Sustainable Energy Advancement through Digitalization for Energy Efficient Production in Aquaculture and Fisheries

The SEADEEP project addresses the urgent challenge of reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption in European aquaculture and small-scale fisheries, sectors that are highly energy-intensive and rely on fossil fuels. Key emission sources include feed production, energy use in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), processing, vessel fuel, and macroalgae drying. Small-scale fisheries face additional pressures from ageing fleets, fuel price fluctuations, regulatory constraints, and EU climate targets. Macroalgae cultivation, while low-carbon, requires optimization of energy-intensive processes. Addressing these challenges is critical to improving environmental performance, sustainability and resilience.SEADEEP develops and demonstrates TRL 6–8 digital and energy-efficient solutions across RAS, macroalgae cultivation, and small-scale fisheries. AI-driven monitoring, automation, and sensor technologies optimize production, enhance animal welfare, and protect marine ecosystems. Demonstrations in the North and Baltic Seas validate performance, scalability, and adaptability. The project promotes knowledge exchange, capacity building, and digital literacy among SMEs, operators, and coastal communities, while implementing a Digital Twin approach to provide operational and environmental data for evidence-based governance.The consortium of 30 partners from 10 EU countries and Canada covers the value chain. Operators include Oceanloop, Danish Salmon, SmögenLax, Nordic SeaFarm, Norfolk Seaweed, Vetik, Szkuner Sp. z o.o., and FSK-PO. Technology developers and research institutions deliver innovations in AI, sensors, automation, and sustainability-by-design, while clusters and networks such as SUBMARINER, Food & Bio Cluster Denmark, Eurofish, and EATiP ensure policy alignment, stakeholder engagement, and sector uptake. SEADEEP advances low-emission, digital, and ecosystem-based solutions to transform European aquaculture and fisheries toward a sustainable, resilient future.