The sub-regional meetings represented, actually, the starting of MEDRAP II Regional activities. The main objectives of this exercise were the identification of common priorities and the revision of the cooperative mechanisms initially foreseen in the Project document. The need of a clarification was felt because:
MEDRAP action plan was originally supposed to be completed through the activities of AQUAMED Regional Project, which never began. So, important components, such as the asistance to aquaculture development planning, the organization of a regional information network, the market survey and promotion, are not contemplated in the Project Document
As a consequence of the above, the concentration of project resources toward the development of human resources (immediate objective 2) and the strengthening of technical and physical capabilities (immediate objective 3) lost a great deal of their original consistancy.
The need of a more articulated action, to support the Regional development of aquaculture, became necessary. Thus, the contents of the sub-networks envisaged in the Project Document (immediate objective 1) were redefined, as well as the working mechanisms for each of them and their inter-relationship.
Consequently, a deep revision of the Project work plan and budgetary allocations was necessary. The meetings in Tunis, made possible the elaboration of an action plan in accordance with their present priorities and taking into account the highly heterogenous development level of aquaculture in the Region. Items of importance for project operation, not covered in the Project Document (translation, technical publications, technical staff) were also identified.
Finally, as the main objective of the Project is the establishment of a Regional permanent structure (Network and Sub-networks) for the coordination of aquaculture development, the sub-regional meetings constituted a first occasion for the discussion of their mechanisms, which are not specified in the Project Document.
The necessary support to training and research activities was recognized. Themes such as quality control of the products, prevention of diseases, reproduction of marine species, farm design and management, aquaculture development planning and coordination, still represent serious obstacles for the future of the productive activty in the Region.
Nevertheless, it has been stressed that the support action promoted by the Project should be developed through a more structured strategy. Training, research and extension sub-networks should be considered as the basic instruments to develop the Project programmes.
At the same time, an information sub-network has to be considered as the platform for the functioning of the three sub-networks. Indeed. an operative interaction exists between the information support and the above mentioned sub-networks.
Finally, the suggested production sub-network, represents the top of the pyramidal structured Project since the ultimate objective of the whole project is nothing else than improving production.
The success of Project activities will also depend on the selection of target audiences to be addressed, as it is specified in the meeting reports (Libya Sub-region meting report). Five different audiences were identifies for the production sub-network:
planners, bankers, governmental employees dealing with authorizations or concessions / permits;
investors, in the process of starting large / middle scale aquaculture projects;
operators of large/middle scale projects, mainly oriented to the production of export commodities.
small producers in rural areas, or people involved in culture based fisheries or extensive aquaculture projects.
wholesales community, which is involved in the identification and processing of new products.
The new workplan, established through the discussion held during the sub-regional meetings, emphasizes a concentration of the activities for the organization of the first training courses, on the prioritized subjects, at the beginning of 1992, while efforts should be made for the starting of the information sub-network (not foreseen in the Project Document.)
The training courses and seminars scheduled for the beginning of 1992 will also allow the initial formulation of research activities (research sub-network), crucial for the establishment for autonomous structures, including the participation of the associated countries. They will also motivate the first national supported actions (training, workshops, fairs) which will concretely confirm the interest for the promotion of this productive sector.
