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European Molluscan Producers' Association

EMPA

L’association se donne pour objet : • D’assurer la représentation des producteurs de coquillages au sein des instances officielles européennes ; • D’organiser, dans le respect des règles communautaires, de façon cohérente et permanente, la concertation entre tous les partenaires de la filière «coquillages» au niveau européen ; • De proposer, participer ou prendre toutes initiatives utiles au maintien et au développement de la production de coquillages de l’Union Européenne, notamment : o en matière de protection et de gestion des ressources conchylicoles actuelles et des sites potentiels de production, o en matière d’organisation du marché intérieur de l’Union Européenne, o en matière d’échanges avec les pays tiers.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Costas Kadis (Commissioner) and

3 Dec 2025 · Exchange of views around Oceans Pact, Vision for the Future of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Europe by 2040 and evaluation and possible revision of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)

Response to EU taxonomy - Review of the environmental delegated act

26 Nov 2025

EMPA considers the revision of the Climate and Environmental Delegated Acts an important opportunity to strengthen both clarity and environmental integrity within the EU Taxonomy. Shellfish farming is inherently based on the sustainable use of natural ecosystems and is fully exposed to the consequences of climate change. Without clean waters, balanced nutrient cycles and resilient marine habitats, the activity cannot exist. In return, shellfish aquaculture directly contributes to ecosystem restoration, provides essential ecosystem services such as nutrient removal and water purification, and delivers low-carbon, nature-based food production. In this sense, shellfish aquaculture is both a nature-based economic sector and an environmental ally. In this context, EMPA recommends that the revised Delegated Acts maintain robust Do-no-significant-harm criteria and avoid excessive flexibility that could dilute key environmental requirements. Furthermore, simplification should focus on clearer guidance, improved consistency with EU water and marine legislations, and proportionate evidence requirements rather than on lowering standards. The EU Taxonomy is also a key opportunity to better align the aquatic environmental agenda with the development of a sustainable blue-food system. Preserving strong screening criteria and ensuring effective oversight of the enforcement by Member States of measures to restore aquaculture waters will help secure a level playing field and support sectors like shellfish aquaculture that genuinely depend on and enhance the resilience of Europes marine environment.
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Response to Roadmap towards Nature Credits

15 Sept 2025

The European Molluscs Producers Association (EMPA) welcomes the publication of the European Commissions new Roadmap toward Nature credits (COM (2025)374) and fully shares its ambitious and cutting-edge objectives. As a sector delivering essential ecosystem services, including nitrogen absorption, water clarification, biodiversity enhancement or reduction of coastal erosion, EMPA is encouraged by the Commissions recognition that low-impact aquatic food producers can play a meaningful role in restoring Europes natural capital. The EMPA calls on the European Commission to work closely with marine stakeholders and ensure that shellfish producers are actively represented in the planned EU expert group on nature credits and part of the mentioned pilot initiatives. EMPA wishes to emphasise the necessity of reducing both current and anticipated administrative burdens, ensuring policy coherence, and maintaining a well-coordinated regulatory landscape at the EU level, with due consideration given to site specificity. At a time when the shellfish industry is significantly affected by water pollution and climate change, any additional policy that is not meticulously managed risks exacerbating declines in production levels. EMPA also stresses the importance of taking into account the experience already gained with carbon credits and with subsidies aimed at mitigating environmental impacts in the agricultural sector (CAP), in order to harmonise, standardise and integrate the instruments that will be developed. EMPA stands ready to contribute with technical expertise, data, and case studies to help define fit-for-purpose methodologies for marine credit recognition and to demonstrate the restorative value of shellfish farming across Europes coastal regions. About EMPA The European Molluscs Producers Association (EMPA) represents national organisations and producers from the EUs shellfish sector, including oysters, mussels, clams, and other molluscs. EMPA advocates for a sustainable, competitive, and environmentally responsible shellfish aquaculture sector in Europe.
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Meeting with Gabriele Giudice (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto)

27 May 2025 · Exchange of views on the shellfish aquaculture sector

Meeting with Pernille Weiss-Ehler (Cabinet of Commissioner Jessika Roswall)

27 May 2025 · The Water Resilience Strategy

Meeting with Jessika Roswall (Commissioner) and

25 Mar 2025 · Roundtable “Water, Agriculture, and the Food Supply Chain”

Meeting with Costas Kadis (Commissioner) and

18 Mar 2025 · Presentation of views about aquaculture

Response to Updating the list of invasive species threatening biodiversity and ecosystem services across the EU

3 Mar 2025

The European Molluscan Producers Association EMPA calls for adding Callinectes sapidus on the list. The Aquaculture Advisory Council has made a number of recommendations to solve the problem of destroying coastal ecosystems. https://aac-europe.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AAC-WG2-_-Letter-Blue-Crab-shellfish-aquaculture_DEC-23.pdf
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Response to European Water Resilience Strategy

3 Mar 2025

Please find attached the European Molluscan Producers' Association's proposal. Thank you in advance for your attention.
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