News from the

GFCM Mediterranean Aquaculture Networks

S. Hadj-Ali (SIPAM Coordinator) and M. Pedini

SIPAM

(System of Information for the Promotion of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean)

The 1998 SIPAM meeting took place in Olhao, Portugal, from 17 to 19 September at the kind invitation of Portugal and with the financial support of Italy through ICRAM.

Twelve national Co-ordinators and the SIPAM Regional Co-ordinator and Data Manager attended the meeting (Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Tunisia and Turkey). FAO was represented by Messrs. Coppola and Pedini. The main objectives of the meeting were to present and discuss the new SIPAM for WINDOWS software, to review the SIPAM data status and to continue the discussion on the SIPAM version for the INTERNET.

As announced in FAN Number 17, the Regional Centre, jointly with Istitute e; Marine Biology of Crete (IMBC) and FAO, had already modified the SIPAM software in order to include the suggestions expressed in a previous meetings (Bari, March, 1997, Salerno, November 1997). The new SIPAM for WINDOWS 2.1 version is now more advanced, thanks to the newly introduced tools, especially for developing national networks and for data transfer from other existing data bases within the participating countries. The National Co-ordinators appreciated the performance and facilities of the new version and expressed the need to be trained on its use. For this purpose, a training course was organized at CIHEAM headquarters in Zaragoza, Spain, in January, 1999 which was also attended by the representatives of Bulgaria, Libya and Romania, as new participating countries.

The thirteen SIPAM data bases include about 6000 records. The National Co-ordinators reviewed the data quality on the basis of a summary report prepared by the data manager. They decided to focus, as a first step, on five data bases of high priority: national reports (using the new format adopted by the meeting), production statistics, experts, and animal pathogen information (based on the FAO software AAPQIS prepared for Asia). A copy of AAPQIS (Aquatic Animal Pathogen and Quarantine Information System) is expected to be received by the Regional Centre in Tunis soon. A group of experts should be established to generate and collect data to be entered into AAPQIS-Med. It was also recommended that FAO should explore the possibility of a Regional Technical Co-operation Programme (TCP) project to assist member countries to establish the Mediterranean Aquatic Animal Health Information Systems.

The SIPAM home page and a multilingual brochure are being prepared in FAO Rome. Portugal offered to prepare and issue the brochure in 4 languages, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. A forthcoming release of the SIPAM brochure is expected to include an Arabic version.

Regional data base. The 4t" issue of the SIPAM Regional data base, including about 6 000 records, was completed and distributed in February 1999. The next release will use the new SIPAM for Windows version. The National Coordinators will enter information on the five priority areas as soon as the new version becomes available.

New SIPAM member countries. Algeria, Bulgaria, Libya and Romania expressed their interest to be linked to SIPAM in 1998. Representatives from Bulgaria, Libya and Romania participated in the course organized by SIPAM last January in Zaragoza, Spain. The SIPAM Regional Co-ordinator, accompanied by the Data Manager, visited Libya in June 1999 to install SIPAM and to train the staff of the Marine Biology Research Centre in Tajura to use the software and start data entry. It is expected that Bulgaria and Romania will be visited soon for the same purpose.

Cooperation with SELAM and TECAM. As announced in FAN No. 17, a meeting was jointly organized by SIPAM, TECAM and FAO last December 1998 in Rome (FAO HQ) to go ahead with the design of the SIPAM pathology data base. The meeting which was attended by specialists from Mediterranean countries, recommended that the SIPAM pathology data base should not be developed as an Aquatic Animal Pathogen and Disease Reporting System, in order to avoid duplication of efforts with the Office International des Epizooties. They also recommended to create a Mediterranean version of the AAPQIS software which has been developed for the Asian Region.

With regard to SELAM, a joint SIPAM/ SELAM/ FEAP (Federation of European Aquaculture Producers) meeting was organized in February, 1998 in Rome (FAO HQ) to discuss the design of the marketing data base. A French expert, in cooperation with ICRAM, Italy, is preparing a list of the Mediterranean experts who should participate in the preparation of the data base, which should benefit from FEAP data on aquaculture product prices.

