In Europe, aquaculture accounts for about 20% of fish production and directly employs some 85 000 people.
The sector is mainly composed of SMEs or micro-enterprises in coastal and rural areas. EU aquaculture is renowned for its high quality, sustainability and consumer protection standards.

The scope of Aquaculture includes the traditional priorities of its sections, but also includes papers from non-traditional scientific areas such as sustainability science, social-ecological systems, ornamental, conservation and restoration related to aquaculture.