1. Regional Workshop 5: Improving Methods for Regional Aquaculture Development and Promotion J. Richard Arthur Peter Deupmann
FAO International Consultant FAO Legal Department
Barriere, CANADA FAO, Rome

2. Purpose of the Workshop
The objectives of the workshop were:
To review the current status of risk analysis for aquatic animals in the 5 participating countries
To provide introductory training in risk analysis to participants

3. The Participants and Venue
The Workshop was held from October 2014 in Podgorica, Montenegro
The 27 participants included representatives from:
Bosnia and Herzegovina (2)
Croatia (1)
Macedonia (2)
Montenegro (16)
Serbia (2)
+ 10 facilitators(FAO-HQ: 3, International Consultants: 3, TCDC Consultants: 2, National Consultants: 2)

4. Workshop Contents The workshop had six major components:
Introductory Remarks and Presentations
Session 1: Aquaculture Development And Promotion
Session 2: Aquatic Animal Health Legislation
Session 3: Regional Aquaculture Development
Working Group Exercise: Plenary “Brainstorming Session” on Issues and Constraints to Regional Aquaculture
Session 4: Way Forward

5. Workshop Outputs The expected outputs of the workshop were:
Participants trained in the basics of aquaculture development and promotion
Participants updated on the status of aquaculture development and promotion in the participating countries
FAO Regional Legislation Review presented and discussed
Recommendations for future needs and activities related to aquaculture development and promotion made
Agreement to draft a "Sarajevo Declaration"
The Workshop Report

6. Session 1: Aquaculture Development and Promotion
Session 1 set the stage for the working group and plenary discussions to follow. It was comprised of presentations on:
Trends in global aquaculture (Dr Rohana Subasinghe)
Trends in regional aquaculture (Dr Sanin Tanković)
Country presentations: National aquaculture development and promotion: current status and future goals
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Dr Vildana Tahirović)
Croatia (Dr Ivica Sučec, co-authored with Zoran Radan)
Macedonia (Dr Biljana Strojmanovska)
Montenegro (Dr Nikol Bajčeta, jointly with Dr Milena Krasić)
Serbia (Dr Tatjana Labus)
Aquaculture development and promotion: what is it and what is in it? (Dr Rohana Subasinghe).

7. Session 2: Aquatic Animal Health Legislation
FAO presented the draft Comparative analysis of national legal frameworks relevant for aquatic animal health of the countries of Western Balkans. The report provides:
overview of legal frameworks for all 5 countries
identification of gaps, overlaps and inconsistencies; and recommendations for strengthening national legal frameworks in accordance with international standards.
The presentation and its conclusions and recommendations was followed by lively discussion!
Dr Ivica Sučec then presented a summary of Croatia's experiences in meeting EU requirements

8. Comparative Legislative Review
Objectives
Comparative analysis of national legal frameworks related to aquatic animal health
LEGAL REPORT
Identify issues that could be strengthened
Provide recommendations for improvement
Enable consistency of national measures throughout the region

9. Clarifications
A recommendation does not imply that the regulatory framework and procedures are inadequate for purposes of international trade
A recommendation shows that an issue is not addressed in law (but perhaps technical procedures exist)
Not all procedures should be addressed in law, but law must provide enabling provisions for further regulation and management

10. Methodology
Key regulatory issues to ensure compliance with OIE AAHC (selection):
Designation of Compent Authorities
Powers of inspectors
Designation of official and reference laboratories
Authorizations procedures of fish farms and related businesses
Procedures on disease reporting and reportable diseases
Control measures
Zoning and compartmentalization powers
Export ,including certification procedures
Import
Feed safety

11. Methodology (continued)
Desk analysis of national legal instruments
Individual consultations with national officials
Presentation of draft report at Podgorica workshop
(fall 2014)
Comments and further input incorporated
Focus on legal instruments (non-binding best practices, guidance material was not considered)

12. Findings Bosnia & Herz. Croatia FYROM Montenegro Serbia P P/S S P/S/T
Competent authorities P
Inspectors
P/S
Laboratories S
Authorization of farms / business
Responsibility of operators
Notification & notifiable diseases
P/S/T
P/S (pending input)
S/T
Contingency planning
Primary (P), Secondary (S) legislation to be amended/developed. Technical (T) documents to be developed

13. Findings (continued) Bosnia & Herz Croatia FYROM Montenegro Serbia P S
Zoning & compartmental-ization P S
surveillance
Control measures
Export & international health certificate
P/S
Import
Pharmaceuticals
Primary (P), Secondary (S) legislation to be amended/developed. Technical (T) documents to be developed
Findings (continued)

14. Session 3: Regional Aquaculture Development
Dr Subasinghe (FAO) presented thoughts on the development of a Regional Strategy for Aquaculture Development in the West Balkans). After listing the region's strengths and weaknesses, he highlighted:
the region's good potential for aquaculture expansion
the possibility of promoting fish and shellfish for health benefits and to the tourist industry
the potential for branded niche products
Factors conducive to the development of a regional strategy include:
similar country characteristics
lengthy historical relationships
shared river systems
established regional cooperation among states and the private sector.