TECAM (Network on Technology of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean)

Seminar on Mediterranean Marine Aquaculture Finfish Species Diversification, Zaragoza, Spain, 24-28 May 1999

The seminar took place from 24 to 27 May 1999, at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza (CIHEAMIAMZ), Zaragoza, Spain. The seminar, which is included in the activities of TECAM, was jointly organized by CIHEAMIAMZ and the FAO Fisheries Department. It was attended by 83 participants from 18 countries (Algeria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Japan, Italy, Morocco, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, and the USA). The seminar reviewed the latest developments in the farming of new finfish and cephalopod species for Mediterranean aquaculture including methodological aspects that should be taken into consideration in the process of domestication and in the screening of new finfish candidates for aquaculture. Full paper contributions to the seminar as well as a summary of the open discussions have been published in CIHEAM's journal - Options Méditerranéennes (see New FAO Publications section in this newsletter).

EAM (Network on Environment and Aquaculture in the Mediterranean)

EAM Seminar on Environmental Impact Assessment of Mediterranean Aquaculture Farms, Zaragoza, Spain, 17-21 January 2 000

The seminar will take place at the CIHEAMIAMZ of Zaragoza, Spain. The seminar, which is included within the activities of the EAM, is to.be organized by CIHEAM-IAMZ, and the Fisheries Department of the FAO. It aims to review the relationships of Mediterranean aquaculture farms with the environment. In particular, it will address and discuss the different methodologies for the assessment of environmental impact of aquaculture farms, and review the latest developments of monitoring strategies affecting large-scale (sustainable production capacity in a given coastal area) and small-scale management (sustainability of specific projects). The Seminar caters to professionals directly involved in this field of aquaculture in private companies, research institutions and other national or international institutions. It is intended to foster the exchange of ideas and information.

SELAM (Network on Socio-Economic and Legal Aspects of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean)

Workshop on Global Quality in Mediterranean Aquaculture, Barcelona, Spain, 29 November-1 December 1999

The workshop will take place in Barcelona, Spain, from 29 November to 1 December 1999. It is to be organized by CIHEAM-IAMZ, the Fisheries Department of the FAO and the the Direcció General de Pesca Maritima (DGPM) of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain.

The purpose of the Workshop is to review the latest developments in technologies and marketing for the improvement of quality throughout the production cycle, and to discuss quality concepts, product quality standards and norms (trade, sanitary, environmental, etc.) affecting this industry, to facilitate sustainable and responsible development of the Mediterranean aquaculture sector. The workshop caters for professionals directly involved in the field of aquaculture production and economics from private companies, research institutions or other national or international institutions, favouring exchange of ideas and information.

Dr. James Kapetsky retires from the Inland

Water Resources and Aquaculture Service

Jim Kapetsky’s career in international fisheries, also his association with FAO, began on the Kafue Flats, Zambia, in 1969 where he was a biologist in the employ of the University of Michigan on a pre-impoundment study – part of an FAO project headquartered in Chilanga. Stimulated by the excellent quality of the applied fisheries research coming out of that FAO project, Jim used the research from the Kafue as the basis for his Ph.D. dissertation with the goal of eventually qualifying for employment with FAO. While studying at the University of

Michigan Jim also carried out a study of the economic impact of sport fishing on Grand Traverse Bay for Sea Grant and worked as a consultant for the Mekong River Commission in Bangkok. He went almost directly from defending his dissertation to Colombia where he was a fishery biologist from 1974-1977 on a FAO project for the development of inland fisheries. In 1977 he was selected for a fishery resources officer post in the Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service at FAO HQ. Apart from providing technical advice to then very extensive FAO/UNDP Field Programme, he worked on the management of coastal lagoon fisheries and on mangrove-fisheries relationships.

In 1986, using the opportunity afforded by the FAO external training programme, he studied remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS) in the USA. He used that training to launch a second career in the applications of GIS and remote sensing to inland fisheries and aquaculture that went side by side with his more traditional work in resource evaluations and management of inland fisheries, in recent times with heavy involvement in inland fishery

enhancements. His most recent work in GIS has been continent-wide assessments of fish farming potential and spatial modelling of inland fishery potential as well as the use of satellite data to monitor water surface changes and for the inventory of shrimp ponds. In 1988 he was promoted to Senior Fishery Resources Officer.

Up until the time of this retirement in August 1999, Jim had visited 65 countries and carried out fisheries or aquaculture work in 33. Not content to sail, fish and grow chili peppers on the coast of North Carolina full time, he and his wife, Eileen, are in the process of registering as C-FAST, Inc. "Consultants in Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences and Technologies" in order to remain technically active on a part-time basis. He is at 5410 Marina Club Drive, Wilmington, NC 28409-4103, USA and [email protected].

We wish him and Eileen a happy and long life.