Developing a Sustainable Aquaculture Industry in the Azores : Proceedings of the International Workshop

Abstract

The first workshop on developing a sustainable aquaculture industry in the Azores was organised as a joint venture between the Institute of Marine Research at the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the University of the Azores (IMAR/DOP) and the private enterprise seaExpert. The aim of the meeting was to determine the necessary steps to establish a sustainable Aquaculture Industry in the Azores and to identify priorities for further aquaculture research in the Region. Experts were invited from diverse areas, bringing specialized knowledge and understanding of a broad variety of factors involved in setting up an aquaculture industry. Speakers from across the world shared experience of aquaculture projects from other island ecosystems including: Madeira, the Canaries, Malta, Cyprus and Hawaii. Representatives of official institutions such as the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) of the U.S.A., and Centro Tecnológico del Mar of Spain (Fundación Cetmar) offered advice regarding planning, management and policy issues. A specialist from an independent company, Akvaplan-niva, with vast experience in Aquaculture development in Europe was also invited to offer suggestions and advice to local government representatives and stakeholders. The first part of the meeting was composed of a series of lectures: issuing the status of Aquaculture Worldwide and on the Portuguese scale; regulatory measures for aquaculture in the EU; trade, marketing, quality and safety of aquaculture products; oceanic and land-based production systems; and partitioned systems. Attention was also given to specific species that could be potentially produced in the Azores Region. A series of discussion forums were launched during the second part of the meeting. These were designed to determine the specific requirements and steps needed in order to launch an aquaculture industry in the Azores. Amongst the topics discussed were: the structure of management of a successful aquaculture initiative, the steps needed to establish such an initiative, focal species, and suitable technologies and strategies.