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AquaReg
AquaReg is a co-operation between the regions of Galicia in Spain respresented by the CETMAR Foundation, Border, Midland and Western (BMW) in Ireland represented by The Marine Institute and Trøndelag in Norway represented by joint forces of the South Trøndelag and North Trøndelag counties. The overall objective of AquaReg is to provide opportunities and design strategies for sustainable development of peripheral coastal communities by promotion of interregional co-operation in aquaculture and fisheries.
Overexploitation and depletion of traditional fisheries, has had a consequence in reduction in fishing quotas and a re-structuring of the fleet all over Europe, which, in turn has caused a loss of traditional jobs and increased unemployment in many coastal communities. As a consequence, aquaculture has diversified significantly, and today aquaculture constitutes an important and flourishing industry with high expectations for the future.
Galicia, BMW and Trøndelag are all strong marine regions, situated at different latitudes along the Atlantic Coast. (Galicia and BMW are both objective 1. regions). Marine research in the three regions reflects the resource base and industrial traditions. Most of the species of fish and shellfish are the same, with regional variations, e.g. Cod, Pollack, Sea bream, Sole, Halibut, Turbot, Crab, Octopus, Mussels, Oysters, and more. The first contacts with Galicia in Spain were established in summer 2000, and with Border, Midland and Western (5 western marine counties of Ireland) in spring 2001. There have been several partnership meetings, both at political and adm. level. The ambition of the three co-operating regions is to establish a long-term co-operation between Trøndelag, Galicia and BMW.
The regions engaged SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture to make a comparative analysis of marine resources in the regions ("Final report AquaREG", November 2001, ISBN 82-14-01868-4). This report describes and compares the three regions in a very detailed manner; the Aquaculture and Fisheries sector, naming fish farms, aquaculture sites, processing and equipment producing companies, research institutions, universities, colleges, and schools, local and regional government organisations, and existing networks and interregional co-operating projects between companies and research institutes in the AquaReg regions.
The rationale behind AquaReg is to make more efficient use of the experience and knowledge of aquaculturists , fishermen and scientists, across regional and national borders. All three regions have strong marine research environments, which reflect the regional resource base and industrial traditions. The AquaReg approach and ambition is concrete co-operation at operational level, involving marine industries, marine researchers, marine schools and coastal zone planners in RFO-internal projects. These groups have also been involved in goal definition in regional RFO-partnerships. |
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