Global marine aquaculture production is steadily approaching the volume of capture fisheries, exceeding 60 Mt when taking into account both farmed fish and shellfish (30.8 Mt in 2018) and seaweed production (30 Mt in 2018).
At a local scale, Galicia has a strong tradition in aquaculture, whose production exceeds fishing catches in weight (>200,000 tons) although not in value (200 M €). Galicia also dominates mussel and turbot farming in Spain (97% and 99% of the production, respectively). Galicia has also pioneered the adaptation of new species for aquaculture, as is the case of Atlantic pollock (abadexo).
Nonetheless, aquaculture in the EU has been experiencing some degree of stagnation for the last decade, mostly due to decreased production associated with diseases, fish meal dependency, lack of regulated spaces to increase their production and environmental problems associated with the farming process. Aquaculture needs to overcome these constraints to be able to respond to the increasing human demand for marine protein by introducing new species to aquaculture, mainly low-trophic-level species, applying a multi-species farming approach and expanding offshore to reduce pressure on coastal areas.
Sustainable aquaculture requires innovations that ensure environmental protection, animal health and welfare, and public health and safety. The IIM-CSIC has a long tradition of collaboration with the aquaculture industry.
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