The available database comprises research projects in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Seafood Processing and Marine Biotechnology active in the time period 2003-2022.
BlueBio is an ERA-NET COFUND created to directly identify new and improve existing ways of bringing bio-based products and services to the market and find new ways of creating value from in the blue bioeconomy.

More information on the BlueBio project and participating funding organizations is available on the BlueBio website: www.bluebioeconomy.eu

Last Update: 2024/05/17

AQUAMED
Aquaculture
The future of research on aquaculture in the Mediterranean Region
FP7
 FP7 - Coordination (or Networking) Actions
KBBE – Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology
Cooperation
European
IFREMER - French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (France)
ARO - Agricultural Research Organization (Israel),  UBMA - Annaba University (Algeria),  AquaTT - AquaTT UETP Ltd (Ireland),  DFMR - Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (DFMR) (Cyprus),  NA - GCE Blue Maritime Cluster (Norway),  GDAR - General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (Turkey),  IOF - Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (Croatia),  ISPRA - Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Italy),  NA - Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture (Lebanon),  INRH - National Fisheries Research Institute (Morocco),  INSA Toulouse - National Institute of Applied Sciences of Toulouse (France),  INSTM - National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (Tunisia),  NIOF - National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (Egypt),  NA - National Research Council - Institute of Marine Engineering (Italy),  IPMA - Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Portugal),  IEO - Spanish Institute of Oceanography (Spain),  WUR-IMARES - Wageningen University and Research; Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies (Netherlands), 
2010
2013
€ 1,111,950
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/244999
The sustainable development of fresh and marine water Mediterranean aquaculture is an important issue for all the bordering countries. The sector is confronted to recurrent crisis due to inadequate production systems and competitiveness, interaction and space competition with other users and the need for a proper integration in the coastal zones, possible negative impact on the environment and negative image of the product quality, in spite of initiatives from national and international bodies, such as CAQ-GFCM, FEAP and EAS. Fundamental and applied research projects address these issues at a regional or local scale. The existence of common constraints for Mediterranean bordering countries underlines the interest of a collective initiative to pool efforts. The objectives of the Aquamed project, gathering 15 countries, are to reinforce the Mediterranean research sector and to create a sustained multi-stakeholder platform that will provide the interested parties with clear and shared information and priorities for future research. The first step of the project was to draw a complete picture of the research activities, ongoing projects, teams and facilities in the field of aquaculture around the Mediterranean, in order to set the foundation of the platform and to understand the fundaments of the existing research structures and activities. To reach this goal, the project needed to collect, at each country level, information on the activity, which included a list of the main stakeholders, key information on national regulatory mechanisms and governance and an inventory of all means and initiatives in the field of aquaculture. All the data collected were organized and stored in a database and then processed for analyses. The second step was to define common situations and constraints between Mediterranean countries, which are much contrasted in terms of importance of the sector, domestic market demand, typology of the industry, research and development structures and capacities. Countries confronted to similar driving forces were grouped in order to foster information exchanges and to formulate more focused science-based recommendations. In parallel, all along the project, the partners did set up a multi-stakeholder platform to promote and share research directions. This platform benefited from the synthesis of the research analyses, which allowed to set the right scopes and directions. It produced a revolving implementation plan based on the identification of plans of action to overcome the top constraints to the sustainable development of aquaculture that were identified and ranked by the stakeholders. An assessment tool for monitoring the sustainability of the Mediterranean aquaculture sector in general and more specifically of research in aquaculture in the Mediterranean region was set up, based relevant sustainability indicators validated during the project events and an easy to use frame. At the end of the project, the Aquamed platform was adopted as a subsidiary body of the Committee of Aquaculture of the General Fisheries commission for the Mediterranean, which enables its long term activity. The project did open new concepts to rationalize research programming in order to identify efficient research programs avoiding duplication fragmentation and dispersion of research efforts and to stimulate a long-term cooperation and coordination among policy makers, aquaculture industry and RTD performers in the Region. The Project consortium, covering most of the situations of the aquaculture sector met in the Mediterranean, did put the emphasis on the participatory approach, the dissemination of the outcomes of the AQUAMED activities and the continuation of operation of the multi-stakeholder platform for years after the