15. Working Group Exercise: Plenary “Brainstorming Session” on issues and constraints to regional aquaculture
Regulation and licensing of aquaculture enterprises
Issuing of aquaculture licenses for new enterprises is excessively time consuming; the farm registration process entails too many administrative steps; simplified procedures are needed
All countries are doing transposition of legislation (standards), making space for some investments

16. should provide financial support for aquaculture development that is proportional to the sector’s contribution to agriculture and the national economy
Several institutions are often involved in aquaculture development, policy, regulation, etc., often with a lack of communication among them; establishing a single agency for the fisheries sector may be useful
Working Group Exercise: Plenary “Brainstorming Session” on issues and constraints to regional aquaculture
Government policy
Fishery departments should be established
Lack of ideas concerning aquaculture development
Lack of political will to develop aquaculture
Frequent changes of senior management sometimes make long-term planning and action difficult
An aquaculture strategy is essential; aquaculture development and promotion should be part of a national agriculture policy
Establishing a fishery group that includes economists/business planners, fishery producers, feed producers, nutritionists, etc. may be useful

17. Government policy (continued)
should provide financial support for aquaculture development that is proportional to the sector’s contribution to agriculture and the national economy
Several institutions are often involved in aquaculture development, policy, regulation, etc., often with a lack of communication among them; establishing a single agency for the fisheries sector may be useful
Government policy (continued)
Several institutions are often involved in aquaculture development, often with a lack of intercommunication; consider establishing a single agency for the fisheries sector
Registration of fishfarms is often complex, involving many different institutions; governments should make the process easier; make one focal point for registration of farms
A financial fund is needed (restocking, collector, purification)
Government must recognize its interest in the sector
Water capacity is not fully used
Governments should provide financial support that is proportional to the sector’s contribution to agriculture & GDP

18. Mariculture should be promoted in Montenegro
Consumers, fish producers, official staff and other stakeholders need to be educated in the economic, social and health benefits provided by aquaculture
Mariculture should be promoted in Montenegro
Consumers, fish producers, official staff and other stakeholders need to be educated in the economic, social and health benefits provided by aquaculture
should provide financial support for aquaculture development that is proportional to the sector’s contribution to agriculture and the national economy
Several institutions are often involved in aquaculture development, policy, regulation, etc., often with a lack of communication among them; establishing a single agency for the fisheries sector may be useful
Working Group Exercise: Plenary “Brainstorming Session” on issues and constraints to regional aquaculture
Aquaculture promotion
Poor due to low levels of fish consumption in the region; lack of traditions of fish consumption has not been addressed by the state
Health benefits should be more widely promoted; many human diseases can be prevented by consuming fish
Consumers should be educated in the differences between fish produced by aquaculture and those from wild fisheries
Seasonal consumption of fish should be promoted (e.g. via presentations at hotels)

19. Mariculture should be promoted in Montenegro
Consumers, fish producers, official staff and other stakeholders need to be educated in the economic, social and health benefits provided by aquaculture
Mariculture should be promoted in Montenegro
Consumers, fish producers, official staff and other stakeholders need to be educated in the economic, social and health benefits provided by aquaculture
should provide financial support for aquaculture development that is proportional to the sector’s contribution to agriculture and the national economy
Several institutions are often involved in aquaculture development, policy, regulation, etc., often with a lack of communication among them; establishing a single agency for the fisheries sector may be useful
Working Group Exercise: Plenary “Brainstorming Session” on issues and constraints to regional aquaculture
Aquaculture promotion (continued)
An educational marketing approach is needed; stakeholders should be reached by e.g. radio, tv and newspapers
Mariculture should be promoted in Montenegro
Consumers, fish producers, official staff and other stakeholders need to be educated in the economic, social and health benefits provided by aquaculture

20. Session 4: The Way Foreward - Outcomes of the Workshop and Future Actions
Dr Tanković summarized the strengths and weaknesses of aquaculture development as follows:
Strengths
All countries has good freshwater resources
Two countries has reasonable coastline and marine resources
Land resources are limited in all countries, but expansion of aquaculture is still possible
All countries are small, with populations of 0.6 to 4.5 million, but have good per capita GDPs, ranging from USD 15 000 to
All countries are reasonably food secure but with significant imports
All countries have healthy populations (75 year life expectancy) with but ample room for better health
Local markets are small but have significant room for local produce
There is reasonable institutional capacity but this needs improvement
Some policy and legal frameworks exist, but improvements are needed to better include aquaculture
There is potential to promote aquaculture products for their health benefits, to the tourist industry and for the marketing of branded niche products

21. Session 4: The Way Foreward - Outcomes of the Workshop and Future Actions
Weaknesses
Low fish consumption
Low consumer preference
Low fish production
No adequate local seed
No adequate feed
Lack of political will
Lack of educational programmes
Lack of aquaculture strategies
Administrative bureaucracy
Long licensing procedures
No one has convinced the politicians
Lack of business plans
Unclear how to influence governments

22. Future Actions
Activities that need to be accomplished to complete the project include:
National Workshops to be held in five participating countries (Nov 2014–Jan 2015)
Terminal Workshop to be held in Sarajevo (April 2015)
All publications (Surveillance Manual, Diagnostic Manual, Legal Review, Workshop Report Compilation) to be prepared for printing (April/May 2015)
Final draft of the "Sarajevo Declaration" to be prepared before the Closing Workshop

23. Thank you!