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MARINE LIVING RESOURCES AND AQUACULTURE

The marine living resources are all organisms in the seas and oceans, ranging from microscopic bacteria to giant fish and mammals, and representing the biological component of our oceans. The marine living resources include all of the organisms that are utilized by humans, such as for harvesting or recreational uses. Most of the organisms are harvested for human consumption, but they also provide many other products and materials.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

The Marine living resources sector encompasses the harvesting of renewable biological resources (primary sector), their conversion into food, feed, bio-based products, and bioenergy (processing), and their distribution along the supply chain. The EU is the sixth largest producer of fishery and aquaculture products (behind China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and Peru), covering around 3% of global production. However, overall production has been rather stable in the last decades. 

ECONOMIC VALUE

According to the latest report on the EU fishing fleet, the EU-27 fleet continued to be profitable in 2018, with an overall gross profit of €1.5 billion and a net profit of almost €800 million. This represents significant progress, considering that the EU fleet was barely breaking even in 2008. Furthermore, the socio-economic data suggest that the economic performance and salaries of EU fishers tend to improve where fleets depend on stocks that are targeted sustainably and tend to stagnate where fleets depend on stocks that remain overfished or overexploited.

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Salmon fish farm. Hordaland, Norway.

PRODUCTION

EU aquaculture production has stagnated over the last decades even if its value has increased. The production of mussels has decreased in recent years due to environmental factors (harmful algae blooms, lack of seed, diseases). The production of other important species (such as sea bream and seabass), where the producers have a higher degree of control on the production factors, has increased. Considering the increasing demand for seafood products and the opportunity to establish new farms partly due to Maritime Spatial Planning, it seems realistic to expect a growth of the EU aquaculture products, in particular of those with a high degree of control.

EXPLORE THE OPPORTUNITIES

Occupation

Description

Hydrologist

Hydrologists play an important role in keeping our oceans and other bodies of water safe for wildlife and humans. They not only study the movement of water, but also water quality. They spend a considerable amount of time in the field, taking samples to test for and measure the level of pollutants.

Though they spend quite a bit of time out in the field, hydrologists also work in labs testing samples taken, analyzing data, and creating reports

Marine biologist

/Ichthyologist

Marine biologists study salt water organisms and how they interact with their ecosystem and considering an estimated 50% to 80% of all life on earth is found under the sea, marine biologists have their work cut out for them. They conduct studies either in controlled settings or natural habitats to analyze the characteristics, reproduction, and movement patterns of marine life. Degrees in zoology, wildlife biology, or ecology are typical for marine biologists. Master’s degrees are often required for higher-level investigative work, and PhDs are necessary for independent research or university positions.

Marine ecologist and dive operations manager

A marine ecologist performs research on aquatic systems, focusing on how water organisms interact with their environment. They can work in laboratories or out in the field, gathering data and experimenting. One main goal is to preserve life in water bodies. A marine ecologist studies the interaction between sea creatures and their habitat. He or she can also focus on the human population's effect on marine environments.

Aquatic toxicologist

Toxicologists study the types of contaminants that are hazardous to marine organisms, vegetation, wildlife, and humans in aquatic environments. While they spend very little of their time in the field, their work in the lab is valuable. Toxicologists spend much of their day testing samples, analyzing or collecting data, and creating reports.

Fishery data manager

The role of the Fishery Data Manager is to manage the collection, storage, and dissemination of accurate and comprehensive scientific data for regional and national fisheries management authorities.

Environmental engineer

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/marine-biologist

Aquarist

Aquarists work in aquariums and may have a variety of responsibilities depending on their position and experience. They work with a variety of marine life from fish to large mammals. They may be responsible for maintaining the tanks and equipment, feeding the wildlife, leading visitor presentations, and working with the wildlife. While many responsibilities of an aquarist may be handled outside of the water, some activities should be performed in the water.

Fisheries Manager

Fisheries managers oversee the day-to-day activities at fisheries, where fish are raised for commercial purposes. Their duties could include a variety of responsibilities including maintaining equipment, monitoring growth, training team members, and record keeping. They must work well in groups as they often are required to collaborate with other team members as well as managers from other facilities.

Aquaculturist

Aquaculture is one of many types of marine conservation careers. Aquaculturists work to ensure that the fish and shellfish populations remain in healthy numbers by raising and harvesting these marine animals. The fish are raised for commercial purposes to be sold as food and also for restocking bodies of water for recreational fishing. Aquaculturists must understand the development of fish and shellfish to ensure that the fish are healthy and safe to eat.

