NACE 03.2 – Aquaculture | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 03.2 covers aquaculture as the controlled rearing of fish, molluscs, crustaceans, other aquatic animals and aquatic plants in ponds, tanks, net cages or coastal installations. Aquaculture differs from fishing (NACE 03.1) in the active management and control of rearing conditions.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 03.2 cover?

NACE 03.2 (Aquaculture) classifies businesses that rear aquatic organisms under controlled conditions — from trout farming in pond facilities through salmon aquaculture in coastal cages to mussel and oyster farming.

Group 03.2 is broken down into two classes:

Public fisheries administrations and water-protection authorities are key contracting authorities for stocking-fish material and aquaculture services.

Public Tenders: Aquaculture and Fish Farming

Aquaculture businesses are important suppliers for public water-body management programmes — stocking fish for state and federal waters are regularly tendered.

Typical types of contract

• Stocking fish for public waters: Supply of stocking fish (trout, carp, grayling, huchen) for river and lake management by fisheries administrations
• Reintroduction programmes: Stocking with endangered species (salmon, sturgeon, nase) on behalf of nature conservation authorities
• Fish supplies for institutional catering: Farmed fish (trout, pangasius) for schools, hospitals and canteens as an alternative to wild catch
• Aquaculture research: Experimental rearing and breeding trials on behalf of state research institutions
• Algae and aquatic plants: Supply of algal biomass for research and environmental purposes

CPV codes for NACE 03.2

For Contracting Authorities and Bidders

Public contracting authorities

• State fisheries administrations: Procurement of stocking-fish material for state waters
• Nature conservation authorities: Reintroduction programmes for endangered fish species
• Hospitals and schools: Supply contracts for farmed fish as food
• Research institutions: Experimental animals and research stock for aquaculture studies
• EU-funded projects: EMFAF-funded projects with aquaculture relevance

Typical eligibility requirements

• Fishery-business permit: Approval as an aquaculture operation under national fisheries law
• Animal-health certificate: Health status of the facility under the EU Animal Health Law (2016/429)
• Food-law approval: EU approval under Regulation 853/2004 for food deliveries
• Species-specific permits: Special authorisations for stocking with protected or non-native species
• Quality certificates: ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) as sustainability evidence

FAQ

What tenders are available for aquaculture businesses? Key public contracts are stocking-fish supplies for state fisheries administrations (CPV 03320000), fish supply contracts for institutional catering (03311000) and contracts for reintroduction programmes for endangered fish species by nature conservation authorities.

Which CPV codes are relevant for NACE 03.2? Primarily 03320000 (livestock and fish), 03311000 (fish for food purposes) and 77000000 (fishery services). For research contracts, 73111000 applies.

Are sustainability certificates required for aquaculture supplies? ASC certification or equivalent evidence is increasingly required by forward-looking contracting authorities as an award criterion or minimum standard, particularly for school and hospital supplies with sustainability commitments.

• NACE A – Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: Parent section
• NACE 03 – Fishing and aquaculture: Parent division
• NACE 03.1 – Fishing: Related group

Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.