In this survey the Mediterranean region is considered in its broadest sense. It includes all European and African countries with a Mediterranean coastline, and also Portugal because of its affinity to the region as a whole The countries described by the survey are:
|
Albania |
Egypt |
Israel |
Lebanon |
Portugal |
Tunisia |
|
Algeria |
France |
Italy |
Malta |
Spain |
Turkey |
|
Cyprus |
Greece |
Libya |
Morocco |
Syria |
Yugoslavia |
Of the 18 countries included:
- eight belong to the United Nations (UN) West and East Europe groups (namely Albania, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Yugoslavia), of which five are European Economic Community (EEC) member states (France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain);- five belong to the UN North-West Asia group (namely Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey); and
- five belong to the UN North-West and North-East Africa groups (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia).
This report is therefore linked and should be read in association with other sector surveys in the series, particularly those for Africa, West Asia, the Middle East, and Northwest Europe & USSR.
The Mediterranean region described by this survey has a total population of 363 831 000 (1985 World Bank data). The countries catch a combined total of 5 393 808 tonnes (t) of fishery products, most of them from outside the Mediterranean Sea. Of this total, 490 800 t are processed for non-food uses (1984 FAO data). The region consumes a total 5 141 252 t of fisheries products, exporting 880 412 t and importing 2 114 252 t. It therefore has a net deficit of 1 233 840 t, which is close to 3.4 kg per caput per year, within a combined regional consumption of 14.1 kg per caput per year.
Based on data from a variety of sources, the estimated regional production through aquaculture approximates to 496 000 t for the years 1984-86. Aquaculture therefore contributes a little below 1.4 kg per caput per year, equal to 40% of the net regional deficit in fisheries products.
Aquaculture in the region is primarily the culture of shellfish (65% of the 1986 total); the rest is practically all finfish culture in freshwater and slightly brackishwater (21%) and culture of salmonids (14%). The contribution of marine products, both fish and shrimps, is negligible, but important investments are now being made and their production in the future is promising. There is no existing algal production at present, nor is it apparently contemplated.
During the last 15 years aquaculture has been progressively recognized as an important economic and food-producing sector by a number of countries in the region, and consistent funding has been devoted to planning, and to research and development. Aquaculture legislation and financing have been greatly improved in the leading countries, and there is now a clear commitment at government level to obtain from aquaculture an increasing contribution in reducing the seafood deficit of the region.