No Education/Specialty Program University Country City Web page
1 Biology* MSc Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski” Bulgaria Sofia https://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/bul/universitet_t/fakulteti/biologicheski_fakultet2/specialnosti/magist_rski_programi/biologicheski_fakultet/biologiya/
2 Zoology MSc Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski” Bulgaria Sofia https://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university/faculties/faculty_of_biology2/degree_programmes/master_s_degree_programmes/faculty_of_biology/biology/zoology
3 Algology and mycology* MSc Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski” Bulgaria Sofia https://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/bul/universitet_t/fakulteti/biologicheski_fakultet2/specialnosti/magist_rski_programi/biologicheski_fakultet/biologiya/algologiya_i_mikologiya
Applied Hydrobiology and aquaculture* MSc Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski” Bulgaria Sofia https://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/bul/universitet_t/fakulteti/biologicheski_fakultet2/specialnosti/magist_rski_programi/biologicheski_fakultet/biologiya/prilozhna_hidrobiologiya_i_akvakulturi
Biodiversity, ecology, and conservation MSc Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski” Bulgaria Plovdiv https://bio.uni-plovdiv.bg/bg/%d0%bc%d0%b0%d0%b3%d0%b8%d1%81%d1%82%d1%8a%d1%80%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%b8-%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b3%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%bc%d0%b8/
The technology of meat, fish, and egg products* MSc University of food technologies Bulgaria Plovdiv https://uft-plovdiv.bg/site_files/file/ksk2012_anot/magistri/2_MESO(2).pdf
Aquaculture* MSc Thracian University Bulgaria Stara Zagora http://uni-sz.bg/truni2/wp-content/uploads/af/file/Magistar/MagJivN6(3).pdf
Fish farming, fisheries, and industrial fishing* PhD Thracian University Bulgaria Stara Zagora http://uni-sz.bg/truni2/%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%8A%D0%B4%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/
Biology (Master of Biology in Genetics / Biodiversity / Hydrobiology) MSc Shota Rustaveli state university Georgia Batumi https://www.bsu.edu.ge/text_files/en_file_172_2.pdf
Ecology MSc Shota Rustaveli state university Georgia Batumi https://www.bsu.edu.ge/text_files/en_file_1977_1.pdf
Aquatic bioresources science and engineering* MSc Dunarea de Jos University Romania Galati https://www.en.ugal.ro/education/study-programmes/master/romanian_master
MSc in Aquatic Environment Engineering and Science MSc Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest Romania Bucharest https://www.masterstudies.com/MSc-in-Aquatic-Environment-Engineering-and-Science/Romania/Technical-University-of-Civil-Engineering-Bucharest/
Molecular biology & Genetics MSc, PhD Yildiz Technical University Turkey Istanbul https://bio.yildiz.edu.tr/en/bio/4/Graduate/53
Food Engineering MSc, PhD Yildiz Technical University Turkey Istanbul http://www.bologna.yildiz.edu.tr/index.php?r=program/view&id=384&aid=109
  Environmental Engineering MSc Yildiz Technical University Turkey Istanbul http://bologna.yildiz.edu.tr/index.php?r=program/view&id=244&aid=29
  Chemical and Biological Engineering MSc, PhD Koc University Turkey Istanbul https://gsse.ku.edu.tr/en/graduate-programs/chemical-and-biological-engineering/ms-with-thesis/
  Molecular biology and Genetics MSc, PhD Koc University Turkey Istanbul https://gsse.ku.edu.tr/en/graduate-programs/molecular-biology-and-genetics/program-overview/
  Molecular Biology* MSc, PhD Bogazici University Turkey Istanbul http://www.boun.edu.tr/en_US/Content/Academic/Graduate_Catalogue/The_Inst_for_Grad_Studies_In_Sciences_and_Eng/Graduate_Programs_In_Molecular_Biology_
  Environmental Science* MSc Bogazici University Turkey Istanbul http://www.boun.edu.tr/en-US/Content/Academic/Graduate_Catalogue
  Fisheries Technology and Management* MSc, PhD Istanbul University Turkey Istanbul https://subilimleri.istanbul.edu.tr/en/content/education/postgraduate-study
  Seafood processing Technology* MSc, PhD Istanbul University Turkey Istanbul https://subilimleri.istanbul.edu.tr/en/content/education/postgraduate-study
  Marine Biology* MSc, PhD Istanbul University Turkey Istanbul https://subilimleri.istanbul.edu.tr/en/content/education/postgraduate-study
  Aquaculture* MSc, PhD Istanbul University Turkey Istanbul https://subilimleri.istanbul.edu.tr/en/content/education/postgraduate-study
  Fish diseases* MSc, PhD Istanbul University Turkey Istanbul https://subilimleri.istanbul.edu.tr/en/content/education/postgraduate-study
  Fisheries technology and Engineering* ? Karadeniz Turkey Trabzon https://www.ktu.edu.tr/deniz-bolumler
   Marine science* ? Karadeniz Turkey Trabzon https://www.ktu.edu.tr/deniz-bolumler
  Environmental Engineering MSc, PhD Dokuz Eylul University Turkey Izmir https://debis.deu.edu.tr/ders-katalog/2020-2021/eng/bolum_9479_eng.html
  Marine living resources* (30% in English) MSc, PhD Dokuz Eylul University Turkey Izmir https://debis.deu.edu.tr/ders-katalog/2020-2021/eng/bolum_1557_eng.html
  Marine Chemistry* (30% in English) MSc, PhD Dokuz Eylul University Turkey Izmir https://debis.deu.edu.tr/ders-katalog/2020-2021/eng/bolum_1558_eng.html
  Physical Oceanography* (30% in English) MSc, PhD Dokuz Eylul University Turkey Izmir https://debis.deu.edu.tr/ders-katalog/2020-2021/eng/bolum_8869_eng.html
  Environmental sciences and Engineering MSc, PhD Istanbul Technical University Turkey Istanbul https://fbe.itu.edu.tr/en/education/programs?program=CEV_CB

