sustainable aquaculture cluster

By clustering European-funded projects within the same topic, we hope to foster collaboration, accelerate knowledge exchange, and maximize impact. By bringing together diverse expertise and resources, projects can avoid duplication of efforts and identify synergies. This coordinated approach enhances the visibility of research outcomes, facilitates the development of standardized methodologies, and strengthens engagement with stakeholders. Additionally, clustering creates opportunities for joint dissemination, policy alignment, and broader societal impact, ensuring that investments in innovation deliver cohesive, scalable, and sustainable solutions across Europe.

Green Innovation Strategies for Animal Health Management: Towards Sustainable Aquaculture

Timeline: November 2022 to October 2026

IGNITION

The growing world population increases the pressure on the aquaculture sector. In addition to delivering high-quality protein, aquaculture production systems are also required to be environmentally sustainable, ethical, and with concerns for animal welfare.

IGNITION will gather new knowledge on animal welfare under climate change scenarios and establish alternatives to the currently applied antimicrobials and therapeutic strategies.

Curing EU aquaculture by co-creating health and welfare innovations

Timeline: November 2022 to April 2027

Cure4Aqua

The project aims to boost the resilience of European aquaculture by developing innovative approaches to prevent fish diseases. This includes validating novel technologies for early detection and advancing alternatives to pharmaceuticals in disease control.

Cure4Aqua is developing cost-effective vaccines, implementing selective breeding to improve stress and disease management, creating bio-based antibiotic alternatives, and setting high welfare standards across life stages and production systems.

Leading Ocean’s Circular Algae Transition in the Baltic and the North Sea

Timeline: June 2023 to May 2027

Locality

LOCALITY is a EU-funded project developing circular, sustainable value chains by integrating industrial players to co-create innovative algae-based products. It aims to protect and restore Europe’s aquatic ecosystems while introducing new products to regional and global markets.

The project will utilize nutrient-rich side streams from agriculture, fish, and textile industries for algae cultivation; produce sustainable algal products for food, aquafeed, agriculture, and textiles; demonstrate their social and economic benefits; and develop commercialization strategies to ensure market acceptance.

Innovative approaches for an integrated use of algae in sustainable aquaculture practices and high-value food applications.

Timeline: May 2023 – April 2026

INNOAQUA

INNOAQUA is a Horizon Europe project developing sustainable aquafeeds from alternative proteins, reducing reliance on fishmeal and fish oil to support environmental and economic sustainability.

It promotes circular aquaculture systems based on low trophic species and drives adoption through awareness, knowledge sharing, and citizen-driven policies—supporting a resilient sector aligned with the EU Green Deal, Farm to Fork Strategy, and Sustainable Blue Economy.

Advancing innovative breeding for sustainable and organic European aquaculture

Timeline: January 2025 – December 2028

EUAqua.org

EUAqua.org aims to advance organic aquaculture in Europe by developing technologies and strategies to overcome key barriers. By unlocking its potential, the project supports the blue transition toward sustainable seafood, enhancing food security and restoring aquatic biodiversity.

It focuses on genomic selection, natural reproduction control, and selective breeding to improve feed efficiency with organic feeds. It also develops tools to enhance animal resilience and welfare within a One Health framework, while analysing consumer behavior to promote acceptance of organic aquaculture.

Green Innovation Strategies for Animal Health Management: Towards Sustainable Aquaculture

Timeline: November 2021 to November 2024

GRINNAQUA

GRINNAQUA is a Horizon Europe project enhancing the scientific excellence and innovation capacity of CIIMAR (Portugal) to develop green strategies for animal health management and promote sustainable aquaculture.

The project strengthens CIIMAR’s research through collaboration with leading international partners, develops sustainable health management solutions for aquaculture species, and supports the transfer of innovations to boost sustainability and productivity in Portuguese and European aquaculture.