Mediterranean Fisheries and Aquaculture Research

Abstract

Aquaculture is fast
growing sector in the Mediterranean and the Black sea region contributing to
food security, employment and economic growth. According to FAO-FIGIS figures,
overall aquaculture production in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions (including
all species of animal origin and aquatic environments) reached over 2 643 000
tonnes in 2016.  The General Fisheries Commission for the
Mediterranean (GFCM)[1] of FAO,
has reported that according to some national aquaculture strategies, by 2030
aquaculture production in the Mediterranean and the Black sea countries is
expected to reach 4 600 000 tonnes².

Undoubtably, several
challenges need to be addressed to insure the development of environmentally,
economically and socially sustainable aquaculture in the region. These
challenges include inter alia spatial planning and site
allocation for aquaculture, legal aspects and licensing, aquaculture-environment
interactions, bio-security and aquatic animal health management, social
acceptability, information sharing and dissemination, scientific and technical
collaborations, RTD and innovation and issues related to consumers wants and
markets.  All these issues need to be dealt through a collective and
regional approach.

[1] The
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the FAO is the
Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) mandated to ensure the
conservation and sustainable use, at the biological, social, economic and
environmental level, of living marine resources, as well as the sustainable
development of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.”

 Development
of sustainable aquaculture at regional level has been top on the agenda of
GFCM. Acknowledging this growing trend and in line with its mandate, the
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) has recently adopted
Resolution GFCM/41/2017/1 on a “Strategy for the
Sustainable Development of Mediterranean and Black Sea Aquaculture”.
This integrated regional aquaculture strategy is the fruit of extensive
consultations that were held as part of a co construction process. The aim was
to secure equal terms of competition and discuss minimum common criteria in
order to address cross-cutting and transboundary issues in relation to
aquaculture in Mediterranean and Black Sea riparian countries. By facilitating
cooperative processes and fostering synergies, the strategy should help the
sector deliver its full potential by 2030².