Aquaculture Demonstration Centres (ADCs) are among the key tools developed by the GFCM to promote sustainable aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Serving as subregional hubs for knowledge sharing, cooperation and capacity development, ADCs operate as dedicated technical units tailored to the specific needs and specificities of each subregion. Their objectives are to:
- Advance applied scientific research and innovation
- Provide hands-on technical assistance and technological support
- Showcase and disseminate best practices in aquatic food production
- Strengthen education, training and skill development, focusing on women, youth and small-scale producers
- Promote collaboration and partnerships across the sector
A platform for stakeholders to learn, connect and drive regional change.
Open to all aquaculture stakeholders, ADCs play a key role in supporting the sustainable development of aquaculture, contributing to food security and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Since the launch of ADCs, more than 5,000 participants have taken part in their activities, both in person and online. These efforts have contributed to the development of a strong network of institutions and stakeholders that actively collaborate and engage in regional initiatives and projects.
A regional network of aquaculture centres of expertise
The network of ADCs has expanded steadily in response to regional priorities and growing demand from stakeholders in the sector.
The first two ADCs were established in the Black Sea: the Grigore Antipa National Institute for Marine Research and Development (NIMRD) in Constanta, Romania, specializing in shellfish aquaculture, and the Central Fisheries Research Institute (CFRI) in Trabzon, Türkiye, focusing on marine finfish aquaculture.
Building on their success, and in response to requests by member countries, the first Mediterranean ADC was established in Alexandria, Egypt, with the support of the Marine Aquaculture Development in Egypt (MADE II) project of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, focusing on brackish water aquaculture. Subsequently, another ADC was established in Monastir, Tunisia, specializing in offshore cage aquaculture.
In collaboration with the Departament d’Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca i Alimentació of the Generalitat de Catalunya (DARPA), the GFCM also developed the Mediterranean Restorative Aquaculture Demonstration Centre (MRADC) at the facilities of the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) in La Ràpita (Spain). The centre focuses on capacity development in restorative aquaculture and nature-based solutions.
In 2025, an ADC was operationalized in Stara Zagora (Bulgaria), in collaboration with Trakia University. The centre supports innovation, species diversification (having commenced with trout farming) and capacity development for aquaculture stakeholders.
Most recently, the Mediterranean Marine Finfish Aquaculture Demonstration Centre (MMF-ADC) was established in Heraklion (Greece), in collaboration with the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) and the European Union Reference Centre for the Welfare of Aquatic Animals (EURCAW-Aqua), hosted by the University of Crete. The centre encompasses the complete marine finfish aquaculture cycle with a strong emphasis on animal welfare and best practice operations.
Capacity development through hands-on training and demonstration
The ADCs support capacity development for aquaculture stakeholders through a range of practical training and demonstration activities, including:
- Black Sea turbot, sturgeon and trout farming and restocking
- Restorative aquaculture, including mussel and oyster farming
- Shellfish environment and pathologies
- Recirculating aquaculture systems for trout production
Resources
Explore courses, trainings and workshops from ADCs and the wider aquaculture sector.
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Contacts
Houssam Hamza
Aquaculture Officer
Georgios Paximadis
Specialist on Aquaculture
Linda Fourdain
Expert on Marine Aquaculture
Sindi Simeonova
Aquaculture Information Management Specialist
Oumaima Chouchene
Aquaculture Specialist
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