Resolutions - AGM 2002

Resolutions voted by
the General Assembly of the F.E.A.P.
(2002 - Limassol, Cyprus)

RESOLUTION 1

MEDITERRANEAN AQUACULTURE
(Mediterranean Aquaculture Commission)

The Mediterranean fish farming sector, primarily concerning sea bream and sea bass, has been affected by price instability over the last three years, which has had serious economic effects on all producers within this important sector. This period of market instability has demonstrated the complexity of the issues affecting the development of Mediterranean aquaculture, many of which have not been resolved.

Within this context, the Mediterranean Aquaculture Working Group of the FEAP (MedAQUA) met prior to the 34^th Annual General Meeting of the FEAP to analyse and discuss the causal effects and potential solutions to the economic disturbance undergone.

Agreement has been reached on several issues:

Over the last 11 years the growth of bass and bream production (compounded yearly) has been more than double the average growth of the whole European sector, representing the fastest growing fish farming activity within the European aquaculture sector. While we ratify all previous conclusions reached, and communicated, from previous MedAQUA meetings, we stress that the rapidity of this production growth has weakened the stability of the markets.
While market instability could be attributed to the rapid growth mentioned above, the majority of the National representatives believe that this is too simple an answer to a very complex question. For example, all food production and consumption has been affected by a crisis in consumer confidence for livestock farming (i.e. BSE, dioxins, use of animal meals…).
Mediterranean producers believe that the growth of their industry should be smooth and accompanied by appropriate actions that ensure viable development. In this respect, it would be recommendable that the future development of this sector should be based solely on market led decisions. More specifically, MedAQUA suggests that the actual set up of the Community’s structural funds (FIFG) should not allow fund allocation for further sea bass and sea bream production expansion.
The supply of Mediterranean aquaculture products is fragmented, dominated by small family businesses. MedAQUA believes that it is essential to concentrate the offer of products to the markets in order to reduce the instability of prices, which are frequently below production cost, through the adhesion to formalised sales organisations.
The existing structure of Producer Organisations is mainly directed for the EU Fisheries sector but its acceptance by the aquaculture sector remains weak. For the aquaculture sector to adopt the Producer Organisation structure, it is essential that this concentrates the offer effectively, imposing the conditions of centralised sales and marketing. Once this principle target has been reached, such organisations should be given strong financial incentives to achieve their goals.
The dispersion of development and the regionalisation of FIFG funding have hampered the development of common or European actions for the marketing and promotion of Mediterranean production. MedAQUA requests that the European Commission takes action to secure appropriate funds in order to facilitate the achievement of pan-European sea bass/sea bream campaigns on a long-term basis.
MedAQUA requests that the new European legislation (Directive 104/2000) on product labelling on traded fish is respected and enforced, through the organisation of adequate checks and policing, for products both from within and outside of the Community.

All MedAQUA members believe in the rules of a free market. The long-term survival of the Mediterranean fish farming sector must be assured and be freed from the instability experienced during recent times. MedAQUA believes that this can only be achieved by firm and rapid actions on these issues and is prepared to provide all support necessary for their realisation, underlining the urgency required.

RESOLUTION 2

LEVELS OF VETERINARY MEDICINES
(Environment Commission)

The levels of veterinary medicines present in fresh water that have been proposed by the Danish authorities, based on Council Directive 76/464/EEC (on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community) of the 4^th May 1976, are unachievable in freshwater aquaculture. FEAP believes this proposition to be a misunderstanding of the intention of the Directive and therefore requests that the level of those medicines that have not been prescribed directly by the European Commission should be reassessed. As a prerequisite, these levels should be based on proper scientific knowledge and understanding of their effects on the environment; furthermore, such presence levels should be capable of measurement by laboratory procedures.

Additional points of discussion included the following:

There seems to be several points of difference between the fish farming profession and the desires of the Danish Government, notably on the discharge of veterinary medicines (set by the EMEA). The Danish Government appears to be ignoring these recommendations in licensing procedures.
Current recommendations for water intake seem impossible to deliver at the present.
Denmark appears to the be the only country to have adopted this position, which some delegates felt to be proof of scientific ignoran ce.

RESOLUTION 3

EEL FARMING
(Eel Working Group)

after examining the current market and production situation of eel farming in Europe
in consideration of the decreasing status of glass eel fisheries, the export of glass eel to and the import of big eels from the Far East

The FEAP asks the Commission to convene the planned Workshop on eels that is on the agenda of the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture.

This Workshop should be called and organised as soon as possible, with the assured participation of the researchers and all other players within this sector.