Participants received hands-on training in daily fish farm operations, including feeding, biomass monitoring, harvesting and net cleaning.
©FAO-GFCM/ Georgios Paximadis
The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations officially inaugurated the Mediterranean Marine Finfish Aquaculture Demonstration Centre (MMF-ADC) in Heraklion, Crete.
It is the seventh and most advanced center of its kind in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region. Its development also involved the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) and the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC).
In addition, over five days, researchers and national authorities from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia participated in a hands-on training programme.
"The training was an enriching and highly practical experience. I believe participants gained hands-on skills in modern aquaculture, supported by expert trainers and excellent facilities at the ADC," assured Dr Amany Ahmed Mohamed, General Manager, Veterinary Affairs, Lake and Fish Resources Protection and Development Agency, Egypt.
Thanks to the collaboration with the European Union Reference Centre for the Welfare of Aquatic Animals (EURCAW-Aqua), this project integrates production, research, and animal welfare in a single location to enable climate-responsible aquaculture in the region.
"Priority is given to farmed aquatic species of economic significance for European aquaculture, advancing both welfare and sustainability through science across the Mediterranean region," indicated Professor Michail Pavlidis, Director and Coordinator of EURCAW-Aqua.
The Aquaculture Demonstration Centres (ADCs) established by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) promote scientific research, provide technical support, demonstrate best practices in aquatic food production, and strengthen the capacities of stakeholders involved.
Moreover, inclusion is prioritized through support for women, young people, and small-scale producers, as well as the promotion of collaboration and cross-border partnerships.
Finally, through its ADCs, the GFCM helps small-scale producers introduce new technologies and gain access to science and public policies. In this way, they can make meaningful changes and support the development of aquaculture in their regions.