The Online Summer School Series: Circular Bioeconomy Solutions for European Aquaculture was organised by the European research projects SAFE, AWARE and INNOAQUA to share research findings, practical case studies and applied insights on circular bioeconomy approaches for sustainable aquaculture in Europe.

The series consisted of three online half-day sessions held in June 2026, bringing together researchers, students, early-career professionals, aquaculture practitioners, industry stakeholders and policy-oriented audiences interested in circularity, resource efficiency, waste valorisation, aquafeeds, aquaponics, sustainability assessment and innovation uptake in aquaculture systems.

Across the three sessions, speakers from the SAFE, AWARE and INNOAQUA projects presented examples of how aquaculture waste streams, by-products, water, nutrients and biological resources can be better recovered, reused and valorised. The programme also addressed the broader enabling conditions required to scale circular aquaculture innovations, including policy frameworks, patent landscaping, economic viability, sustainability assessment and value-chain resilience.

The recordings of the three sessions are available below.

The summer school was designed to disseminate research findings and practical knowledge generated by the SAFE, AWARE and INNOAQUA projects. It provided an accessible learning space for participants interested in how circular bioeconomy principles can support more sustainable, resource-efficient and resilient aquaculture systems.

The programme focused on three complementary dimensions:

Circular innovations in aquaculture systems
Presentations explored how nutrients, water, sludge, biomass and by-products can be recovered and reused through circular approaches, including aquaponics, insect-based biotechnology, algae production, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture and regenerative bioeconomy models.

Valorisation of aquaculture waste streams
Several contributions addressed how liquid and solid aquaculture waste streams can be transformed into valuable resources, including circular aquafeed ingredients, biofertilisers, algae biomass, insects and other bio-based products.

Sustainability, policy and market uptake
The final session addressed the enabling conditions for circular aquaculture innovations, including sustainability assessment, EU policy frameworks, intellectual property, economic viability, business models and value-chain resilience.

The series was especially relevant for:

Students and early-career researchers interested in aquaculture, circular bioeconomy, environmental sciences, biotechnology, food systems and sustainability.

Researchers and academics working on aquaculture systems, aquafeeds, aquaponics, algae, insects, resource recovery, water treatment, food safety, policy or sustainability assessment.

Aquaculture professionals and industry stakeholders interested in practical approaches to waste valorisation, circular ingredients, integrated production systems and resource efficiency.

Policy, governance and innovation stakeholders working on sustainable aquaculture, bioeconomy strategies, circular economy, environmental regulation and value-chain development.