On March 2, 2026, as a back-to-back event to the 12th Fish Congress, a workshop organized by the Fish Market Development Association took place at the Sheraton Hotel in Sopot as part of the AquaLoop project. The meeting, titled “Aquaculture Forum Towards the Development of Circular Economy Practices,” brought together representatives of the fisheries sector, academia, and public administration.
The workshop took the form of an open, moderated discussion focused on the possibilities of implementing circular economy principles in aquaculture. The discussion was introduced by project presentations and speeches from external experts, who presented the concept of the circular economy in the fisheries sector. Particular attention was paid to issues such as the upcycling of food products and the more efficient use of side streams from aquaculture and fish processing — including the production of protein hydrolysates from post-production residues.
Nearly 30 participants attended the event, including trout, sturgeon, and carp farmers, representatives of the scientific community, and government administration, including the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The discussion showed that the idea of better resource management in the aquaculture sector is widely supported by stakeholders. At the same time, participants unanimously pointed to significant barriers hindering the practical implementation of circular solutions — primarily of an economic and organizational nature. The workshop marked an important step toward identifying these challenges and building a shared platform for dialogue for the sector’s further development.
Text credit: Tomasz Kulikowski
Photo credit: Wioletta Gwiaździńska