According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global consumption of fish has increased by 122 percent since 1990 and aquaculture now accounts for more than 50 percent of current fish consumption.

Source : FAO

The EO4SA project supports the sustainable development of aquaculture by leveraging Earth Observation technologies to address major environmental and operational challenges faced by the sector. 

Led by the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (NERSC) with Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), the project aims to deliver tailored EO-based products and indicators that address four priority thematic areas: fish mortality due to salmon lice outbreaks, the impact of toxic Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) on shellfish farming, spatial conflicts in the multi-use of coastal areas, and the detection of unreported and unregulated aquaculture activities. 

Through improved monitoring, forecasting, and decision-support tools, EO4SA contributes to ensuring responsible aquaculture practices, supports regulatory compliance, and strengthens resilience against environmental risks, aligning with the EU’s Blue Economy objectives and broader ocean governance frameworks.