The Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC) has called on the European Commission ot clarify the status of aquaculture within the EU Taxonomy for sustainable investment, warning that the sector’s current exclusion is creating financial, reputational and regulatory uncertainty for European producers and investors.
The EU Taxonomy defines which economic activities may be considered environmentally sustainable for investment and financing purpose. Although the regulation recognises that activities not included are not necessarily harmful to the environment, the AAC considers that the absence of aquaculture creates a “grey area” that may be interpreted negatively by banks, ESG funds and investors.
According to the AAC document on the issue, this situation has two direct consequences: it limits aquaculture producers’ access to capital and may damage public perception of the sector at a time when sustainability has become an increasingly important criterion in corporate finance.
The AAC also notes that aquaculture operates directly in natural environments and under strong public scrutiny, increasing the reputational impact of this regulatory uncertainty.
In response, the European advisory body is asking the Commission to public clarify whether aquaculture will be included in future delegated acts under the Taxonomy or whether it will remain outside the system because it is not considered environmentally harmful. It also calls for any future integration of the sector to be developed “as quickly as possible” in order to reduce current uncertainty.
Beyond the regulatory debate, the AAC’s position reflects a growing concern within European aquaculture: the need to improve the sector’s “investability” in a context where sustainable finance, ESG criteria and environmental perception are increasingly influencing access to capital, financing conditions and strategic investment decisions.
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