OCCAM project participants at the opening meeting in Tromsø. (Photo: Audun Iversen/NOFIMA)

EU Launches OCCAM Initiative to Bolster Fish Farming Against Climate Change

NORWAY
Friday, May 16, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

The Horizon Europe-funded project will develop, test, and scale smart, practical solutions to enhance the resilience and environmental sustainability of the European aquaculture industry in the face of warming oceans.

Tromsø – A new EU-funded project, OCCAM (Operationalizing Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in European Aquaculture), has been launched to address the growing challenges posed by warmer oceans to the aquaculture industry. The initiative aims to develop, test, and scale up concrete, smart, applicable, and scalable solutions to make fish farming more robust and environmentally friendly across Europe, according to project coordinator and senior researcher at Nofima, Petter Olsen.

The research project, which recently commenced in Tromsø, brings together a consortium of 22 partners from research institutions, industry stakeholders, and organizations spanning Europe. The OCCAM initiative is spearheaded by the Norwegian food research institute, Nofima.

"A warmer climate presents significant challenges for the aquaculture industry," stated Olsen in a press release. "Working collaboratively with the industry, OCCAM will identify practical solutions and intelligent methods to better equip the European aquaculture sector for the impacts of a warming climate."

The four-year project will focus on creating tangible solutions, innovative digital tools, and smart farming practices applicable to a diverse range of aquaculture species across numerous European countries. These advancements are intended to empower fish farmers to effectively adapt to changing temperatures and other climate-related impacts, the project coordinator added.

"The solutions developed within OCCAM will encompass both digital innovations and new or improved operational processes. Furthermore, the project will culminate in the preparation and dissemination of best practice recommendations for the wider industry," Olsen concluded.

Broad Collaboration for Industry-Wide Impact:

Researchers and key stakeholders from the aquaculture industry, alongside technology developers, will collaborate closely throughout the project. A crucial aspect of OCCAM involves the creation of comprehensive training materials and the provision of informed advice for policymakers. This knowledge transfer aims to ensure that the project's findings and solutions can be effectively adopted and implemented across the entire European aquaculture landscape.

To guarantee the broad applicability of the developed solutions, OCCAM will implement nine diverse case studies across Europe, encompassing both small-scale and large-scale aquaculture operations.

Climate change presents multifaceted challenges to aquaculture, including rising water temperatures, an increase in extreme weather events, and significant alterations to the marine environment. The OCCAM project represents a vital step towards safeguarding the future of safe and sustainable food production from the sea.

About the Project:

OCCAM is a four-year initiative supported by Horizon Europe, the European Union's largest research and innovation program. Nofima leads the project, working in partnership with a diverse group of European stakeholders from both the aquaculture industry and leading research institutions.

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