Systematic Search for Publications

Aquaculture is essentially an economic development within small and medium sized enterprises that has grown substantially in most European Union (EU) countries over recent years. This development has been particularly evident in e.g. Scotland, and Ireland [salmon (Salmo salar)], the Mediterranean [sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sea bream (Sparus aurata), together with shellfish] and Ireland, Greece, Spain and France [mussel (Mytilus edulis) farming by line or raft] (Read et al.,2000). This trend has paralleled a general decline in catchable wild fish stocks and an increase in consumer demand for fin and shellfish resources (FAO, 1999). Aquaculture therefore provides opportunities to reduce the dependence on wild stocks, to meet increased consumer demand, and to alleviate the economic impact of wild stock decline on coastal communities through the creation of new jobs and businesses (FAO, 1999; MacAlister Elliot and Partners, 1999).The competitive use of coastal resources has highlighted the importance of satisfactory control measures to protect the natural environment and to safeguard the developing aquaculture industry. In order to achieve sustainable development of the aquaculture sector, several countries introduced regulatory, control and monitoring measures, often without considering the relevanceof such measures for the safeguard of the natural environment. Several organisations havedocumented this situation in several parts of the world and have also recommended proceduresto minimise ecological impacts (e.g. FAR, 1993). [Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management Ltd,]

1 Study background, objectives and approach
2 Overview of coastal aquaculture in Europe
3 Environmentally sensitive areas in Europe
4 Spatial assessment of interactions between aquaculture and environmentally-sensitive areas
5 Determination of principal pressures on sensitive coastal environments from aquaculture
6 Habitat and species description, ecosystem importance and sensitivity
7 Risk identification and ecosystem vulnerability
8 Case studies of european aquaculture in sensitive environments
9 Outline classification of aquaculture systems in environmentally sensitive areas
10 Future management framework
Appendices

The ad hoc EIFAC/EC Working Party on Market Perspectives of European Freshwater Aquaculture met to address the current situation of the freshwater aquaculture sector in the EIFAC region with particular focus on problems in marketing. The outcome of the workshop aims to provide key information and strategic advice on how to fulfil the production potential of the sector to (i) policy makers, administrators and legislators; (ii) future investors; (iii) consumers, and, particularly, (iv) producers. Trout and carp (about 94 per cent) dominate European aquaculture, whereas there are other promising candidates for culture that have not been profitably exploited. The freshwater aquaculture industry in Europe is product or producer driven along traditional lines and suffers particularly from a lack of vertical integration, linking producers to consumers through the marketing chain. The producers will remain at a disadvantage unless they develop better links through association or cooperation. While the preparation and implementation of marketing plans is a responsibility of the industry, and must be financed from this source, additional progress and great benefit could be derived from a comprehensive policy framework. Aquaculture as a food producing system in some cases has been perceived as being in conflict with other parts of the ecosystem. This can best be addressed by the development and dissemination of codes of good aquaculture practice. While the demand for organically produced aquaculture products is growing, certification is still largely based on the standards of private certification bodies.[Author vide copyright]

1. Background
2. Status of European freshwater aquaculture
3. Regulatory framework
4. Production, products and sales
5. Food quality and safety, traceability and labelling
6. Impact on trade of environmental and health/hygiene
Legislation: a trade barrier?
7. Markets, distribution and trade
8. New markets, new competitors and promotion
9. Conclusions and recommendations
Appendix 1 Agenda
Appendix 2 List of participants
Appendix 3 Summary of some codes of conduct and certification programmes that impact on the aquaculture sector
Appendix 4 Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats table
Appendix 5 Papers presented

