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Overview of the Dutch aquaculture and aquatic genetic resources
The most important shellfish species in the aquaculture sector in the Netherlands are mussel and oyster. European eel and two species of catfish are the dominant fish species. The Dutch aquaculture sector is relatively small and diverse.
Producers of fish, shellfish and seaweeds are all Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), but there are also key multinational companies in the supply chain (breeding, feed, system design) and top educational and research institutions that cover all aspects of aquaculture.
As for the wild relatives of the species produced in aquaculture, only the shellfish (mussel and oyster), eel, turbot and pike perch live in the wild in the Netherlands. In addition, some species that occur wild in the Netherlands are being produced in other (European) countries, but not in the Netherlands, such as carp.
The FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) requested countries to submit country reports for the Preparation of the First State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The Dutch country report describes the state of the national aquaculture sector, the relevant fish and shellfish species, and the most important factors influencing species diversity in aquaculture and their wild relatives in the Netherlands.