The highest landings were registered in Bremen; followed by Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein.
The DFV suggested that to boost the stagnating German aquaculture sector, the following shall be added: more lenient regulations and incentives for investors. Despite the productive regions of Schleswig-Holstein, Bavaria, and Lower Saxony, the overall yield in aquaculture has decreased since 2011.
