FAO promotes the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture in the European Region

7 October 2025, Rome/Valencia – High-level representatives and experts joined an FAO Regional Promotion Workshop on the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA) in the European Region, held on 22 September 2025 in Valencia, Spain, with financial support from the European Commission and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).

The workshop was attended by 24 participants and took place during the Aquaculture Europe 2025 conference and trade fair. It was followed on 24 September 2025 by a Special Session on the GSA attended by over 100 people, who engaged in a lively debate about their scope and possible impacts.

The GSA are the first global normative instrument dedicated entirely to aquaculture, the world’s fastest-growing food production sector. Developed by FAO and its Members, they support the targets of major international aquaculture strategies, including the FAO Blue Transformation Roadmap 2022–2030 and the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, as well as broader global frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. “The GSA are a global collective achievement,” said Yuan Xinhua, Deputy Director of the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, in his opening remarks.

“They trace a shared and agreed path towards economically viable, resilient and inclusive aquatic food systems for better production, better environment, better nutrition and a better life, leaving no one behind,” he added.

From vision to implementation

The workshop formed part of FAO’s effort to mainstream the GSA into global, regional and national policies in close collaboration with Members and key stakeholders.

It aimed to raise awareness of the GSA and encourage engagement in their implementation for responsible aquaculture practices across the value chain.

Lorella de la Cruz Iglesias, Deputy Head of Unit for Blue Economy Sectors, Aquaculture and Maritime Spatial Planning at the European Commission, emphasized the European Union’s long-standing support for the GSA. “The GSA are a global reference document for aquaculture development, including in the European Union,” she said.

“But they are only as good as their implementation, so we must be both ambitious and pragmatic, coupling long-term vision with concrete action in the short and medium term,” she continued.

Strengthening knowledge sharing and partnerships

Discussions highlighted the need for mechanisms to ensure that GSA recommendations are translated into actionable measures for all stakeholders, particularly farmers on the ground and small-scale producers. “Clear and practical guidance such as the GSA, is essential to support aquaculture producers across Europe in addressing sustainability challenges while strengthening their competitiveness,” stressed Szilvia Mihalffy from the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP).

Key actions suggested by participants included extension services, targeted applied research and training programmes, and advancing the dialogue on GSA implementation across sectors and countries.

“Regular annual meetings at the regional level could help share success stories, strengthen communication among Members, and build lasting partnerships to advance the GSA,” proposed Yas Farjad, Aquaculture Specialist at the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture of France’s Ministry of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, Sea and Fisheries.

She emphasized that such exchanges could help identify common barriers and opportunities for implementation, creating strong and long-lasting synergies.

The way forward

Looking ahead, participants saw the GSA as a common language and catalyst for progress, creating momentum for an aquaculture sector that can provide healthy, nutrient-rich and climate-friendly food for an expanding world population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050.

FAO remains committed to supporting Members in the implementation of the GSA and related initiatives. This year, regional workshops promoting the GSA have been conducted in New Orleans, the United States of America, Entebbe, Uganda, and Panama City, Panama.

Similar regional events are planned in Asia, the Near East and North Africa, and the Southwest Pacific, carrying forward the drive sparked in Valencia.