Sector Challenges

The shellfish sector is above all a traditional family-based aquaculture activity that is fully integrated in the local landscape. It is an environment-based tradition and will continue to be for a long time, at least with respect to the shellfish growth phase. It is thus essential to monitor and protect this activity to ensure its sustainability and product quality. Shellfish are also key indicators of a healthy environment.

• monitoring of shellfish health
• monitoring of the environment

Since the 1980s, many new techniques have been designed that enhance development sustainability—these advances should be promoted and anticipated by

• assessing the offshore aquaculture development potential
• breeding strains of the main farmed species, and even other species that could be interesting aquaculture candidates, with disease resistance and optimal growth potential, while streamlining spat production techniques (hatcheries/nurseries)