Production system characteristics

European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)  are two of the most important species for the EU aquaculture industry, and in terms of
value represent the 21% of the total production. This mature industry, in terms of high technology and knowledge, is typically of the Mediterranean region.

Market

The vast majority of seabass and seabream is produced and consumed in Southern European countries as a whole fresh product. The food habits concerning these  species are very different per countries. In some countries like Italy, the largest amount of seabass and seabream farming is absorbed by the domestic demand whereas in other countries like Greece, propensity to consume of the product is lower and larger volumes are for export.

The challenges influencing the competitiveness and the sustainability of the sector that European salmonid producers are facing are:

• The production of European has undergone a phase of great stagnation
• brought about by a financial collapse of many small companies despite a high
• level of technology and knowledge
• This companies collapse is worrying regarding the social and economic instability in the Mediterranean area
• The European supplies decrease

In terms of production, the decrease of the aquaculture number's farm, has negatively affected the performance in Europe, where the supply of sea bass and sea bream is decreased, while on prices and turnover, and have been registered, among the major producing countries of seabass and sea bream, also an increase in the period of great stagnation (STECF, 2014).

SUCCESS' objectives

The goal sea bass - sea bream case study is to identify the main difficulties and major challenges for the sector, regarding the opportunity to revive breeding of such marine species. SUCCESS will provides a better understanding of the bottlenecks that have hindered the increase of the product offering in a context of deficit of the fish products trade balance.

Production segment studied

The SUCCESS project will focus on the Italian, French, Greek an Spanish production which are the most important production countries.

• The “Seabass - seabream” case study in the workpackages (coming soon)
• Results for “Seabass - seabream” case study (coming soon)
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