In its first two years, BIOAQUA COST Action (CA22160) has made remarkable strides toward its vision of transforming aquaculture through eco-friendly biomolecular solutions. Focused on integrating pioneering technologies for biosecurity and fish welfare, the Action promotes the groundwork for better fish quality and health, improved animal welfare, farms productivity, and reduced environmental impact.
One key achievement is the creation of a shared Data Lake of biomolecular solution data, still under way and which will culminate in a position paper on sustainable biosecurity practices in the next phase. Concurrently, the network has organised two High-Performance Workshops enabling researchers across Europe to discuss innovations and share best practices. Two more editions will happen in 2026 and 2027. Finally, all Action’s Working Groups have been engaged in a technology foresight exercise to define most promising scientific and technological emerging trends towards the fulfilment of BIOAQUA’s vision. These strategic efforts underscore a paradigm shift in aquaculture health management.
Engaging Stakeholders and Society
Ensuring uptake of BIOAQUA’s knowledge is a priority for an Action looking forward to vibrant engagement of fish farmers, policymakers, and the public. Over the first two years, the Action organized 10 knowledge-sharing webinars attracting 369 participants, which not only facilitate peer learning within the network, but also invite external experts to address emerging challenges, thus bridging science and practice. In fact, after an initial flurry of internal webinars in year one, year two focused on curating external speaker series aligned with future trends – resulting in eight thematic webinar series with one already launched in 2025. This strategic shift ensures that stakeholders receive actionable insights, from modern biosensing techniques to policy-relevant research. Beyond webinars, BIOAQUA has embraced creative outreach: a “Fish Superpowers” comic series was published to inspire school students about sustainable aquaculture, and a 2D animation was produced to demystify biomolecular solutions in accessible terms. These joyful science communication tools will extend the Action’s impact to the broader society, fostering public awareness and support for sustainable aquaculture innovations. They are complemented with specific infographics towards concrete groups of stakeholders.
Fostering Collaboration and Capacity
Interdisciplinary collaboration and capacity-building are at the heart of BIOAQUA, fuelling a strong sense of shared purpose among members. The network unites experts from multiple disciplines to develop joint research agendas which materialize in a collection of peer-reviewed scientific papers. Also in relation to this, the Action launched an open call for research ideas, gathering promising R&D proposals that will participate in a training programme. Additionally, dedicated events on diversity and inclusion are shaping plans to enhance gender balance and early-career participation. Dozens of early-career investigators benefited from training schools and grants – including Short-Term Scientific Missions and virtual mobility grants – with financial support awarded across 10 STSMs, 9 virtual and dissemination grants in two years. All 40+ member countries remained involved through regular meetings and networking, highlighting the Action’s reach. The BIOAQUA community takes pride in these achievements, which not only advance science but also build a vibrant, knowledgeable network prepared to drive sustainable change in European aquaculture.