Masterclass Excursion 2025 – Looking Beyond Borders and Perspectives

From 22 to 26 September 2025, the international excursion of the Austrian master class in fisheries took place. A special feature of this journey was that planning, organisation, and the programme itself were entirely in the hands of the participants. The future masters thus demonstrated not only technical expertise but also organisational skills and self-reliance – key competencies for their professional careers ahead.

The week-long excursion led the group to Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia, where they visited a wide range of enterprises: modern recirculating aquaculture systems, traditional carp pond farms, large salmonid hatcheries, lagoon and offshore facilities, as well as mussel farms. Central questions for the future of the fisheries sector were at the heart of the programme – efficient use of water and energy, adaptation to climate change, strengthening regional value chains, and maintaining high product quality.

It became clear how diverse aquaculture practices can be and how they ultimately pursue similar goals. Alongside production methods, marketing and consumer behaviour were also central topics. The group discussed how regional products can gain more visibility, the importance of direct marketing and short supply chains, and the opportunities arising from the growing interest in sustainable food.