APA is a national association of aquaculture producers that spans the entire mainland and the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira. It represents around 90% of Portuguese aquaculture production and has approximately 50 member companies.
The Association aims to develop, promote, and enhance aquaculture and fisheries activities on a technical, scientific, commercial, and associative level, ensuring that its members play an increasing role in decision-making processes and the dissemination of information related to the sector. It also aims to organize and maintain services of interest for its members, including information, technical support, and consultancy; to organize conferences, interviews, study visits, seminars, workshops, training sessions, consultations, protocols, or other initiatives that contribute to its goals; and to develop projects and promote scientific and technological research aimed at improving aquaculture activities and products, as well as to promote specialized and professional training programs.
All types of aquaculture and all species produced in Portugal are represented within APA—from extensive bivalve farming in coastal areas, such as oysters, clams, and mussels, to semi-intensive offshore systems producing seabass, seabream, and meagre; as well as intensive RAS (Recirculation Aquaculture Systems) for turbot and sole farming, and companies involved in macroalgae and freshwater aquaculture, including salmon production at high densities.
Many APA member companies have strong and well-structured research and development divisions—such as Stolt Sea Farm, Flatlantic, Sea Eight, and Algaplus—engaged in applied research for aquaculture.
APA maintains close collaboration with Portugal’s leading universities and research centers, such as Colab S2AQUA, B2E, +Atlantic, CIIMAR, CCMAR, and CESAM, and is actively involved, alongside government agencies, in the development of legislation related to aquaculture, including licensing, environmental impact, and food safety.
Many technical managers from APA member companies provide training and lead workshops on various aquaculture-related topics, often in close collaboration with administrative bodies such as DGAV, IPMA, and APA-ARH.
APA in ACUICONECTA: APA brings a deep understanding of the issues affecting different forms of aquaculture and the research needed to address them. Additionally, it plays a key role in facilitating the transfer of research results from the project to the industry.
Go to the website of the Portuguese Aquaculture Association