Ecological Restoration of Inland Aquaculture in Land‐Locked Europe: The Role of Semi‐Intensive Fishponds and Multitrophic Technologies in Transforming Food Systems

ABSTRACT Pond aquaculture and water protection in Europe suffer from conflicts, whereas multitrophic freshwater aquaculture technologies face hardships with over‐regulations in Europe. As such, inland freshwater aquaculture in land‐locked Europe has not given its contribution or echoed its importance in regional food system dialogues. The emphasis on marine cages and RAS‐based aquaculture is enormous. Almost if they are the only viable way to carry the future European aquaculture forward. In this scoping review, we have hypothesized that semi‐intensive fishponds and freshwater multitrophic aquaculture could be an overlooked component in the European food system. The analysis we present reviewed: (1) current positioning of inland freshwater aquaculture in European food system; (2) European fishponds' current positioning within food system and inland freshwater aquaculture; (3) way forward for semi‐intensive European fishponds through ecological pond nutrition research; (4) ecological technologies for realizing ‘net zero’ aquatic foods in land‐locked Europe; (5) risks and potential for making the transition. We conclude ample circular technologies and nature‐based solutions in pond and multitrophic freshwater aquaculture in land‐locked Europe. They have the potential to transform food systems locally with low‐impact aquatic food. European inland freshwater aquaculture may be a sleeping giant among EU's planetary healthy diet ambitions. As an example, 0.25 million hectares available Central Eastern European fishponds have the potential to ecologically substitute 1 billion marine fish oil capsules (EPA + DHA in 1 kt marine fish oil) and 11.9 kt of casein (leucine from 0.45 billion litres milk) equivalents, fulfilling singlehandedly annual leucine or EPA + DHA requirements of 1.2–3 million adults.