The indicator estimates the size of national aquaculture in terms of the number of active facilities and production volumes, as well as production trends in relation to the objectives set in the Strategic Aquaculture Plan 2014-2020 and the Operational Program of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF OP) 2014-2020.

In 2020, Veneto remained the leading region in Italy in terms of the number of facilities (26%), while Emilia-Romagna was the largest producer by volume (26%). Five regions (Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Puglia, and Sardinia) host 71% of Italy’s aquaculture facilities. Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, and Friuli are confirmed the main producers, and together with Marche and Tuscany, they account for 69% of national production.

Most coastal regions, depend on marine aquaculture, with facilities located in transitional, coastal, and marine environments.

The year 2020 was negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic: the Italian aquaculture production was 122,760 tons, of which 61% were bivalve shellfish and 39% were fish. Crustacean farming remains a minor sector, with a production of only 0.5 tons. Alien species account for 49% of national production. Due to the production decline recorded in 2020, overall aquaculture production between 2013 and 2020 decreased by 13%, failing to meet the growth projections set by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (MiPAAF).

This indicator reports national scale data on surface area and number of current maritime state concessions for aquaculture as well as the Allocated Zones for Aquaculture (AZA). AZAs are designated by the competent authority as "Priority Areas for Aquaculture", meaning they are free from conflicts with other users and have environmental conditions ensuring sustainable production while minimizing environmental impact.

The identification of new marine zones for aquaculture is one of the key objectives of the Strategic Guidelines for a More Sustainable and Competitive EU Aquaculture for 2021–2030 (COM/2021/236), the national Strategic Aquaculture Plans for 2014–2020 and 2021–2027, and the respective European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Operational Program,  established under Regulations 508/2014/EU and 1139/2021/EU. The process of AZA identification falls under the Maritime Spatial Planning Framework established by Directive 2014/89/EU, transposed into Italian law through the Legislative Decree 201/2016. This framework supports the sustainable growth of maritime economies with a coordinated, integrated, and cross-border approach within Maritime Spatial Management Plans.

The maritime space under Italian jurisdiction, between the coastline and the 12-nautical-mile limit, covers approximately 14 million hectares. Of this space, only 19,722 hectares are occupied by state concessions for aquaculture, of which 93.8% (18,500 ha) is for shellfish farming and only 6.2% (1,222 ha) for marine fish farming. As of December 2022, AZAs have been designated only in Tuscany, Marche, and Emilia-Romagna, covering a total area of approximately 19,500 hectares. Within the AZAs, there are 46 state concessions for shellfish farming and 6 for fish farming.

The indicator provides an estimate of the input and removal of nitrogen and phosphorus in coastal environments where aquaculture activities take place. Specifically, fish farming contributes to the release of these nutrients, while mussel farming facilitates their removal.

The balance between the nutrient input from farmed fish and the nutrient removal by bivalve shellfish allows for a regional-level assessment of the net quantitative contribution of aquaculture to trophic processes along the Italian coastline.

At the national level, in 2020, estimates of the nitrogen and phosphorus balance from intensive fish farming and mussel farming showed a reduction compared to 2019. This decrease was due to:

• A decline in nutrient input resulting from lower fish production

• A decrease in nutrient removal due to the reduction in mussel production

  At the regional level, in Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzo, Molise, and Marche, the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus by mussels exceeded the input from farmed fish.