project ends. Mediterranean aquaculture is facing various constraints related to different environmental, economic, social and institutional factors. Therefore sharing intellectual and physical research resources remains a challenge. So far, all the stakeholders involved during the project recognized a clear mutual benefit generated by an open dialogue and cooperation opportunities. The continuation of the platform operation will reinforce it and contribute efficiently to a more sustainable development of the Mediterranean aquaculture. The fast developing fresh and marine water Mediterranean aquaculture is confronted to a set of difficulties as inadequate production systems and competitiveness, interaction and space competition with other users and the need for a proper integration in the coastal zones, possible negative impact on the environment and negative image of the product quality. In addition, the aquaculture development in the Mediterranean countries is much contrasted in terms of importance of the sector, domestic market demand, typology of the industry, and research and development structures and capacities. Consequently, a strategy for a knowledge-based development of the activity has to be implemented, using a flexible and concerted approach. To deliver practical results, the AQUAMED project was based on a five step process consisting in: (1) Mapping and setting a database of all relevant information (about policies, research and socio-economy) in each partner country; (2) Identifying common situations and constraints between countries; (3) Grouping countries confronted to similar driving forces in order to foster information exchanges and formulate more focussed science based recommendations; (4) Setting up of a multi-stakeholder platform in order to promote a research organisation and an revolving implementation plan aiming at the sustainable development of aquaculture; (5) Defining the proper means to continue the platform operation after project ends. The work packages of the project articulate in two main periods. The main objectives of the first period were: (1) To reach a common understanding of the project objectives, structure and outcomes and to identify collectively the most efficient way to reach them (WP2); (2) To collect all relevant information concerning the current status of aquaculture research: teams and national background organization, infrastructures, networks, capacity building opportunities, research strategies, funds related to aquaculture, sustainability frames at the national level, programs and projects, in each partner country (WP4). The planned approach consisted in realizing bibliographical reviews and surveys based on questionnaires in each country and the control and validation of the information collected by the national contact partner, who is the only one having a global view on the sector in his country. The mapping of key stakeholders, areas and expertise, existing research means, projects and networks and the way they interact at the national level constitute the primary foundation of the project. The validated data were organised in a database designed in WP4 and 5, with the help of WP2. - To organize and store the data collected into a common open web based database, that is partly open (WP5). The information gathered under a common template through WP4 was used to build a database. An agreement among partners defined the level of confidentiality of each type of data collected and the terms of their use (some data are confidential for the consortium partners (e.g. production data), some are available for the public). The database was organised in such a way as to be easily accessible (easy interface) and used for analysis at the country level and for comparison with other country situations (WP6). The database provides in a clear and accessible mode updated and overall information on the current aquaculture sector in the Mediterranean to the public. - To start the process of setting up an international multi-stakeholder platform aimed to identify, discuss and prioritise the needs for further research, keeping in mind that the platform has to remain an active tool after the end of the project (WP9). The link between the two periods was the WP6, which objective was to establish a typology of partner countries regarding the main constraints they are confronted to, based on the identification and analysis of their similarities and dissimilarities for each of the main constraints (WP6). It is aimed at facilitating discussions - first inside groups of countries confronted to similar drivers and constraints of the aquaculture sector (intermediate platforms) - and then among groups of countries, in particular during the platform meetings. Grouping the countries confronted to similar situations aims at triggering stakeholder communication on some key relevant constraints / situations and consequently prepares the setup of the final multi-stakeholder platform (WP9). The main objectives of the second period of the project were: - To identify research needs and overlaps of research means, in order to formulate recommendations at the group of country and at the regional levels, based on the identification of the main constraints limiting the development of a sustainable aquaculture at the 2 levels and using the project database and additional more specific information if needed (WP7). Under the general objectives of facilitating the future programming of research at national, EU and Regional levels and technology development activities, this WP did focus on identifying research needs and proposals for structuring the research sector in Mediterranean Aquaculture, likely opening the opportunity for an ERANET like process. The WP7 did identify the main shortcomings and overlaps in research resources and proposed tools and recommendations