INTRODUCTION

1. The proposed programme of work for the next intersessional period 2000-2002 includes three major components: (i) one regular meeting of the Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ); (ii) support to the Information Systems for Promotion of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (SIPAM), Technology and Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (TECAM) and the Socio-Economic and Legal Aspects of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (SELAM) networks (including activities related to environmental aspects previously under Environmental Aspects of Aquaculture Management in the Mediterranean (EAM)), and (iii) fund-raising for the operation of the networks.

2. Programme implementation will largely depend on the implementation of the GFCM autonomous budget. If a decision on the GFCM budget cannot be reached at the Twenty-fifth Session of GFCM, the next biennium will be a transitional operation, for which funds will have to be sought directly from the various partners and interested countries.

ACTIVITIES PROPOSED FOR THE SIPAM NETWORK

Meetings

3. According to the original regulations, SIPAM should hold two meetings per year, one for the National Coordinators and a meeting of the Steering Committee. A meeting of the National Coordinators is planned in the second half of 2000. In 2001 the two meetings will also have to be held, and in 2002 the meeting of the Steering Committee is planned prior to the GFCM CAQ session. In view of developments which will take place in 2000, the Fourth Session of the Steering Committee requested that an extraordinary session of its Committee be convened. This extra session could be held either in connection with the GFCM session planned in September 2000 or between the meeting of the GFCM CAQ and the GFCM session. This session will review the progress on all the new activities being implemented.

4. Representatives from the Regional Centre would participate in the meetings of the GFCM session and GFCM CAQ.

Internet Version of SIPAM

5. The Regional Centre will be fully involved in the updating of the SIPAM Internet versions, which according to the last Steering Committee, should have monthly frequency. Specialized training will be required for staff at the Regional Centre to prepare the Internet releases which would be entered later in the FAO web site.

Reports

6. The preparation of specific reports based on the various SIPAM databases, both for placing on the Internet and to be published, was requested at the last meeting of the Steering Committee. These reports will be prepared according to requirements and availability of data in the various databases. As examples, reports on production, directories, projects, legislation, etc., could be prepared.

New Member Countries

7. At present 14 countries are members of SIPAM and Romania has formulated a request to join the network. It is envisaged to facilitate the access of the remaining GFCM countries in the course of the biennium. A promotion of the network will be done by the Regional Centre through visits to the countries, distribution of CD-ROMs for demonstration of the system, specific documentation, etc.

SIPAM Software Evolution

8. Minor technical changes in the SIPAM for Windows software will be discussed with National Coordinators through E-mail. It is also envisaged to initiate an analysis of the system in order to start preparing its evolution towards a decision-support system. This may imply a change in the platform which would require the recruitment of specialized consultants for the evaluation of the present system and to prepare proposals to be discussed with the countries.

Development of National Networks

9. At present, the creation of national networks has started in three countries. In the course of the biennium, an effort will be made to add more countries, in particular, those with large aquaculture sectors. The national networks should improve the data collection process by linking specialized institutions to the National Centres and also improve the utilization of the data contained in the system, thus increasing the interest of member countries in the system. The Regional Centre will be fully involved in the promotion of these national networks through daily contact and visits to the countries.

Consolidation of National Capacities and Strengthening of the Regional Centre

10. It will be necessary to organize a training programme on software utilization and on the organization of the national data flow for new member countries joining the network. It is expected that it should be possible to use the FAO/TCDC programme as well as the budget available at the Regional Centre for this purpose.

Databases

11. The efforts so far deployed for the improvement of the Pathology and Marketing databases will be continued and intensified. In connection with the latter database, particular attention will also be given to the databases on exports and imports until a suitable format is established. The support of FAO Headquarters will be required for the pathology database, and assistance from the SELAM network and the European Federation of Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) will be sought for the marketing-related databases. In this connection, it is expected to hold a workshop in 2000 to decide on the format of these databases.

Legal Aspects

12. It is expected that, in the intersessional period, the legal Agreement for formal accession to SIPAM will be finalized and that a decision be taken on the utilization of the regional data and on the relationship with the new networks that are being established.

ACTIVITIES PROPOSED FOR THE SELAM AND TECAM NETWORKS

13. The activities proposed for the two networks being coordinated by the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) have been selected taking into account the results of the elaboration of the Action Plan agreed by the participants at the Consultation on the Application of Article 9 of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries in the Mediterranean Region. The activities proposed will rely only on the combination of financial resources of both CIHEAM and the FAO Fisheries Department Regular Programme resources, without taking into consideration an eventual autonomous budget in GFCM. If this was available, a revised programme would be elaborated to include activities which have been selected as regional priorities by the countries at the above-mentioned Consultation. It is evident that should the autonomous budget be available it would also permit improved assistance for the participation of aquaculturists from developing countries in the activities proposed below.

14. The activities proposed include:

(a) TECAM survey for a directory of experts and laboratories concerned with aquatic animal health management. This survey will be carried out in 2000;

(b) SELAM Workshop on databases on marketing of aquaculture products and Mediterranean aquaculture product flow. This workshop is planned for the last quarter of 2000 or first quarter of 2001;

(c) TECAM Training Workshop for the establishment of selective breeding programmes in Mediterranean hatcheries, planned for April 2001;

(d) SELAM Workshop on the use of vaccines and chemotherapy in Mediterranean aquaculture. Legislative and applied aspects. This workshop is planned for June 2001;

(e) SELAM Seminar on methodologies for seafood market studies with the aim of introducing new aquaculture products (EU Concerted Action), planned for June 2001;

(f) TECAM Workshop on nutrient requirements and diet composition of marine finfish candidates for Mediterranean aquaculture (seriola, sole, sparids, tuna, etc.) planned for September 2001;

(g) Updating of the directory of experts and projects of the TECAM Survey on finfish species diversification, to be implemented in 2001;

(h) TECAM Seminar on Mediterranean mollusc production and new shellfish species, programmed for December 2001, and

(i) TECAM Course on Mediterranean offshore mariculture, planned for April 2002.

SUGGESTED ACTION BY THE COMMITTEE

15. The Committee is requested to discuss the proposed programme of work for the next intersessional period 2000-2002 of the Networks linked to the GFCM Committee on Aquaculture.