BlueBioclusters Regions
Explore how each region is advancing its transition to a sustainable Blue Bioeconomy and unlocking new opportunities.
The Blue Bioeconomy focuses on sustainably using marine resources like fish, algae, and shellfish to create innovative products in food, cosmetics, and biotechnology. By turning side streams and waste into valuable materials, it supports a circular, eco-friendly economy and drives growth across Europe’s coastal regions.
Belgium
France
Portugal
Scotland
Lithuania
Estonia
Sweden
Norway
Iceland
9 Regions progressing with their
sustainable Blue Bioeconomy transition
Belgium holds strong potential for cultivated seaweed to be used in biopolymer products such as chitosan and cellulose, with applications in food packaging, drug delivery, cosmetics, and chemicals. Additionally, oyster shells are being valorized into high-end products.
The country is home to its first offshore mussel farm, Zeeboerderij Westdiep, which remains small-scale and faces logistical challenges. Interest in microalgae is growing, particularly for applications in animal feed and health supplements.
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) for fish and shrimp are in place but continue to struggle with economic viability.
Key Challenges:
Low production volumes limit the development of valuable side-stream products.
Legislative barriers restrict market access for these side products.
Consumer awareness and willingness to pay fair prices remain significant obstacles.
Mussels cultivated on ropes show potential not only for meat production but also for integrated cultivation with rainbow trout in offshore cages. Development is underway for marine algae-based dyes and fertilizers, as well as for full seaweed biomass valorization for use in cosmetics and other industries—such as the production of various seaweed extracts.
There is growing interest in mussel and seaweed farming in Estonia, driven in part by EU funding. The processing of red seaweed (furcellaran) is already established, particularly for cosmetic and food applications.
Local collaboration hubs, like the Saaremaa Community of Practice, are emerging to support innovation and knowledge exchange in the sector. Efforts are also being made to develop offshore aquaculture capabilities.
Key Challenges:
Unfavorable climate conditions, the environmental state of the Baltic Sea, and complex permitting processes hinder offshore aquaculture development.
The sector is primarily B2B, limiting local value-added opportunities.
Stronger investment and improved coordination are needed to support scale-up and innovation.
France is a European leader in algae production and marine biotechnology. The regions of Brittany and Pays de la Loire are particularly strong in research and innovation, driving advancements in seaweed and microalgae applications.
There is significant potential to expand seaweed cultivation for the production of gelling agents, bioplastics, and textile dyes. Similarly, microalgae are being explored for use in aquaculture feed, cosmetics, wastewater treatment, biofertilizers, bioplastics, and biofuels. There are also niche applications for cyanobacteria, shellfish, and whitefish.
France’s blue economy is supported by clusters like Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique, which brings together over 450 members to foster innovation in algae cultivation, aquaculture, and marine biotechnology. Research and development efforts are ongoing in areas such as biorefinery processes and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems.
Key Challenges:
Balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.
High fuel and operating costs impacting producer viability.
Scaling inland aquaculture technologies remains a technical and financial hurdle.
Iceland's cod fishery is particularly significant, featuring a non-linear production model that enables full utilization of the fish—whether for food, cosmetics, or pharmaceuticals. Other fish species also contribute to both linear and non-linear value chains, such as the extraction of biopolymers from shrimp shells. Meanwhile, the use of microalgae for food and cosmetic applications is still in development.
The country is known for its 100% Fish initiative, which maximizes the value of cod side-streams. Companies like Kerecis are global leaders in using cod skin for medical applications, showcasing Iceland’s strength in high-value marine innovation. There is also a growing interest in seaweed and microalgae farming.
The Iceland Ocean Cluster supports this blue bioeconomy growth, bringing together numerous SMEs and internationally operating companies.
Key Challenges:
No established regulatory framework for seaweed farming.
High production costs make microalgae ventures difficult to scale.
Scalability and reliance on global markets introduce risks for long-term sustainability.
Lithuania has a well-developed fishery and aquaculture value chain, yet a key challenge remains: most open sea and coastal catches are exported to neighboring countries for processing, while local fish processors rely on imported raw materials. This mismatch highlights a structural gap in the value chain.
The country’s bioeconomy is growing rapidly, with strong academic leadership from Klaipėda University. Production of shrimp, fish, and algae is expanding to serve multiple industries, from food to cosmetics and bio-based materials. In 2024, the Lithuanian Bioeconomy HUB was launched to foster cross-sector collaboration and innovation.
