From Regulation to Technology: What Shapes the Development of Inland Aquaculture in the Baltic States?
Inland aquaculture has the potential to contribute to sustainable food production, bioeconomy development and rural resilience. At the same time, its development cannot be viewed solely as a matter of fish farming technologies or increasing production volumes. Aquaculture enterprises operate in an environment shaped by the interaction of regulatory frameworks, environmental requirements, market conditions, access to technology, financing and governance structures.
The interaction between these factors is one of the issues addressed by the AQUA4DEV-BS project – “Potential of traditional and recirculation inland aquaculture for inclusive and intelligent fisheries development in the Baltic States.”
The project’s research framework identifies several groups of barriers to be examined: regulatory, environmental, market, technological and financial factors, as well as fragmented governance. In practice, these factors may be closely interconnected. Technological modernisation, for example, is not simply a question of whether appropriate technologies are available – their adoption may also depend on access to investment, regulatory requirements, administrative procedures and market prospects.
Environmental requirements also play a particularly important role in inland aquaculture. The development of aquaculture must take place while respecting the need to protect water resources and ecosystems. One of the key questions is therefore how to achieve environmental objectives while at the same time creating conditions that support sustainable sector development and the uptake of innovation.
AQUA4DEV-BS examines these issues from a comparative Baltic perspective, covering Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. This approach will make it possible to identify both common trends and differences between the three countries and to better understand how institutional, legal and economic conditions influence the development of inland aquaculture.
The aim of the research is not only to identify barriers. Equally important is understanding the drivers of development – the conditions, solutions and approaches that can facilitate the sustainable growth of the sector.
Such an understanding is necessary for the subsequent development of evidence-based recommendations and for identifying solutions that take into account economic development interests, environmental protection, technological change and the needs of different stakeholders.
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The information has been prepared in the framework of Activity 1.1.1.9 “Post-doctoral Research” of the Specific Objective 1.1.1 “Strengthening research and innovative capacities and introduction of advanced technologies in the common R&D system” of the European Union’s Cohesion Policy Programme for 2021-2027 research application No.1.1.1.9/LZP/2/25/218 “Potential of traditional and recirculation inland aquaculture for inclusive and intelligent fisheries development in the Baltic States (AQUA4DEV-BS)”.