Economic Importance of Aquaculture in Spain Compared to Other European Countries: European Court of Auditors’ Report on Aquaculture in the EU

The Green Agenda is a priority of the European Union. The development of environmentally friendly economic activities is high on the agenda of the EU institutions. Aquaculture is presented as an alternative activity to traditional fishing. For this reason, European funds have been allocated to promote aquaculture in the EU. The Court of Auditors of the EU has carried out the first complete audit on the efficiency of the financial resources received by the countries. This article analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the aquaculture sector, the conclusions of the European Court of Auditors, and the main changes to be undertaken in the future. The reports conducted thus far are insufficient to establish measurable results. Additionally, these audits should be coordinated more effectively in terms of objectives and work plans to generate relevant data for the design of a European aquaculture policy that adequately addresses the sector’s needs.