Latest News
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The AAC at the Copernicus Marine for the Aquaculture Sector in Athens
On September 24th 2019, the Aquaculture Advisory Council was represented by its Executive committee member Yannis Pelekanakis at the Copernicus Marine for the Aquaculture Sector workshop in Athens.
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The Aquaculture Advisory Council elects its representatives for the next 3 years
On September 10th 2019, the Aquaculture Advisory Council’s General Assembly elected its representatives for the next three years.
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AAC publishes new recommendations for the sustainable development of the sector in the EU
The AAC approved 4 new AAC recommendations that can now be found by clicking the links below:
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Challenges and Potential for Freshwater Aquaculture
The AAC took part to a Workshop organised on the 22nd May 2019 at the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels on "Challenges and Potential for Freshwater Aquaculture".
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A successful first participation to the European Maritime Day in Lisbon
The Aquaculture Advisory Council has organised, in the framework of the European Maritime Day 2019 (EMD) in Lisbon, an interactive Workshop to reflect upon the "Social acceptability of aquaculture in the European Union".
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The Aquaculture Advisory Council organises a Workshop at the European Maritime Day 2019
The Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC) organises a workshop on "Aquaculture and the Social Acceptability Challenge" at the European Maritime Day (EMD), the annual event on blue growth and maritime affairs organised by the European Commission. This year, the EMD will take place in Lisbon.
Several experts on different fields have been invited to lead, together with AAC representatives, the discussions on "Space and environment", "Consumers and products", "Media" and "Animal welfare".
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Consultant on Data Collection for Aquaculture
The Aquaculture Advisory Council Working Group on Horizontal Issues seeks a consultant to do a stock assesment on what and how data that is currently collected by EU Member States on aquaculture.
Terms of Reference for the review
Through a consultative process with relevant stakeholders and a review of relevant best available science, to compile all information available regarding data that is collected in the EU on aquaculture, including comparing and identifying the differences within each EU Member State. The submission will be used as a guide for the Aquaculture Advisory Council Working Group on Horizontal Issues to develop recommendations for approval by the Executive Committee to be submitted to EU Member States and the European Commission.
Background
Context
The Data Collection Regulation[1] states that EU Member States are to collect “socioeconomic data and sustainability data on marine aquaculture to enable the socioeconomic performance and the sustainability of the Union aquaculture sector, including its environmental impact, to be assessed”. Furthermore, EU Member States may collect “socioeconomic data and sustainability data on freshwater aquaculture to enable the socioeconomic performance and the sustainability of the Union aquaculture sector, including its environmental impact, to be assessed”.
The European Commission has further adopted Implementing Regulations that 1) detail the methods that Member States should apply to collect data and 2) how Member States are meant to report back on data collection to the European Commission
The Long term goal of the AAC is to improve data collection for aquaculture, looking at:
- Is the data collected relevant for sustainable aquaculture?
- Is the data collected supportive and coherent of other legislations (e.g. environmental/ social)?
- Is the data collected effective (e.g. quality of the data)?
- Is the data collected efficient (e.g. costs)?
- What is the added value of the data collected?
[1] Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32017R1004
Summary of Actions already taken
The AAC Working Group on Horizontal Issues has already done a preliminary assessment of the legal obligations of how EU Member States are to collect data on aquaculture.
Scope of the criteria analysis
Objective
Through a consultative process with relevant stakeholders and a review of relevant best available information, to analyse and inform what data is currently being collected in all EU Member States and how this data is collected.
Areas to addresses
- Review and analyse the efforts already undertaken by Member States to collect data based on the legal obligation of the Data Collection Regulation.
- Information from the AAC members on how they view data collection in their countries
- List of services/ operators that are collecting data – who does the job and how this is done (when, what, where)
- Describe the workflow of the data that is collected (e.g. who does the analysis of the data and when is this published)
- Review the breakdown of how much it currently costs EU Member States to collect the data
- Review why Member States are not collecting the data that is mandatory
- Review how the non-confidential data is made public in every EU Member State (e.g. Eurostats)
Deliverables and timeline
November 2019: Outline of the report discussed with the Focal Group
December 2019/January 2020: Consultant gathers information
February 2020: Draft report sent to Focal Group & Discussed
March 2020: Further gathering of information
April 2020: Draft report sent to Working Group on Horizontal Issues
May 2020: Final delivery of the report
Process
- Management of process: The report is to be led by an external consultant reporting directly to the Data Collection & Aquaculture Focal Group lead of the Working Group on Horizontal Issues. An experienced person with a multi-disciplinary background is preferred, ideally someone who knows aquaculture needs and environmental concerns well.
- Selection of consultant: an ad will be advertised to be able to gather CVs. The Focal Group of the Working Group on horizontal issues, together with the secretariat will select a final candidate. This candidate will be put forward to the Working Group on Horizontal Issues and then to the Executive Committee for approval.
- Consultation process: For the report to be accepted as reliable by stakeholders it is important that the process be inclusive, transparent, consultative and thorough to take all perspectives into account. A full list of parties to be consulted will be drawn up during the focal group meeting in November.
- Timing: The assessment will be initiated on the first half of 2019 with the final results to be presented to the Executive Committee in October. Drafts of the report should first be presented to the Focal Group and then to the Working Group on Horizontal issues for their comments to be included in the report to the Executive Committee.
- Monitoring: Regular updates/discussion from the consultant with the Focal Group on the progress of the report
Budget
There is provision in the current budget for such a study as part of the budget for rapporteurship under Working Group on Horizontal Issues. It is proposed that the work will be carried out, between 1st of November 2019 until 31st of May 2020 and will cost a total of 6,000 EUR VAT included.
If interested, please send your CV in English to the AAC Secretariat by the 30th July 2019: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Calendar of AAC meetings for 2018-2019
The AAC adopted its calendar of meetings for 2018-2019
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- Multimedia
AAC General Assembly Presentations now available
The AAC General Assembly took place on the 13th September 2018 in Brussels (Hôtel Marivaux, Blv. Adolphe Max, 98 – 1000 Brussels).
You can now download the presentations done at this meeting:
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AQUA 2018: "Feed globally - produce locally"
The European Commission's Group of Chief Scientific Advisors will be presenting the Food from the Oceans scientific opinion and its recommendations during the EU EATIP Day "Feed globally - produce locally" during the AQUA 2018 conference in Montpellier on 27 August.
Come to find out how can policy makers and research and innovation contribute to a better future for our oceans.