Ecological Restoration of Inland Aquaculture in Land-Locked Europe: The Role of Semi-Intensive Fishponds and Multitrophic Technologies in Transforming Food Systems

Abstract

Pond aquaculture and water protection in Europe suffer from conflicts, whereas multitrophic freshwater aquaculture technologies face hardships with over-regulations in Europe. As such, inland freshwater aquaculture in land-locked Europe has not given its contribution or echoed its importance in regional food system dialogues. The emphasis on marine cages and RAS-based aquaculture is enormous. Almost if they are the only viable way to carry the future European aquaculture forward. In this scoping review, we have hypothesized that semi-intensive fishponds and freshwater multitrophic aquaculture could be an overlooked component in the European food system. The analysis we present reviewed: (1) current positioning of inland freshwater aquaculture in European food system; (2) European fishponds' current positioning within food system and inland freshwater aquaculture; (3) way forward for semi-intensive European fishponds through ecological pond nutrition research; (4) ecological technologies for realizing ‘net zero’ aquatic foods in land-locked Europe; (5) risks and potential for making the transition. We conclude ample circular technologies and nature-based solutions in pond and multitrophic freshwater aquaculture in land-locked Europe. They have the potential to transform food systems locally with low-impact aquatic food. European inland freshwater aquaculture may be a sleeping giant among EU's planetary healthy diet ambitions. As an example, 0.25 million hectares available Central Eastern European fishponds have the potential to ecologically substitute 1 billion marine fish oil capsules (EPA + DHA in 1 kt marine fish oil) and 11.9 kt of casein (leucine from 0.45 billion litres milk) equivalents, fulfilling singlehandedly annual leucine or EPA + DHA requirements of 1.2–3 million adults.