About the AQUAMAX Project

The AQUAMAX project started in March 2006 and is scheduled to run for four years. The project involves 32 partners from throughout Europe with partners also from China and India. 

AQUAMAX starts from the premise that fish play a unique role in human nutrition and wellbeing.
A large body of evidence suggests that fish consumption, particularly of oily fish, reduces cardiovascular disease risk and that it might have beneficial effects on foetal development.

Consumer awareness on healthfulness of omega 3 fatty acids contained in fish is increasing as well as the concern on dietary exposure to persistant organic pollutants (POPs) contained in fish meal and fish oil.

Another matter of concern is the worlds' fisheries stagnation and decline and the consequent struggle to meet the growing, global demand for fish. Aquaculture has thus far managed to make up the deficit but it's growth is becoming increasingly constrained by the limited industrial supply of fish on which aquaculture feeds are so heavily dependent.
 
The Aquamax project aims to strike a delicate balance between the need to lower both use levels of marine resources and POPs contained in fish meal and fish oil and the need to preserve the healthful benefits of farmed fish maintaining high levels of omega 3 fatty acids.
The strategic goal of the AQUAMAX project is therefore to replace as much as possible of the fish meal and fish oil currently used in fish feeds with sustainable, alternative and contaminant free feed resources, ensuring the healthful benefits of fish consumption.
 

Click here to download the Aquamax Project Fact sheet!

AQUAMAX is an initiative funded by the European Commission within the Sixth Framework Programme.

4 programmes of the project

The work of the project is spread over 4 interrelated programmes.

Programme 1: Development of feeds based on sustainable alternatives to fish meal and fish oil

This programme aims to develop novel aquafeeds enabling the production of healthy and contaminant free fish and ensuring quality and food safety. More info>>

Programme 2: Health benefits of fish consumption, with a focus on pregnant woman and allergic diseases

This programme will assess the human health benefits of fish produced on new feeds, conducing nutritional intervention studies in pregnant women in Europe and Asia. More info>>

Programme 3: Safety of fish farmed on the new feeds developed in Aquamax

This programme will assess the safety of fish farmed on the new contaminant-free feeds, analysing the direct toxic effects of contaminants and the modulating effects of beneficial nutrients in fish.  More info>>

Programme 4: Perception of farmed fish by the public/consumers and the scientists

This programme will devise a framework to communicate the risk and benefits of consuming farmed fish to the public and other stakeholders and contribute to the development of tailored and effective risk communication strategies regarding the consumption of farmed fish. More info>>

Click here to download the AQUAMAX technical leaflets - updated with progress & outcomes!

News & Newsletters

AQUAMAX FINAL MEETING 

The final Aquamax meeting took successfully place on the 29th of June in Brussels (BE).

Agenda

9.00 - Welcome by DG Research

9.10 - Introduction to AQUAMAX by Coordinator - Prof. Øyvind Lie

9.30 - Developmentof feeds based on sustainable alternatives to fish meal and fish oil by directorof programme 1 - Prof. Sachi Kaushik

11.00 - Health benefits of fish consumption, with a focus onpregnant woman and allergic diseases by director of programme 2 - Prof. Philip Calder

11.45 - Safety of fish farmed on the new feeds developed in AQUAMAX by director of programme 3 - Prof. Anne-Katrine Lundebye Haldorsen

14.00 - Perception of farmed fish by the public/consumers andthe scientists by acting director of programme 4 - Dr. Anne Katrin Schlag

14.45 - Impression of the AQUAMAX project by European Commission, Directorate General for Health and Consumers - Mr. Frans Verstraete

15.40 - Views of AQUAMAX by Secretary General of FEFAC - Mr.Alexander Döring

16.00 Closing remarks by the coordinator

Click here to download the presentations!

The eighth newsletter has been released: News_Aquamax_Issue_08!

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