The consumption of fish products is rising world-wide. Due to stagnating fish catches, this increasing demand will have to be met primarily by farmed fish. As a result – with a growth rate of 9% per year – aquaculture is the fastest growing primary food production sector, which provides outstanding opportunities for IMARES. This concerns technological solutions for the production process and the typical Wageningen approach to system development, which takes account of societal concerns about aquaculture, such as economic, ecological and social preconditions.
Aquaculture produces food and non-food products; besides fish and shellfish, this includes the nascent cultivation of plant products from saline coastal areas. Priorities in this theme include: healthy, safe and animal-friendly aquaculture in a healthy environment, the development of forms of aquaculture (extensive or otherwise) that can also improve natural values, primary process technology concerning culture techniques and marine biotechnology.
The topics to be researched include land-use planning for aquaculture on sea or inland, sustainable and environmentally benign fish feed, the health and welfare of marine organisms, food safety and product quality, innovations in algae culture, propagation through domestication, reproduction and larvae culture, innovations in shellfish cultures, open systems and integrated systems in fish farming, saline aquatic production systems and lifestyle and culture of ornamental fish (freshwater and saltwater).