The report, ’Engineering the Blue Future: Germany’s Role in European Aquaculture Tech’, was conducted by Hatch Blue and commissioned by Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank.
“Food security is gaining increasing importance in Germany and Europe. Aquaculture can make an important contribution to this while simultaneously opening up new economic perspectives for rural areas,” said Nikola Steinbock, chairwoman of the management board at Rentenbank.
Reducing import dependency
Presented on 7 May at the Growth Alliance Networking Summit in Frankfurt, the study outlines how the German blue economy can reduce seafood import dependency while accelerating investment in aquaculture infrastructure and advanced production systems.
Ms Steinbock added that high energy costs and complex framework conditions remain barriers to growth, highlighting innovative models such as integrating aquaculture into agricultural systems and using waste heat from biogas plants to lower operating costs and support the circular economy.
Germany currently imports around 90% of the seafood consumed domestically, according to the report, despite growing global demand for sustainable protein production.
The study argues that Germany’s engineering, automation and digitalisation expertise could position the country as a leading exporter of aquaculture technologies and production systems within European aquaculture.
The report also calls for stronger commercialisation pathways for start-ups, expanded infrastructure financing, low-interest loans and government-backed guarantees to de-risk private investment.
Policymakers are additionally urged to simplify permitting processes and establish unified national guidelines to support long-term aquaculture infrastructure development across the German blue economy.
