Good practice:

ECOFISH - Model approach to organic fish farming

Aquaculture is the fastest growing sector in our food system and an important source of sustainable food in Europe. With demand for food growing and hundreds of hectares of formerly agricultural land being used for other purposes, enhancing both the economic competitiveness and sustainability of aquaculture are attractive prospects.
ECOFISH project developed a model and guide to encourage and help conventional fish farms to switch to organic aquaculture. Sustainable aquaculture farms take specific measures to protect the environment, natural resources and landscape during production.
ECOFISH used aquaponics to achieve a sustainable production system for both plants and fish. Aquaponics combines traditional aquaculture with hydroponics in a symbiotic environment (meaning that it is a production system in which waste from the livestock is used as nutrients for the plants). ECOFISH established, tested and provided good practice guidelines for such a model.
Moreover, this production system provided improved waste management practices and also high-value, organic, pesticide and chemical-free food products.
During the project, processing and marketing activities were carried out to support the added value of the end products and raise awareness of the potential benefits of organic aquaculture.
The main stakeholders and beneficiaries of this production system were the producers in aquaculture and fisheries sectors in Romania, Spain, USA and Egypt where ECOFISH was implemented.

ECOFISH has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 645691. Overall budget: € 580.500; EU contribution: € 580.500.

The main results achieved through ECOFISH were the following: development of a model of innovative multipurpose aquaponics production system; a guideline book for planning, designing, managing and implementing such a model; guidelines to increase the competitiveness of rural-local communities from WWP (Working with People) sustainable development model.
Following the project implementation a modular aquaponic system was built and is being used within the “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galaţi.

- The development of energy-efficient systems with optimized nutrient recycling and suitable pathogen controls;
- Achieving profitability which includes effective value chains and efficient supply chain management;
- Initial costs required to assemble services and to purchase necessary equipment.

As the aquaculture sector is in a continuous expansion globally, one of the main concerns is how to improve its environmental sustainability.
In this context, ECOFISH developed a model through which aquaculture businesses are supported to adopt aqua-environmental measures by integrating aquaculture production system with aquaponics.
This model of innovative multi-use aquaponics production system could be easily transferred into other regions in Europe as they face similar challenges and have common needs in the aquaculture sector.