AquaMed - Developing a strategy for aquaculture research in the Mediterranean

Coordinator: European Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Organisation (EFARO) representing:

Institut Français de la Recherche pour l’exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), France
Instituto Espanol de Oceanografia (IEO), Spain
Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies (IMARES), the Netherlands
Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR), Greece
Instituto Centrale per la Ricerca scientifica e tecnologica aplicata al Mare (ISPRA), Italy
Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR), Cyprus
National Institute of Biological Resources (IPIMAR-INRB), Portugal

Start: 1st June 2010
Duration: 36 months
Funding Programme: 7th Framework Programme (FP7)
Sub-Programme: Co-Operation: Theme 2 Food, Agriculture & Fisheries, and Biotechnology
Funding Scheme: Coordination and Support actions (coordinating)

For more information on this project:

Visit: www.aquamedproject.net
Or contact: Marieke Reuver, E-mail: Marieke@aquatt.ie, Tel: +353 1 644 9008

Background:

The rapid development of Mediterranean aquaculture is increasingly confronted with a set of difficulties such as inadequate production systems and competitiveness, interaction and space competition with other users of a limited natural resource. It is prepared to face the major challenges of coastal zone integration, environmental concerns, and inaccurate perceptions of product quality. Aquaculture development in the Mediterranean countries is characterised by a wide range of consumer preferences, and diverse levels of maturity respect to research and development structures and capacities. Coastal zones are of strategic importance to the EU. Many European citizens live, holiday, and work in these areas. They are a major source of our food and raw materials. They provide a vital function for the transport and trade industries, and they feature some of our most valuable habitats. Consequently, a strategy for a knowledge-based development of the activity has to be implemented using a flexible and concerted approach.

AquaMed will develop a cross-functional strategy for aquaculture research in the Mediterranean region. It will develop a multi-stakeholder platform to orchestrate research activities, and it will publish a revolving implementation plan aimed at the sustainable development of aquaculture. The platform will rationalise research programming in order to avoid duplication and fragmentation of research efforts, and to stimulate long-term cooperation and coordination across policy makers, the aquaculture industry and RTD performers in the region.

Objectives:

The three fundamental objectives of AquaMed are to:

Develop a shared vision among the stakeholder groups, of the current strengths and weaknesses of the Mediterranean aquaculture sector, and identify the needs for knowledge-based development to comply with the Lisbon agenda to make the EU "the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, and respect for the environment by 2010".
Enhance exchange and synergy between existing research programmes and operational research infrastructure, in order to avoid duplication, misuse and fragmentation of efforts and to address new promising issues.
Set up a durable international multi-stakeholder platform with the capacity to extend beyond the project duration.

Deliverables/Expected Outcomes:

AquaMed will make a real contribution to strengthening the links between main research institutes and between key stakeholders in the whole Mediterranean region. It will promote innovative Mediterranean research and focus on the most relevant issues needed to sustain aquaculture in the region. It will strengthen the EU-Mediterranean partnership in developing common projects and plan for the challenges Mediterranean aquaculture will face in the future.

Partners:

European Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Organisation (EFARO), France - European Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Organisation (EFARO), France
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – Laboratoire Montpelliéran D’Economie Théorique et Appliquée (CNRS LAMET), France
Institute for Oceanography and Fisheries (IOR), Croatia
Institut National de Recherche Halieutique (INRH), Morocco
Agricultural Research Organisation Volcani Center (ARO/VC), Israel
Ministry of Agriculture of Lebanon, Institut d’Océanographie et des Pêches (IOP), Lebanon
Institut National des Sciences et Techniques de la Mer (INSTM), Tunisia
Central Fisheries Reasearch Institute (SUMAE CFRI), Turkey
National Institute for Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Egypt
University of Annaba, Algeria
AquaTT UETP Ltd., Ireland