Review of trends in the development of European inland aquaculture linkages with fisheries

Abstract

Aquaculture is a multifaceted, dynamic food production sector in Europe. The average annual growth rate of aquaculture production in Western Europe was 5.5% between 1988 and 1998, while in Eastern Europe production declined by 56% during the same period. The main growth in aquaculture production has taken place in the marine environment, particularly in the expanding salmon, Salmo salar L., industry of Northern Europe. Inland aquaculture only contributed 19% of the total aquaculture production in 1998. Trout in Western Europe, and common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., in Eastern Europe are the dominant species in inland aquaculture. Inland fisheries production has been stagnant in Western Europe and has declined considerably in Eastern Europe. The importance of recreational fisheries is increasing all over Europe, although no reliable data are available on angler catches. The major interactions between aquaculture and fisheries are pollution by untreated effluents from farms and impacts on indigenous fish stocks. The conflict is decreasing as more advanced systems are used in inland aquaculture, including water recirculation and effluent treatment. The positive benefit of aquaculture is that the sector supports extensive stocking programmes in commercial and recreational fisheries all over Europe.