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 During the following 18 months, the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) will be organising 5 regional PROFET workshops that will form a Europe-wide forum for debate on the RTD issues affecting professional aquaculture in Europe. Individual Workshops are to be organised by Member Associations of the FEAP, with the assistance of the European Aquaculture Society and AquaTT. PROFET is supported by DG FISH of the European Commission as an Accompanying Measure to the Common Fisheries Policy.
With the advent of the 6th Framework RTD Programme, the European Commission’s Strategy for Aquaculture and the forthcoming Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, PROFET aims to develop a clear focus on the RTD requirements of the European fish farming sector.
Free entrance to the Workshops will allow the whole aquaculture sector to have its say – representatives of the production sector (owners, managers, technicians) as well as the academic research sector, thematic network operators and public administrators.
Participants will be able to contribute to a wide range of discussion points:
- To give their opinion on a range of topics that affect European aquaculture, such as the Common Fisheries Policy, Sustainability, Food Safety, Fish Health…
- To identify the research needs on rearing technology, nutrition, diseases, new species, management, socio-economics, environment…
- To understand better what the existing European networks are providing: e.g. the “Aquaflow” Thematic Network for the dissemination of EU research results (www.aquaflow.org ) and “AquaTnet” (a ‘Socrates’ Network) for technology transfer ( www.aquatt.ie ).
Starting with Fresh water aquaculture and the use of water, the first workshop was held in Denmark (Billund) in the spring of 2003 where the European trout and eel production sectors expressed and identified their research needs. Close attention was given to developments in water recirculation systems. (Presentations)
As for the other workshops, described below, simultaneous translation was provided in key European languages.
Other key aquaculture species (including cod, halibut turbot, pike, salmon, sea bass, sea bream, sturgeon, carp, pike-perch, perch, catfish, freshwater ornamentals, sole, arctic char…) will be discussed within the following 4 workshops.
In each case, presentations will be made by Regional and International experts on topics and issues concerning the theme of the individual Workshop. The presentations can be seen by visiting the programme pages for each Workshop.
The workshops aim to achieve the following targets:
- Be producer-oriented, identifying research and technology needs for species, topics or geographic regions
- Provide guidelines, from the European professional aquaculture sector, as to the desired direction of European RTD policy and promote the opportunities for sustainable networking.
- Familiarise the producers with the activities of the networks, EU RTD policies and trends and RTD support mechanisms (particularly those concerning SMEs (Small and Medium-size Enterprises))
- Contribute to the creation of new inter-professional contacts
All of the workshops will be trans-national and will promote pan-European cooperation, not only at the professional level but also through the existing European networks of ‘Aquaflow’ and ‘AquaTnet’, where the network representatives will demonstrate their activities and results and strengthen their international contacts.
A final Summary workshop will be held in Belgium (Brussels)* for the presentation and preparation of the conclusions and recommendations of PROFET which will be published upon completion of the project.
*Locations and dates to be confirmed.
Contact details for further information:
Federation of European Aquaculture Producers
Rue Nicolas Fossoul 54
B-4100 Boncelles
Belgium
Tel: +32 4 338 2995
Fax +32 4 337 9846
Email secretariat [at ] feap.info
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