Dette projekt, der er finansieret af EUs 6. rammeprogram, har til formål at give et bud på behovet for EUs fremtidige forskningsindsatser. De medvirkende er primært repræsentanter fra forskningsinstitutioner. Projektet har en kort løbetid, på 20 måneder, og afrapporteres i efteråret 2008.
Der er i starten af projektet udarbejdet en folder der beskriver formål og indsats.
Projektarbejdet har foruden en såkaldt ekspert-kerne også bygget på workshops, hvor der har været fri adgang for alle interesserede. Den senest afrapporterede workshop fandt sted i marts i Bruxelles. Her arbejdede man med såkaldte fremtids-scenarier (f.eks. fisk som delikattesse produkt, den miljøbevidste forbruger, regionalisering, 'dommedag' hvor fisk bliver en mangelvare, etc.) - altså scenarier der har betydning ikke alene for forskningsindsatsen, men også for f.eks. markedsføring, produktionstilgang etc.
Sidste workshop i projektforløbet fandt sted på Kreta i juni måned 2008 (ikke separat afrapporteret)
Der foreligger nu forslag til rapport - og gruppen bag projektet opfordrer til at man giver kommentarer på rapporten og resultaterne. Dette kan ske via projektets hjemmeside.
Rapporten delt op i afsnit:
1: The FEUFAR Project: Introduction includes:
1. Executive Summary
2. The project in a nutshell (extended summary)
3. Introduction
4. Methodology
2: The literature review consists of two parts:
5. Synthesis
6. Overview of foresight studies in fisheries and aquaculture world wide
3: Systems & Drivers: Trends and Developments (including hypothesis)
4: Micro-scenarios
5: Macro-scenarios
6: Research agenda, including policy brief and dissemination plan
7: Annexes
Rapporten, og projektet, har altså arbejdet med både vildfanget fisk og opdræt. Selv om der i princippet er tale om to forskellige sektorer, med hver sine kendetegn, angiver rapporten og resultater for områder af fælles interesse.
For opdrætssektoren findes der i rapporten flere afsnit af interesse. I kort form ser anbefalingerne således ud:
Research on new species; diversification of production based on regional characteristics and consumer choice is required. This will include research on species biology (e.g. reproduction, larval stages, fish health and welfare). As for fisheries, research on low trophic level species, including bivalves, is needed.
Research on the development of system technologies: Considering the great competition for the use of coastal areas, the development of offshore technologies and on!land recirculation technologies is required in future. This is all associated with the availability of renewable energy resources. Research on life cycle analysis for the whole system, and a study of risk aspects (insurance, theft) are required.
Improvement of present technologies for inshore aquaculture. Net cages represent some 99% of present production. Recirculated systems have potential, but research is needed to improve fish growth in such systems.
Alternative food for farmed resources. Replacement (as far as possible) of fish meal and fish oil as feed is needed. We also need to develop strains able to grow on diets with lower protein content and lower omega 3 level.
Species enhancement through selective breeding, including hybrids and triploids means that research on GMO is needed to understand whether and how species can be improved by this technique.
Spatial considerations. Considering the great high competition for the use of coastal areas research is needed to define priorities.
Research on the environmental impact of aquaculture activities. Taking into account that this is a main criticism currently, research is needed to evaluate and reduce the negative impacts of aquaculture on the environment and other uses of the coastal zone (nutrient loads, use of energy, escapees, chemicals, diseases, aesthetics).
Aquaculture for other purposes than food production. Production of constituents and molecules for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics means that species (e.g. algae) need to be cultured to eliminate pollution from certain depth zones. We need to culture species to be used as pollution indicators too.
Af mere generisk interesse er afsnittene om produktudvikling, sundhed og forbrugersikkerhed, sporbarhed og certificering samt markedsføring (herunder forskellige scenarier).
Der er altså materiale i rapporten som kan argumenteres inddraget i vore nationale overvejelser i opdrætssektoren; sporbarhedssystemer, certificering, marketing og struktur - i det hele taget holde den danske sektors udviklingsprioriteringer op mod dette større europæiske perspektivarbejde.
