John Stephanis Managing Director - Selonda S.A. President - FEAP

European Aquaculture Development  ,000 tons ○ 113,000 tons of fish – mainly freshwater ○ 265,000 tons of shellfish – marine  million tons ○ 1.3 million tons of fish – mainly marine ○ 760,000 tons of shellfish – marine  Substantial growth, mainly for fish, with a pronounced shift to marine production in the last 20 years

Aquaculture on the European Continent (Source FAO)

Some basic facts  Fastest growing agro-food sector in Europe Development based on successful RTDI  Growth slowed down post-2000  In EU, aquaculture provides 19% of the volume of fisheries 30% of the value of fisheries >80,000 jobs in rural and coastal areas support to processing sector  Offsets shift from landings/production to imports (now >60% of supplies)

Some more facts  Fish/Seafood consumption = kg/p.year  Seafood and Poultry ↑ 30-40% over 10 years  % farmed fish moved from 5% to 14%  Seafood supplies – in the EU food basket 10-25% of protein 5-35% of fat 5-20% of the Ω6: Ω3 ratio  At >20% of fisheries, aquaculture provides a significant proportion of healthy food to the consumer

Role of European Aquaculture The basic role of European aquaculture is to provide  healthy,  safe and  nutritious food for the European consumer and  to reduce the chronic imbalance between fisheries imports and exports The key challenge to the profession is to achieve this role within the context of ‘sustainability’ Clear need for RTDI that responds to innovation challenges to achieve this

Role of a Technology Platform  Starts with the definition of research needs through stakeholder participation through debate, discussion and decision establishing a common vision for the future defining a Strategic Research Agenda  Promotes research implementation through use of Community instruments through private/public investment

Goals of a Technology Platform  Enable stakeholders of relevant economic and societal interests to identify together the innovation challenges for their collective interests  Develop a Strategic Research Agenda that responds to these challenges  Implement the results through effective dissemination and technology transfer mechanisms.

Criteria for creating a Technology Platform  Bring the stakeholders together Industry must play the leading role Within an open and transparent process To obtain the support of the Commission With the development of a Vision document on ○ Where European aquaculture will/need to be in years ○ Identifying the technologies that need to be developed  The Commission is not obliged to support such stakeholder initiatives  Commitment must come from the stakeholders

Importance of the process  Need for commitment and active involvement of all stakeholders  Assure transparency of all actions, progress and decisions – see  Establish a common Vision – shared by stakeholders - for the future of European aquaculture  Initiate reflections on the Strategic Research Agenda

1 st Stakeholders Meeting  Held in Brussels on March 22, 2007, with nearly 200 participants Debate on challenges for next 25 years Discussion on Initiative Areas Presentations on potential EATP Structures and Processes Creation of Interim Working Group to prepare next steps

Ambitions identified  To provide desirable products of the highest quality for the European consumer  To use aquaculture processes that have minimal environmental impact  High performance feeds and inputs that are safe and made from sustainable resources  The technical, managerial and financial capacity to invest in offshore and innovative production facilities  Assurance of livestock welfare, at all life stages  Furnish viable diversification opportunities

Core priorities  The assurance of a sustainable industry Social, environmental and economic  Establishing a strong relationship between aquaculture and the consumer Health, quality, traceability…  Consolidation of the role of aquaculture in society Knowledge management, skill development, communications, networking…

Core priorities (2)  Each priority supported by anticipated developments on more specific subjects E.g. animal health, husbandry, nutrition…  Horizontal ‘pillars’ for improvement of Improving technology transfer mechanisms Raising skills through effective training Communication

Current progress  2 nd Stakeholders Meeting planned for Brussels on 8-9 November 2007  Geared to First draft of EATP vision document prepared Presentation and discussion of core issues  Structure and operations to be discussed  Suggestions for EATP Structure ‘Board of Directors’ Executive Council Working Groups on specific topics Operating Methodology  Terms of Reference and Budgets for operation being developed

Anticipated progress  Formalisation of the EATP With agreed ‘internal’ structures With agreed operational plan for 2008  Need to agree financial requirements of EATP Budget Financing options  Finalise Vision Document & Terms of Reference  Initiate Working Groups

Conclusions  All stakeholders can see the advantages of an operational Technology Platform  Solid commitment is needed from participants for the EATP to move forward  “It isn't where you came from, it's where you're going that counts”