Prioritised Activities for 1994 – 1995 and Related Budget
Item 4

By Philippe Ferlin

Ecologically Sound Integrated Management of Molluse Culture

Monitoring Network of Molluse Culture Area in the Mediterranean

Context and Background

Introduction

Since 1990, UND/FAO MEDRAP II carries out activities aimed to establish permanent regional networking structures for coordination and cooperation of aquaculture development efforts in the Mediterranean region.

The mutual cooperation between MEDRAP and PAP/RAC which started over the period 1984–1987 have allowed the varification of several actions undertaken at both sides as regards enviornment and aquaculture.

MEDRAP II meeting in Algiers (June 1992) proposed the use of existing networking institutions to maintain cooperation of Mediterranean countries in the field of aquaculture. Among others, the MAP-PAP/RAC was proposed to coordinate and organise the network on aquaculture/enviornment.

During the Steering Committee Meeting of MEDRAP II (Triana, 9–10 December 1992) it was concluded that “the PAP/RAC should carry out the Aquaculture and Enviornment Network activities”.

Seminar on formation of EAM network (Athens, 14–15 June 1993) accepted PAP/RAC as the future responsible institution for organisation and coordination of the network.

Within the scopes of the EAM network it is envisaged that "EAM will contribute to the protection and preservation of natural environmental thorough specific procedures of monitoring, and through the establishment of standards.

As the date for creation of a single Mediterranean European market draws very near, each country planning to export product to the European market is required to define its mollusc zones and to ensure the satndard quality of its products. Thise commitment implies the need to assess environmental conditions in the production zones and to help existing potential producers to plan and to carry out appropriate projects, avoiding risk of production collapse casued by environmental disturbances.

Objective

A. Long term

-   To establish a conceptual and operational procedure of monitoring for the development and protection of mollusc culture in the Mediterranean;

-   to define a realistic and consisten set-up of operations necessary to calibrate and validate the procedure as a whole and its individual component separately;

-   to use the levels of tendencies of a) bacteriological contamination, b) phytotoxines, c) contaminants in the mollusc;

-   to provide government with common measures which should be taken to prevent hazard for protection of consumers.

B. Immediate

-   Implementation of monitoring network for mollusc culture at national level;

-   up grade knowlege by updating information in order to meet common standards and regulation for both environment protection of the shellfish production and consumers helath;

-   to provide practical guidelines to participating institutions in the monitoring network.

Outputs

-   Practical guidelines on monitoring methods and procedures;

-   final document on regional monitoring networks containing specific procedures of monitoring needed for the establishment of standards recommendations for regional monitoring,

-   basic document to assist participating instiutions in implementing local/national monitoring network and providng a frame for national legislation.

Workplan 1994

1. Preparation of basic document on monitoring net available information.

2. Workshop on monitoring including:

   1. presentation of network;
   2. montitoring methods and procedure;

   3. an aproach to the implementation of the regional network. (15 participants, 5 days).

3. Follow-up based on workshop results.

Workplan 1995

1. Preparation of basic document on carrying capacity model.

2. Workshop to discuss:

   1. baisc parameters for carrying capacity model;
   2. proposed sampling strategy connected to the Maping;

   3. recommendation for the carrying capacity mode for Mediterranean network.

3. Follow up based on workshop results.

Budget

Identification of Participating Parties

The leading institution for enviornmental monitoring network is IFREMER in collaboration with the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries - Split, Potential participating countries are EEC member countries (Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal) in addition to Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, Albania and Bulgaria through GFCM.

The overall coordination will be undertaken by EAM network centre (MAP-PAP/RAC) implementation of the network, itself will be through Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries in cooperation with IFREMER.

Contribution in both kind and cash is expected from the target countries. Seed money for the biennium 1994/1995 is expected from MEDRAP II budget and PAP/RAC contribution.

As regards data base, SIPAM contribution is envisaged.