The principal key performance indicators of Mediterranean aquaculture – growth, mortality and feed efficiency - have not significantly progressed in the sea bass and sea bream sector over the last decade. They may actually have got worse!
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Resulting from an initiative of two of the pioneers of European aquaculture, Bjorn Myrseth and Gustavo Larrazábal, this special one-day event will address the production performance of the sea bass and sea bream sector by providing a forum for discussion of important technical challenges and potential responses.
The Mediterranean fish farming sector is very aware that there has been little to no improvement in its technical performance during the last 12-15 years and that this issue has become increasingly decisive for its development. In fact, the Mediterranean aquaculture producers believe this to be the most imperative challenge to be resolved, exceeding all other issues and topics raised by third parties and interest groups.
Technical viability, including its biological aspects, is intrinsically linked to economic and marketing performance and, hence, to the growth and sustainability of the sector. At the 2014 Annual Meeting of the FEAP, it was agreed that for the successful and sustainable development of Mediterranean aquaculture, this issue must be addressed urgently and solutions must be found.
The Mediterranean Aquaculture Commission of the FEAP put forward that the preliminary indicators for this situation include the following:
It is recognised that there may well be other unknown causes that need to be identified and investigated.
It is important to underline that Mediterranean fish producers believe that they are losing ground in performance when compared to other fish species and other livestock (e.g. salmon, poultry, pigs.…) where regular improvements are being obtained.
These targets are in line with the goals on Sustainable Feed Production of the EATiP Vision and Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.
This forum will bring together both our scientific and production knowledge to help better explain and understand the issues that may contribute to this position, so as to facilitate cooperation and actions to solve them.
Organised by EAS and EATiP, the event will take place within the Aquaculture Europe 2014 meeting at the Kursaal in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain on Thursday, October 16.
The event targets industry leaders, production, hatchery, technical and health managers, feed manufacturers and other suppliers, scientists and those that follow developments in the sector.
Participation at the event is free of charge to registered attendees of the AE2014 event. For those that do not wish to register for the full event, registration is €50 and can be paid online or on site.
Detailed information on the full Aquaculture Europe 2014 event, registration and hotel recommendations are available on the AE2014 web page.
Resulting from an initiative of two of the pioneers of European aquaculture, Bjorn Myrseth and Gustavo Larrazábal, this special one-day event will address the production performance of the sea bass and sea bream sector by providing a forum for discussion of important technical challenges and potential responses.
The Mediterranean fish farming sector is very aware that there has been little to no improvement in its technical performance during the last 12-15 years and that this issue has become increasingly decisive for its development. In fact, the Mediterranean aquaculture producers believe this to be the most imperative challenge to be resolved, exceeding all other issues and topics raised by third parties and interest groups.
Technical viability, including its biological aspects, is intrinsically linked to economic and marketing performance and, hence, to the growth and sustainability of the sector. At the 2014 Annual Meeting of the FEAP, it was agreed that for the successful and sustainable development of Mediterranean aquaculture, this issue must be addressed urgently and solutions must be found.
The Mediterranean Aquaculture Commission of the FEAP put forward that the preliminary indicators for this situation include the following:
- A lack of research into the nutritional requirements of the principle fish species reared and, more specifically, for the juvenile and adult phases; producers are requesting new modalities of cooperation with feed manufacturers so as to follow and assess the performance of [alternative] feed ingredients, their quality and composition.
- The quality of juveniles, including broodstock selection and conditioning - affecting growth performance, susceptibility to disease/infections and survival
- The lack of access to appropriate sites for fallowing procedures, which means that new stocks of fish are not placed in the best environment for farming
It is recognised that there may well be other unknown causes that need to be identified and investigated.
It is important to underline that Mediterranean fish producers believe that they are losing ground in performance when compared to other fish species and other livestock (e.g. salmon, poultry, pigs.…) where regular improvements are being obtained.
These targets are in line with the goals on Sustainable Feed Production of the EATiP Vision and Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.
This forum will bring together both our scientific and production knowledge to help better explain and understand the issues that may contribute to this position, so as to facilitate cooperation and actions to solve them.
Organised by EAS and EATiP, the event will take place within the Aquaculture Europe 2014 meeting at the Kursaal in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain on Thursday, October 16.
The event targets industry leaders, production, hatchery, technical and health managers, feed manufacturers and other suppliers, scientists and those that follow developments in the sector.
Participation at the event is free of charge to registered attendees of the AE2014 event. For those that do not wish to register for the full event, registration is €50 and can be paid online or on site.
Detailed information on the full Aquaculture Europe 2014 event, registration and hotel recommendations are available on the AE2014 web page.
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