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ABSTRACT

The Workshop on developing guidelines for restorative aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region1, held on 20 April 2026 at the Mediterranean Restorative Aquaculture Demonstration Centre (MRADC) in La Ràpita, Spain, brought together 14 aquaculture experts and partners to advance a common regional approach for restorative aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Discussions focused on defining restorative aquaculture as a practical model that delivers measurable ecological benefits while producing food or other products, livelihoods and coastal resilience.
Participants discussed the definition of the term “restorative aquaculture” regarding both its regulatory and governance implications (including allocated zones for restoration), as well as technical considerations. Key challenges discussed included legal ambiguity, limited verification tools, governance fragmentation, greenwashing risks and insufficient incentives for ecosystem services.
The workshop confirmed strong regional interest in restorative aquaculture as a contribution to FAO’s Blue Transformation roadmap and the GFCM 2030 Strategy. Its outcomes will support the finalization of the draft regional guidelines and future pilot actions through the GFCM Aquaculture Demonstration Centres.