AQUACULTURE ENTERPRISES AND PRODUCTION

In 2023, Veneto confirms itself as the first region in Italy for the number of aquaculture plants (23%) (Figure 1), while Emilia-Romagna is the first region for production volumes (25% of the total) (Figure 2). Five regions (Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Puglia) host 68% of the plants.

Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia confirm themselves as the main production hubs and together with Marche and Tuscany they cover 68% of national production.

The relationship between production volumes and number of plants varies from region to region, in particular depending on the number of intensive, semi-intensive and extensive fish farming plants.

In most coastal regions, the use of brackish/salt water resources prevails, with plants located in transitional, coastal and marine environments (Figure 1).

All the regions that include coastal areas produce both fish and shellfish (Figure 2), with the exception of Basilicata, whose production can only be ascribed to freshwater fish farming.

Mussel and trout farming are the most important farming systems (Table 1), representing 44% and 26% of national production respectively.

For shellfish farming, the largest productions are in Emilia-Romagna and Veneto, which together contribute to 63% of the national production of the sector (Figure 2). Other significant productions are found in Puglia, Marche, Sardinia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Sicily (Figure 2).

For fish farming, 54% of national production is concentrated in 4 regions: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Abruzzo and Veneto, mainly in freshwater systems, and Tuscany in a marine environment. Marine fish farming is almost entirely based on the farming of two species, sea bream and sea bass, with a total production in 2023 of 12,303 t which represents over 93% of marine fish farming and 9.5% of national production (Table 1). Tuscany represents the main production center for marine fish farming, followed by Sardinia, Lazio, Campania and Puglia.

In fish farming, exotic species (Table 2) are raised almost exclusively in fresh water and represent 73% of total fish production. The ocellated croaker ( Sciaenops ocellatus ) is the only exotic marine species bred in Italy since 2022. In the case of shellfish farming, exotic species ( R. Philippinarum and Magallana gigas ) contribute 28% to the total volume of the sector (Table 1).

In 2023, no exotic species of crustaceans appear to have been bred (Eurostat data).

ISPRA is engaged in studies aimed at verifying the presence of exotic species and associated species for an assessment of risks and potential impacts and at developing a traceability system for the movement of bivalve molluscs.

Overall, both in the short term (2021-2023) and in the medium term (2019-2023), we observe a situation of stagnation in the sector in terms of production volumes (Figures 3 and 4), contrary to what was recorded for the value of production which, in 2023, exceeded 600 million euros (Table 1).

The shellfish farming sector is the one that presents the greatest critical issues and fluctuations in production volumes and requires specific support actions.

The data referring to production volumes from 1994 to 2001 (Figure 3) include in the calculation, in addition to farmed molluscs, also bivalve molluscs collected on natural beds, for an annual production estimated at around 30,000 tonnes in the period. However, even without considering the molluscs collected on natural beds, the production volumes of farmed molluscs have shown important and continuous fluctuations in the last 20 years.

In addition to the historical critical issues linked to the environmental quality of the waters intended for the life of molluscs, the impacts of climate change and the bureaucratic-administrative difficulties for the release of state concessions, the blue crab emergency has been added as a new threat to the sector ( Callinectes sapidus ).

Faced with the dramatic explosion of this highly invasive alien species in 2023, with direct impacts on fishing and clam production, the Italian Government has allocated specific funds. These measures include support measures for affected operators and the financing of extraordinary containment plans based on the capture and marketing of the crustacean, aiming to reduce predatory pressure on production, in particular venericulture (Ordinance no. 3 of 21 July 2025, "Implementation of the intervention plan to contain and combat the phenomenon of the spread and proliferation of the blue crab species ( Callinectes sapidus )”).

Given the strategic role of shellfish farming, as a source of proteins with a low environmental footprint ("Farm to Fork Strategy", 2020) and as a provider of ecosystem services, such as those regulating the coastal marine environment (see Nitrogen and Phosphorus Balance Indicator), the reduction in the production of molluscs, both clams and mussels, which has occurred in recent years deserves attention from political decision makers and actions to support the sustainable development of the sector.

The problems that emerged, in particular the vulnerability of shellfish farming, the persistent bureaucratic difficulties and the dependence on a few species (bream, sea bass, trout, mussels), represent challenges well highlighted in the previous community programming cycle (PSA and OP EMFF 2014-2020), but still not resolved. It is hoped that the new programming cycle (PSA and OP EMFF 2021-2027) which provides, among others, direct investments to support sustainable aquaculture activities (Priority 2.1), in particular for shellfish farming and integrated systems for multitrophic aquaculture, achieves the expected objectives.