Aquaculture is the fastest growing and likely also the most innovative sector of animal farming at the moment. Annual conferences of the European Aquaculture Society (EAS), an international non-profit association of aquaculture interest groups, are one of the must-go events for all professionals of the field.
Aquaculture Europe 2025 took place at the Palau de Congressos conference center in Valencia, Spain, in September 2025. With over 3,000 registered participants from 90 countries, the event truly reflected a global perspective on new developments within aquaculture. The theme of the conference was “Aquaculture for everyone.”
The program was extremely extensive, covering nutritional, management, and health aspects of all aquaculture species groups and life stages, as well as education, sustainability, conservation, and industry innovation.
Vibrant atmosphere in sunny Valencia
In sunny and warm Valencia, the conference extended beyond the walls of the Palau de Congressos, as participants continued discussions and networking outdoors.
The traditional cocktail party “President’s reception” took place at the Scientific Museum of Valencia, renowned for its astonishing architecture and lively atmosphere.
Inspiring plenary sessions and exhibition highlights
The plenary sessions addressed a wide range of topics, from regenerative aquaculture and functional genome annotations to seafood consumption trends.
The fully sold-out exhibition area featured nearly 200 booths, spanning both the Palau de Congressos and the adjacent Sercotel Sorolla Palace Hotel, showcasing innovations and solutions from across the aquaculture industry.
Strong focus on science and student engagement
Aquaculture Europe 2025 was, above all, a scientific meeting with hundreds of oral and poster presentations.
For students of aquaculture, the event offered an excellent opportunity to practice scientific presentation skills. As always, the organizers awarded the best student e-poster in the final plenary session.
Hankkija FFI’s scientific contribution
Hankkija Finnish Feed Innovations contributed to AE2025 with a presentation by our R&D Manager Hannele Kettunen, highlighting the benefits of Progut® Extra yeast hydrolysate on the performance of Asian seabass.
Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) is an omnivorous, euryhaline fish of major commercial importance in Southeast Asian aquaculture. Because pathogenic bacteria and viruses often challenge the species’ performance, nutritionists are developing novel dietary strategies to support its growth and resilience.
Study on Progut® Extra in Asian Seabass
The study investigated the effects of Progut® Extra, a dietary Saccharomyces yeast hydrolysate, on the performance of juvenile and grower-stage Asian seabass raised in earth ponds in Thailand. Two experiments were conducted – one for juvenile fish and one for the grower stage.
The results demonstrated clear efficacy. In juvenile fish, Progut® Extra significantly increased average daily gain, final weight, and feed intake. In grower fish, Progut® Extra improved average daily gain in a dose-dependent manner and increased body weight after 12 weeks. The supplementation with Progut® Extra significantly improved feed conversion. Carcass composition and foregut villus length remained unaffected by the dietary treatments.
In conclusion, Progut® Extra supplementation enhanced growth performance and feed efficiency in Asian seabass, making it a promising strategy for improving fish production outcomes.
Looking ahead to 2026
Thank you, Aquaculture Europe 2025, for another inspiring event!
The next EAS conference will be held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in 2026 – continuing the global exchange of knowledge and innovation in aquaculture.
