Europe’s mussel and oyster farmers are calling on the European Union to give shellfish aquaculture a central role in the bloc’s sustainable food strategy, warning that the sector’s potential to deliver climate-positive nutrition and coastal jobs remains underused.
At a high-level conference hosted in the European Parliament, policymakers and industry representatives argued that mollusc farming must be recognised as a cornerstone of the EU’s future food systems. The event – “Food of the Future: The Shellfish Vision for 2040” – was organised by the European Molluscs Producers’ Association (EMPA) and chaired by Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, MEP and Vice-President of the Parliament’s Fisheries Committee.
Speakers stressed that shellfish farming can contribute directly to the EU’s blue economy priorities by supporting coastal employment, improving marine biodiversity, and producing low-carbon, high-protein food.
“Give shellfish producers a chance, and they’ll give Europe cleaner seas, better jobs and healthier food,” said Addy Risseeuw, President of EMPA. He urged Brussels to fully integrate molluscs into the European Commission’s Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture 2040, making the sector a pillar of sustainable diets and climate resilience.
Raphaëla Le Gouvello, marine expert at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Founder of RespectOcean, said shellfish aquaculture exemplifies a “regenerative blue economy” – one that restores ecosystems while providing fair prosperity. “Mollusc farming is not just an industry; it can be an ocean-positive activity,” she said, noting that oysters and mussels improve water quality and have one of the lowest carbon footprints in animal protein production.
A panel debate featuring Lorella De la Cruz (DG MARE), Lorenzo Gennari (EATIP), and MEPs Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral and Nicolás González Casares explored how to scale up sustainable aquaculture and embed shellfish in the EU’s food autonomy goals.
Closing the debate, Yon-Courtin said shellfish farmers “deserve a rightful place in the EU’s maritime and food policies.”
“[This] discussion showed how shellfish farming can be at the heart of Europe’s sustainable and resilient food system. The sector, its professionals, and all their products must not be left behind.”
The call comes as EMPA warns that Europe’s shellfish production has been in decline for two decades, despite representing more than half of all EU aquaculture output and generating €1.17 billion annually. The association argues that with the right policy support, shellfish aquaculture can help meet the European Ocean Pact goals of sustainable food, biodiversity protection, and coastal regeneration.