to improve the efficiency of the research system through improved coordination and integration of research resources and activities. The analysis and recommendations at Mediterranean level were discussed and validated during the project events. - To set-up a tool (specific indicators and software) for monitoring the sustainability of the Mediterranean aquaculture sector in general and more specifically of research in aquaculture in the Mediterranean region, providing a frame for evaluation of the progress. A method to enable follow up of the impact, using selected sustainability indicators (WP8) was selected. The selection of relevant sustainability indicators was carried out and validated during the project events. The selected indicators were organized in a logical and easy-to-use frame, enabling monitoring of the development of sustainable aquaculture and of the research in aquaculture in the Mediterranean. Feedback mechanisms from the stakeholders to the monitoring system were established. - To set-up a specific multi-stakeholder platform, defining its size, composition, terms of reference. The platform aims at securing effective communication and feedback from the stakeholders during and after the end of the project and was operated during 2 major events. Solutions to keep it operational after the end of the project was to be found (WP9) and the terms of reference of the multi-stakeholder platform were elaborated all along the project. The concepts and structure of the project were validated during the project events. The co-construction of the platform all along the project is a key aspect, which contributed to its adoption by all stakeholders who recognised its usefulness. It is the key to maintain it active and efficient, using already identified existing structures and projects at the Mediterranean and EU levels. All the progress were accompanied and facilitated - by WP2, which objective was to provide relevant information for shared working tools and convenient methods. This work package identified the best adapted methods for the project consortium (made up of partners with very different backgrounds: research performers, socio-economic studies, development, industry, NGOs of EU and non-EU countries), in order to reach a common understanding of the concepts of "Multi-Stakeholders platform" and "Sustainable mutual benefit". All along the project duration WP2 provided directives and guidelines so that the focus of the work was generated from the beginning of the project. The work package provided methodological advices and support on methods, on approaches and definition of the most applicable methodologies for all work package leaders. Through adaptation of this overall approach, a synergy between the procedures used in the different work packages was obtained and the overall project efficiency was increased. WP2 was the core provider for methods, in order to achieve the sustainability of the platform, providing the insurance that the most efficient available methodologies to reach the objectives of the different work packages are used properly throughout the project, which is mandatory for the performance of the project. - and WP3, which contributed to the organization of the project and platform meetings, carrying out the dissemination of the project information towards a broad target audience (including the project stakeholders) and the feedback collection from end users and stakeholders, either directly or during the project events (platform meetings). It contributed to improve the relationships and understanding between RTD providers and the commercial sector in order to achieve buy-in to the multi-stakeholder platform. This work package delivered its outputs all along the duration of the project. It defined the best organisation tools and implementation process for an optimal delivery from the project events, which are key moments to stimulate and organise internal communication and validate the results of the WPs. It organised the external communication of the project and secured an efficient feedback from the main stakeholders. It was the tool for targeting and reaching all the potential stakeholders, including those that are not in the first circle of awareness. This work package secured: (1) Reaching a real common understanding among partners and stakeholders with very diverse backgrounds; (2) Carrying out the co-construction of an efficient and sustainable multi-stakeholder platform, which is the main output of the project. Five main observers and sub-contractors: the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), the European Aquaculture Society (EAS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (NOFIMA) contributed to the project meetings and steering committee meetings. Their objective was - To provide advices on the key decisions to make during the course of the project and help to keep a constant contact with the main stakeholders outside the project consortium.
Sustainability; Land-based aquaculture; Open sea aquaculture; Aquaculture industry; Aquaculture management; Indicators;
North Levant (GSA 24) Aegean Sea (GSA 22) Balearic Island (GSA 5) Gulf of Hammamet (GSA 13) Southern Adriatic Sea (GSA 18) South of Sicily (GSA 16) Northern Adriatic (GSA 17) Northern Alboran Sea (GSA 1) Levant (GSA 27) Gulf of Gabes (GSA 14) Southern Ionian Sea (GSA 21) Malta Island (GSA 15) Eastern Ionian Sea (GSA 20) Sardinia (west) (GSA 11.1) Gulf of Lions (GSA 7) Crete Island (GSA 23) Northern Spain (GSA 6) South Tyrrhenian Sea (GSA 10) Alboran Island (GSA 2) South Levant (GSA 26) Sardinia (east) (GSA 11.2) Western Ionian Sea (GSA 19) Northern Tunisia (GSA 12) Southern Alboran Sea (GSA 3) Cyprus Island (GSA 25) Algeria (GSA 4) Corsica Island (GSA 8) Ligurian and North Tyrrhenian Sea (GSA 9)
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