Key Challenges:
Policy and investment gaps hinder the growth of the blue bioeconomy.
Market mechanisms are still underdeveloped, limiting commercial uptake.
Fragmented infrastructure poses barriers to scaling and efficient value chain integration.
Norway, a global leader in seafood exports, has a well-established whitefish sector and is making strong advances in the valorization of whitefish side-streams. There is significant potential to expand the harvesting and cultivation of macroalgae for the production of gelling agents, food ingredients, chemicals, biopolymers, compostable bioplastics, and textile dyes.
While the aquaculture industry is highly developed, there is growing interest in developing additional value chains by utilizing waste materials for feedstock and even human consumption. A shift toward biorefinery models is also underway, particularly focusing on extracting bioactives from microalgae.
Innovative initiatives such as BIOSIRKEL are driving research into fish residual valorization. Other developments include sustainable feed from mussels, collagen and gelatin derived from fish skin and bones, and the use of Calanus zooplankton for dietary supplements and animal feed.
Key Challenges:
High costs of processing infrastructure for side-stream utilization.
Complex regulatory landscape for introducing new bio-based products.
Need for greater consumer awareness and the development of stable markets.
Portugal has a strong tradition in the fish sector, encompassing fisheries, fish processing, and the canning industry. Discards and byproducts from these activities are primarily used in feed formulations, contributing to sustainable aquaculture practices.
The cultivation and harvesting of seaweed and microalgae is also growing, supporting the development of products for the food market, cosmetics, fertilizers, and nutraceuticals. Microalgae, in particular, are being explored for diverse applications, including wastewater treatment, biofertilizers, bioplastics, and high-value compounds for the cosmetics and health sectors.
Traditional fish consumption habits support the growth of Portugal’s blue bioeconomy. The country is actively valorizing fish byproducts, algae, and marine bacteria across various sectors—ranging from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to animal feed and sustainable materials.
The Blue Bioeconomy Roadmap for Portugal outlines the potential for unlocking additional value from marine side-streams and diversifying marine-based industries.
Key Challenges:
Fragmented coordination and limited data sharing among stakeholders.
Insufficient access to funding for scaling innovative solutions.
Complex regulatory and licensing processes slow down development.
Scotland is actively expanding its blue bioeconomy, with growing efforts in the harvesting and cultivation of seaweed for a variety of applications, including animal feed supplements, plant growth stimulants, cosmetics, food, chemicals, biopolymers, compostable bioplastics, and textile dyes.
Shellfish and crustaceans—such as oysters, scallops, and mussels—are harvested primarily for human consumption, though their waste products hold untapped potential for use in bioplastics, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Microalgae production is also advancing, particularly for aquaculture and larviculture feed, as well as in cosmetics, food, and nutraceuticals.
Scotland has a strong aquaculture sector, notably in salmon farming and shellfish cultivation. The seaweed and shellfish industries are expanding rapidly, supported by institutions like the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), which recently secured £35 million to support the sector over the next decade, and the Seaweed Academy, promoting research and skills development.
Innovative projects are also underway to link marine restoration with commercial production, such as native oyster recovery initiatives.
Key Challenges:
Unclear and inconsistent licensing processes for seaweed farming.
Biomass inconsistency makes market access difficult for producers.
Transparency, scalability, and coordination remain weak in a fragmented sector.
Sweden’s West Coast, particularly Västra Götaland, is an emerging hub for aquaculture and marine biotechnology. Microalgae cultivation in the region supports the production of high-value compounds for aquaculture and larviculture, as well as cosmetics, food, and nutraceuticals. Seaweed is also cultivated and processed for food and health-related products, while the cultivation of sea squirts is gaining attention—producing no waste and serving as a novel food source.
The region has strong foundations in traditional fishing, especially herring, and is increasingly focused on strengthening domestic seafood value chains to reduce reliance on imports. Land-based aquaculture, particularly recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), is growing, with species like arctic char and rainbow trout being farmed.
Västra Götaland also benefits from robust academic–industry collaboration, fueling innovation and the creation of marine biotechnology spin-offs.
Key Challenges:
Fragmented infrastructure: Initial processing exists, but value-added and secondary processing capacity is limited.
Low consumer awareness around emerging seafood options and novel products.
Permitting and regulatory frameworks are not yet fully adapted to support new aquaculture and biotech models.
