Rome- As the European Commission calls on countries to improve how they plan and allocate space and water for aquaculture, FAO’s programme on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) is already offering time-tested, community-driven examples. These agricultural systems, shaped over generations, show how food production can go hand in hand with biodiversity, cultural identity and resilient landscapes.

A new document developed by the EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism (EU AAM): Access to space and water for freshwater and land-based aquaculture, the Commission identifies good practices and provides Member States’ authorities and policymakers with potential solutions to key challenges. These include water quality and availability, habitat conservation, the reuse of infrastructure, raising awareness, and the development of closed and semi-closed aquaculture systems.
 
Many of these approaches are already in place in the carp pond farming system of the Waldviertel region in Lower Austria, designated in 2024 as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. With a 900-year history, this system uses artificial ponds to produce high-quality carp while maintaining ecological balance and supporting biodiversity. It combines low-intensity aquaculture with water conservation, flood control, and local economic development.

The ponds serve as habitats for birds, insects and aquatic life; they regulate water flows and sequester carbon; and they help preserve local knowledge passed down over generations. The system also fosters innovation through agrotourism and the production of value-added goods like carp leather accessories—generating stable income for local communities.

By identifying and designating such systems, the GIAHS programme brings visibility and credibility to rural knowledge systems. It supports countries in shaping more inclusive governance, strengthening territorial development, and revitalizing agricultural practices that respect both people and ecosystems.

Austria’s carp ponds show that sustainable aquaculture does not require starting from scratch—it can be rooted in history, built on traditional wisdom, and scaled through policy support. 

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