New EU initiative will help the aquaculture industry
Collaborating partners in the OCCAM project. Photo credits: Audun Iversen, Nofima
May 1 marked the official launch of OCCAM (Operationalising Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in European Aquaculture), a pioneering four-year project funded under the Horizon Europe programme. OCCAM aims to equip the European aquaculture sector with innovative solutions to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Our partners spent several days in Tromsø launching the project, planning upcoming activities, and discussing the implementation of OCCAM. This kick-off provided a strong foundation for collaboration and alignment across the consortium. The consortium consists of 22 partners from research, industry, non-profit, and aquaculture sectors from diverse regions, all committed to climate-proofing the aquaculture industry. Faroese companies Firum, Hiddenfjord, and Avrik are also participating. Participants from the Faroe Islands will develop a tool to support the administration and the aquaculture industry in assessing the impact of decisions on lice and climate change. Firum will lead this part. Additionally, Sjókovin will be responsible for socio-economic analyses.
Faroese partners outside Nofima headquarters.
The project will deliver outcomes in the following key areas:
Sustainable Aquaculture for a Changing Climate – OCCAM will pilot novel aquaculture practices and tools that help reduce environmental impact while ensuring economic viability. Innovative methods for monitoring and managing aquaculture systems will enable producers to respond in real time to changes caused by climate impacts.
Science-Driven Tools for Smarter Decisions – Digital innovation is key in OCCAM. The project will deliver data-driven tools and best practices to support smarter, climate-resilient decision-making throughout the aquaculture value chain.
Collaboration for Lasting Impact – OCCAM will bring together industry stakeholders, scientists, and policymakers, OCCAM, fostering cross-sector collaboration to ensure that its results are both practical and impactful. Training materials and policy briefs will support the integration of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies into long-term aquaculture management.
Nine Case Studies Across Europe – OCCAM will conduct nine regional case studies, covering a diverse range of aquaculture methods and sectors, from industrial aquaculture to small-scale operations. These case studies will test the project’s tools and approaches, ensuring relevance and applicability across Europe’s aquaculture industry. With climate change posing increasing risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities, OCCAM is a timely and vital step toward securing a sustainable future for European aquaculture.
“It is exciting to be able to collaborate with Faroese partners in international projects. This provides us with a great opportunity to create results that can have a positive impact on the Faroe Islands and the aquaculture industry here´´, says Unn Laksá, the CEO of Sjókovin.
OCCAM is funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement N° 101182044. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or REA. Neither the European Union nor REA can be held responsible for them.