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Marine living resources sector encompasses the harvesting of renewable biological resources (primary sector), their conversion into food, feed, bio-based products, and bioenergy (processing), and their distribution along the supply chain. The EU is the sixth largest producer of fishery and aquaculture products (behind China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and Peru), covering around 3% of global production. However, overall production has been rather stable in the last decades. The EU has about 59000 active vessels landing about 4.5 million tonnes of seafood worth €6.7 billion, while the aquaculture sector reached a production of 1.2 million tonnes worth €4.1 billion in 2018.

According to the Blue economy report 2021, marine living resources comprise three sub-sectors that encompass the following activities:

  • Primary sector: Capture fisheries (small-scale coastal, large scale and industrial fleets) and Aquaculture (marine, freshwater, and shellfish);
  • Processing of fish products: Processing and preservation of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks; Prepared meals and dishes, Manufacture of oils and fats, and Other food products;
  • Distribution of fish products: Retail sale of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks in specialized stores and Wholesale of other food, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.

These activities form an integral part of the EU Blue bio-economy, which includes any economic activity associated with the use of renewable aquatic biological biomass, e.g. food additives, animal feeds, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, energy, etc., and are part of Emerging sectors.

Overall, the contribution of Marine living resources to the EU Blue Economy in 2018 was 12% of the jobs, 11% of the GVA, and 11% of the profits. Overall, the economic performance of the sector has improved from 2009.

Within the primary sector, capture fisheries production has increased and may have the capacity to do so further, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea where stocks are not recovering yet. Profits have risen over the last few years, in part due to the better status of fish stocks and increased fishing opportunities, in particular in the North-East Atlantic and nearby waters, together with higher average market prices and reduced operating costs, such as fuel. The economic performance was expected to continue to improve as fish stocks recovered and capacity continued to adapt.

ECONOMIC VALUE

According to the latest report on the EU fishing fleet, the EU-27 fleet continued to be profitable in 2018, with an overall gross profit of €1.5 billion and a net profit of almost €800 million. This represents significant progress, considering that the EU fleet was barely breaking even in 2008. Furthermore, the socio-economic data suggest that the economic performance and salaries of EU fishers tend to improve where fleets depend on stocks that are targeted sustainably and tend to stagnate where fleets depend on stocks that remain overfished or overexploited.

The fleet segments operating in the Atlantic and the North Sea registered higher economic performance than the fleet segments operating in the Baltic and Mediterranean seas, where numerous stocks still face overfishing or overexploitation problems. Therefore, sustainable exploitation goes hand in hand with better economic performance and higher salaries for the EU fishers, and welfare for fisheries-dependent communities.

