Following a Czech and Hungarian initiative the EU ministers in charge of fishery has discussed the continuation of supporting the freshwater aquaculture sector after 2020. Sixteen Member States asked the Commission to maintain the subsidies of the freshwater aquaculture in the post-2020 period, because it is pivotal for the sector – stated agricultural minister, Sándor Fazekas.
After the Council’s meeting, the head of the agricultural ministry emphasised that the freshwater aquaculture is not willing to compete with maritime aquaculture, but these two sector together may contribute to the reduction of the EU dependence of import of fish and aquaculture products. He also recalled that regional needs could be diverse inside the EU, what should be taken into consideration by the new legislation.
Therefore, Hungary has suggested to Karmenu Vella Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries that at the time of drafting the post 2020 period’s support policy the Commission take into account the diverse characteristic of the land-locked countries such as Hungary. Fish farms provide plenty of other ecological function beyond production like: habitat protection, water and flood management, water cleaning, recreation and landscape conservation.
In favour of preservation of these public goods, these countries shall carry on working together even after 2020. Minister Fazekas emphasised that to achieve this goal it is essential to have further innovations and investments in the fish farm sector and to subsidize the freshwater aquaculture sector that provides environmental services.
