Top 10 stories that defined Europe’s 2014 seafood industry

9. The European Commission (EC) set about attempting to spark the revival of Europe’s stagnating aquaculture industry this year by promoting tools contained within the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) that are intended to aid production increases. As it stands, European aquaculture output totals just 1.3 million metric tons (MT) with a value of EUR 3.6 billion (USD 4.4 billion). At the same time, only 10 percent of Europe’s seafood consumption comes from EU aquaculture. However, if the domestic utilization could be increased by just 1 percent then that would create between 3,000 and 4,000 new full-time jobs, said the Commission. To boost the industry, it believes the bloc should follow four Strategic Guidelines: reduce administrative burdens; facilitate access to water and space; improve competitiveness; and exploit competitive advantages. Each member state must adopt a Multiannual National Plan for the period 2014-2020, based on the specific conditions and needs at a national level. These plans would define the member states’ objectives and the measures through which they aim to achieve them. Upon approval of their plan, they receive access to the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), which totals EUR 6 billion (USD 7.3 billion) over a seven-year period.