A new external scientific report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), published on 15 June 2026, sets out a methodology for collecting field data to calibrate and verify a model that predicts the spread of chemical substances from marine aquaculture feed into the environment. The report, titled "Model development to predict environmental concentrations of chemical substances in marine sediment when the substance is applied via feed in marine aquaculture: Task 1.5. Planning the additional data collection," focuses on sampling down-current dispersion pathways from sea-cage farms using sediment traps, surface sediments, and short sediment cores. Primary chemical tracers include the antiparasitic and antibiotic agents diflubenzuron, teflubenzuron, emamectin benzoate, oxytetracycline, and praziquantel, supported by trace elements selenium and zinc, alongside sediment characterisation (grain size, bulk density, total organic carbon).
The report is part of a larger EFSA project to develop a predictive model for environmental concentrations of veterinary medicinal substances used in marine aquaculture. Prior tasks in this series include Task 1.1 (developing standard exposure scenarios), Task 1.2 (conceptual model), Task 1.3 (formalising and implementing a pilot model), and Task 1.4 (model setup and analysis), all published as EFSA supporting publications. The current report defines sampling priorities and a staged timeline to ensure comparable datasets across contrasting Nordic and Mediterranean sites, providing the empirical basis for subsequent model calibration (Work Package 2, Task 2.1) and independent verification (Task 2.2).
Where feasible, supporting measurements of hydrodynamics and seabed morphology (e.g., current profiles and bathymetry) and optional underwater sensing will be used to inform site-specific calibration and assess resuspension. The report does not present results but outlines the data collection plan, which is a prerequisite for the model's validation.
The planned field campaign will generate data on the transport, sorption, and deposition of chemical residues from aquaculture feed. This information is critical for EFSA's environmental risk assessment of veterinary medicines used in marine aquaculture, potentially affecting regulatory decisions on the authorisation of such substances. Stakeholders impacted include aquaculture producers, who may face stricter environmental monitoring requirements; national environmental agencies, which will use the model for permitting and enforcement; pharmaceutical companies supplying aquaculture treatments, whose products could be subject to more stringent risk assessments; and environmental NGOs, which may use the data to advocate for tighter controls on chemical discharges.
The report is authored by researchers from Norwegian, Greek, and other European institutions, and is available under open access. The next steps involve executing the data collection plan and then proceeding with model calibration and verification in subsequent work packages.
No prior coverage of this specific EFSA project exists in the last 180 days.