As aquaculture becomes an increasingly important pillar of global food security, the sector faces a crucial challenge: ensuring that production growth is accompanied by environmental sustainability, economic viability, and technical reliability. In this article, Renata Gonçalves explores how innovative approaches such as Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), and alternative feed ingredients are shaping the future of sustainable aquaculture, while also examining the regulatory, workforce, and knowledge-transfer barriers that must be addressed to translate innovation into real-world impact.

In this article, Michael Viegas explores why traditional production indicators such as growth rates and survival are no longer sufficient to fully assess fish performance, and how emerging physiological and molecular tools are opening the way towards a more predictive, welfare-oriented and sustainable approach to aquaculture management.

During the month of June, Oeiras will host an international initiative organised by Fórum Oceano, the Municipality of Oeiras and the Oeiras Valley Investment Agency, bringing together policymakers, companies, investors, scientific institutions, diplomats, clusters, startups and representatives from several strategic ecosystems connected to the blue economy.

As ports evolve into increasingly complex and multifunctional hubs, innovation is no longer confined to operational efficiency but extends across energy, industry, mobility and sustainability. In this article, Manuel Melo, Innovation Manager of the Hub Azul network, explores how open innovation is emerging as a strategic approach for ports to navigate this transformation—enabling them to remain competitive while embracing new roles through collaboration with startups, industry and research ecosystems.

At its General Assembly held on 7 April at the Port of Lisbon Auditorium, in the Rocha Conde de Óbidos Maritime Terminal, Lisbon, Fórum Oceano approved the 2025 Activity Report and Financial Statements, the 2026 Activity Plan and Budget, and the election of its Strategic Council.

As global seafood demand accelerates and aquaculture becomes central to feeding a growing population, the sector faces a pivotal challenge: how to scale production while safeguarding fish welfare, environmental integrity and economic viability. In this article, Iris Silva, Molecular Biology and Genomics Researcher at S2AquaCoLAB, explores how personalized nutrition is reshaping aquaculture through precision science. By aligning feeding strategies with the specific biological needs of fish, this emerging approach offers a pathway to improve performance, reduce environmental impact and strengthen the long-term sustainability of the blue economy.