The problem

Considerable time, effort and resources are invested each year in fishery-related research projects but there is widespread concern that the benefit of this investment is not fully realised. There is a continual need to review how information is disseminated and taken up by those whom the research is intended to benefit. The Commission has funded a number of projects, including AQUAFLOW and PROFET, which were aimed at improving the dissemination and increasing the uptake of EU-funded project results. Now this approach needs to be taken to the next step.

Overview:

PROFET POLICY will build a platform for the communication and dissemination of EU-funded research projects in fisheries and aquaculture. It will:

• Employ modern communication methods to facilitate the flow of information, focussing on policy-relevant results, to a wide range of stakeholders
• Organise complementary workshops on a thematic and regional basis to promote an exchange of views between aquaculture producers, fishers, scientists, policy-makers and other stakeholders
• Distribute widely the individual and complete workshop proceedings

Contribution to policy development:

• PROFET POLICY aims to increase the benefits to all stakeholders from EU-funded project results
• The PROFET POLICY partner organisations include key players in producing scientific advice for fisheries-related issues and members of institutions, such as the Advisory Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture. This will provide a direct link between project conclusions and policy formulation
• Participation in ACFA, and other influential bodies or institutions, will provide informed discussion on current policy and research needs in support of fisheries
  and aquaculture
• The project linkages established between industry, research and the EU will increase the transparency of policy development

Project deliverables

• Report: Review of background policy and project research documents – February 2006 (ongoing)
• Announcement of dates and places for nine thematic workshops – June 2006
• Reports: proceedings of workshops – within 3 months of each workshop
• Annual project report and newsletter – January 2007, 2008, December 2008
• Project final report – December 2008

Dissemination

• Establish project website facilities; publish newsletter – March 2006 (ongoing)
• Technical leaflets for wide distribution to fishery and aquaculture stakeholders – ongoing
• Presentations made to professional, trade and policy meetings – as necessary

Technical information

Project acronym: PROFET POLICY
Project’s official full title: Fish Policy Flow
Research priority: 1.3. Modernisation and sustainability of fisheries, including aquaculture-based production systems
Specific webpage: Details not yet available
Proposal/contract no: 022771
Start date: 1 November 2005
Kick off meeting: January 2006
Completion date: 31 December 2008
European Commission scientific officer: Mário Lopes dos Santos- mario.santos@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator:
Courtney Hough
Name: Federation of European Aquaculture Producers
Abbreviated name: FEAP
Address: Rue Nicolas Fossoul 54
B-4100 Boncelles
Country: Belgium
Tel: +32 4 338 2995
Fax: +32 4 337 9846
Website: www.feap.info/feap

Partners

Name: European Aquaculture Society
Abbreviated name: EAP
Country: Belgium

Name: International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Abbreviated name: ICES
Country: Denmark

Name: International Organisation for the Development of Fisheries in Eastern and Central Europe
Abbreviated name: Eurofish
Country: Denmark

Name: European Association of Fisheries Producer Organisations
Abbreviated name: EAPO
Country: Belgium

Name: AquaTT-UETP
Abbreviated name: AquaTT
Country: Ireland