The problem

Traditionally, fishery and aquaculture research priorities have been set largely in response to local, national and topical needs. There has rarely been any strategic overview of need, and certainly not at the trans-national European level. A medium-term strategic European plan for fishery and aquaculture research priorities will provide for more cost-effective investment and underpin future sustainability of natural resources and the environment.

Overview:

FEUFAR will describe the current system within which fishery research priorities are set; identify the driving forces in the system; and develop and test the implications of alternative models. In this context, the project will:

• Collate various scenarios so as to provide the basis for the identification of issues from various perspectives: economic, ecological, societal and management (governance)
• Define the research priorities for the coming decade to permit sustainable exploitation and farming of aquatic resources within an evolving European Maritime Policy. 

 Contribution to policy development:

• FEUFAR will provide a European reference point for policy-makers charged with setting national research priorities.
• Models developed during the project will help develop understanding of the full social and economic implications of pursuing one line of research rather than another.
• The project will help identify the most cost-effective lines of research to prioritise in support of long-term environmental and resource sustainability.
• FEUFAR will develop proposals contributing to an integrated European Marine Policy.

Project deliverables

• MariFish outline of the current status of fisheries and aquaculture research in European – July 2007
• Conclusions of first workshop – July 2007
• Conclusions of second workshop – May 2008
• Challenges, research priorities and options for sustainable fishing and aquaculture activity in Europe – June 2008
• Conclusions of third workshop – July 2008
• Research priorities for addressing key challenges in fisheries and aquaculture – July 2008
• Project conclusions and policy implementation plan – August 2008

Dissemination

• Project website – regular updates
• Project newsletter – at start and end of project
• Dissemination through workshops – July 2007, May and July 2008
• Publication of significant findings and conclusions in international peer-reviewed journals – as opportunity permits
• Input from as wide as possible an audience is sought through a series of workshops and through the discussion forum on the website www.feufar.eu

Technical information

Project acronym: FEUFAR
Project’s official full title: The Future of European Fisheries and Aquaculture Research
Research priority: Modernisation and sustainability of fisheries, including aquaculture-based production systems
Specific webpage: www.feufar.eu
Proposal/contract no: 044178
Start date: January 2007
Kick off meeting: January 2007
Completion date: August 2008
European Commission scientific officer: Jacques Fuchs, Jacques.FUCHS@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator: Luc van Hoof
Name: Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies
Abbreviated name: IMARES
Address: P.O. Box 68, 1970 AB IJmuiden
Country: Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0) 255 564646
Fax: +31 (0) 255 564644
Website: www.wageningenimares.wur.nl

Partners

Name: Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science 
Abbreviated name: CEFAS
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer
Abbreviated name: IFREMER
Country: France  

Name: FUTURIBLES
Abbreviated name: FUT
Country: France  

Name: Fiskeriforskning
Abbreviated name: FF
Country: Norway  

Name: Hellenic Center for Marine Research
Abbreviated name: HCMR
Country: Greece

Name: Marine Board – European Science Foundation
Abbreviated name: MB-ESF
Country: France