In this context, the Common Fisheries Policy aims at ensuring that fishing (and aquaculture) activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term and are managed in a way that is consistent with the objectives of achieving economic, social, and employment benefits. Conservation measures tend to lead to more abundant fish stocks in the long term, which should be translated into an increase in revenues and a reduction in operational costs.

The control and enforcement of the conservation measures also play a key role in achieving this sustainability path. The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) provides operational coordination and support to the Member States and the Commission regarding fisheries control activities via Joint Deployment Plans. This includes compliance with international obligations on control and inspections of the EU in international waters, managed by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). EFCA also supports the EU in its relations with Third Countries and RFMOs, including capacity-building activities and support to the Commission in the implementation of the EU rules in the fight against IUU fishing worldwide.

PRODUCTION

EU aquaculture production (in volume) has stagnated over the last decades even if its value has increased. The production of mussels has decreased in recent years due to environmental factors (harmful algae blooms, lack of seed, diseases). The production of other important species (such as sea-bream and seabass), where the producers have higher degree of control on the production factors, has increased. Considering the increasing demand of seafood products and the opportunity to establish new farms partly due to Maritime Spatial Planning, it seems realistic to expect a growth of the EU aquaculture products, in particular of those with a high degree of control (e.g. in close systems).

According to the most recent Scientific Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STEFC) report on aquaculture, overall, the performance of the aquaculture sector is improving. The EU aquaculture sector reached 1.2 million tonnes in sales weight and €4.1 billion in turnover in 2018, about a 5% increase compared to 2017. However, the overall EU aquaculture sector has experienced a slight decrease in all economic performance indicators in 2018 compared to 2017. The negative economic development is driven by the marine fish segment, whereas the fish and freshwater shellfish segments experienced a slight increase. Profitability for the EU aquaculture sector was positive in 2018, however the GVA decreased 8% and Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) decreased 23%. The labour productivity decreased 3%. EU aquaculture production is mainly concentrated in four countries: Spain (27%), France (18%), Italy (12%), and Greece (11%), making up 69% of the sales weight. These four countries are furthermore covering 62% of the turnover in the EU-27. The total number of enterprises in the EU is estimated to be around 15 000. More than 80% of the enterprises in the aquaculture sector are micro-enterprises, employing less than 10 employees. The sector employs around 69 000 people (39 000 FTEs), in 2018.

The data for the employment by sectors in the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean are presented in the table below:

The EU aquaculture sector has three main production sectors: Marine fish, Shellfish, and Freshwater fish production. The marine sector is the most important economically and generated the largest turnover of €1 811 million, followed by the shellfish sector with €1 266 million and the freshwater sector with €1 016 million.

Since the early 2000s, better management of fish and shellfish stocks has contributed to a decrease in fishing pressure in the North-east Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea, and there are signs of recovery in the reproductive capacity of several fish and shellfish stocks. Currently, 41% of the assessed fish and shellfish stocks in those two regions are within safe biological limits, meaning that the number of stocks within safe biological limits has almost doubled, from 15 in 2003 to 29 in 2017.

In contrast, in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, the situation remains critical, with 87% of the assessed stocks overfished and a significant lack of knowledge about fishing pressure and reproductive capacity. Upon the EU’s initiative, the MedFish4Ever and Sofia ministerial Declarations were adopted in 2017 and 2018 respectively. They launched a new political momentum to redress the governance of fisheries in the two sea basins. Also within the EU, good progress was achieved under the CFP in the past two years, notably with the adoption and implementation of the first ever Multi-Annual Plan (MAP) in the Mediterranean, the EU MAP for demersals in the Western Mediterranean, and the adoption of the send-alone Fishing opportunities regulation for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

Currently several projects are implemented, that conduct measurements using different modern devices such as multibeam sonar for fishery research, towed optical/video system, Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) sensor, aquatic drone, multi-sensor water quality probe, BioSonics Hydroacoustic Echosounder for fish stock assessment.

The COVID-9 impact on the fisheries and aquaculture sector could be summarized with about an 80% decrease in the number of vessels operating, more than 75% decrease in production in most countries, 30-40% decline in aquaculture farm revenue. Although the sector was affected a lot, prompt recovery is expected.