European shellfish industry warns of ‘crisis’
Europe’s shellfish industry has the potential to solve many key policy challenges – but the industry itself is in “crisis”. That was the warning last week from the European Mollusc Producers Association (EMPA), which held its first event in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The European Mollusc Producers Association (EMPA) brings together national or regional associations and bodies representing mollusc producers within the European Union and the UK.
With members from six European Countries – Spain, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy and Ireland – the EMPA represents 90% of the companies or operators involved in the production and marketing of shellfish in Europe. The EMPA is currently chaired by Addy Risseeuw from the Netherland Producers Association.
Shellfish growers rely on the quality of the waters in which their animals live and increasingly suffer from contamination by diseases or pollutants. This is one of the main reasons why the EU shellfish sector is in crisis today despite being a key sector to address many policy concerns.
The EMPA presented its Manifesto for the Sustainable Development of the European Shellfish Sector, which among other things calls for the space allocated to shellfish farming to be tripled and for improvements in water quality.
The Manifesto’s last point calls for the creation of an “EU Common Aquaculture Policy” setting binding objectives and measurable development indicators as the only way to reverse the downward trend in production and unlock the full potential of the EU’s shellfish sector.
The mollusc producers are calling for the strict implementation of the environmental regulations related to wastewater treatments and water management, for political support for the sector’s development, and for the valorisation and compensation of the ecosystem services provided by the sector.
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