Societal and political backgroundTraditionally, the welfare of fish compared to welfare of other, land farmed animalshas not been an important topic to consumers, producers and legislators, an attitudewhich is reflected in past research projects and legislation directed towards welfare,which hardly ever took fish into consideration. So why was and is fish, compared toother animals, not a hot topic regarding welfare concerns? First, there is a lack oftradition in perceiving fish as sentient beings as fish do not evoke compassion andconcern in humans in the same way other, warm-blooded animals do; second, there isstill no consensus among scientists wether fish are able to perceive pain and to suffer;third, large scale, industrialised aquaculture is a relatively recent farming method.Nevertheless, an increased concern for the welfare of fish in general and especially inaquaculture can be noticed in recent year, stimulated by research results suggestingawareness of pain and suffering, and reports on farming conditions detrimental tohealth and welfare. [Tanja Wolffrom]

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
REPORT
1 Societal and political background
2 Welfare – general introduction
3 Pain and discomfort in fish
4 Welfare indicators
4.1 Physiological indicators
4.2 Behavioural indicators
4.3 Other indicators
5 Welfare issues
5.1 Fish densities in farming
5.2 Environmental parameters
5.3 Malnutrition
5.4 Food deprivation
5.5 Cataracts
5.6 Deformities
5.6.1 Skeletal deformities
5.6.2 Tissue deformities
5.7 Vaccination – side effects
5.8 Genetics
5.9 Transport
5.10 Pre-slaughter handling
5.11 Stunning /sedation
5.12 Organic production
6 Past and current EC research projects on welfare issues
7 Welfare – Economic value and product quality
8 Legislation
9 Acknowledgements
10 References

FIFG = Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance | This report is a summary of the full European report, which collates and discusses the findings from the Member State reports produced by the consortium partners for the 14 Member States under study.The intention of this “Study on the impact of Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG)measures on the fish processing industry” is to evaluate the impact of FIFG funding on the fish processing sector, in European Community Member States during the 1994 to 1999 programme. ...The study was undertaken to address 5 distinct tasks:Task 1: Analysis of the evolution of the sector during the period of implementation of the FIFG measures under Regulation 2468/98 Task 2: Verification and update of the inventory of the fish processing projects / enterprises supported by FIFG Regulation 2468/98. Collection of relevant related information. Classification of theseprojects by type of activity and size of enterprises.Task 3*: Assessment of the extent to which the Community support has improved thecompetitiveness of the enterprises, has contributed to the employment and the economic activity of the sector and region.Task 4*: Analysis of the allocation of the Community financial support. Assessment of the adequacy of the allocation. Contribution of the Community support to overcoming the problems facing the sector.Task 5: Outlook for future development: evolution of the sector in the medium term.* tasks 3 & 4 conducted for Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the UK only. [Nautilus Consultants Ltd.]

CONTENTS
1.INTRODUCTION
2.METHODOLOGY
3.OVERVIEW OF THE EUROPEAN PROCESSING SECTOR
3.1 Companies and Employment
3.2 Production
3.3 Main sub-sectors
3.3 Trade
4.THE PROGRAMME OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO THE SECTOR
5. HOW THE PROGRAMME HAS ADDRESSED IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AREAS
6. PROGRAMME PERFORMANCE
7. THE ADEQUACY OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT
8. THE ROLE OF FUTURE SUPPORT
Some policy considerations
9. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
Shift away from dependence on local landings
Sector consolidation now well advanced
The FIFG Programme
Employment
Impacts
Programme management
Overall
ANNEX 1: COUNTRY REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES

TAC = Total Allowable Catches | Starting from an analysis of the present fisheries stock conservation and the causes of overfishing, the description of the Common Fisheries Policy and an evaluation of individual measures undertaken at the EU and rest of the world levels, this study proceeds to an overview of the alternative options to the current TACs and Quotas system. Up to date background reference document for the current debate on the future of the CFP. [Philip Rodgers and Gregory Valatin]

Executive summary
1 Stock conservation and the causes of overfishing
2 Analytical background
3 The Common Fisheries Policy
4 Evaluating individual measures: EU fisheries
5 Evaluating individual measures: Rest of world fisheries
6 Alternatives to the existing TACs and quota system
7 Synthesis and conclusions
Appendix: List of fisheries economics research and other organisations
Bibliography