Vocational training in European aquaculture is
chronically under resourced, while those textbooks that are available struggle
to keep up with the technical developments in such a rapidly evolving sector. So concludes a new study, undertaken as part of the
EU-funded BlueEDU
programme, which examined the resources available in 12 European countries. "Producing fish is far less demanding than
producing meat. But to bring production up to the level needed, we have to
increase the knowledge among people who work in the blue economy," says John
Birger Stav, associate professor at NTNU, who is project coordinator for BlueEDU. "Despite growing demand, growth in the European
aquaculture industry has stagnated. This is happening partly because the
industry lacks employees with the right knowledge and skills," he adds.
"Knowledge of technology, fish biology and the different farming processes is
key." Many people make mistakes with grave consequences -
nearly 20 per cent of Norwegian farmed salmon died due to delousing practices
in 2016. The research revealed that the differences from
country to country are significant. In Greece, which is the fourth largest
aquaculture producer in Europe, companies need to conduct all training
themselves, while vocational training in aquaculture in the eastern
Mediterranean simply isn't offered. Major challenges also exist in Norway, where
several hundred workers do not have any certificate of completed
apprenticeship. As a result, the study concludes, many people make mistakes
with grave consequences - according to the Norwegian
Directorate of Fisheries, nearly 20 per cent of Norwegian farmed
salmon died due to delousing practices in 2016. However, the authors note, this
statistic can be remedied with education and co-operation. "At Frøya in Trøndelag county, they're starting to
get on top of the lice battle. The competing aquaculture facilities are
cooperating and synchronizing their practices. The effect is that mortality is
down to two per cent at the best facilities, profits are way up and animal
welfare is much improved," Stav says. "Knowledge and cooperation are the keywords here.
We need to create a culture where breeders can collaborate and learn from each
other. This is what we're recommending to the EU to include in training and
educating skilled workers," he adds. The aquaculture industry is growing fast, but the
availability of study programme spaces is still limited. Among workers who have
been employed for the last six years, two out of three lack the relevant
training. The largest companies in Norway are positive about
joining the pilot project, as are Scottish Sea Farms, Arctic Fish and Arnarlax. The research project has focused on farmed salmon
and trout in the cold waters of northern Europe, as well as sea bass and sea
bream in the warmer Mediterranean region. The project has mapped out companies' competency
needs into the future and whether the educational sector will be able to
deliver what companies are actually asking for. "We've been present at national and international
meetings. We've asked companies for their input on what's important for the
industry. All of Europe believes education is important, but it's not at the
top of the priority list for a lot of people. They don't necessarily see the
connection between fighting disease and education," Stav says. Now that the survey data have been collected, the
plan is to set up a major European pilot project to test innovative new ways to
offer vocational training. The hope is that more countries will start using
similar curricula, teaching methods and technologies, as well as similar means
of assessment. This will allow skilled workers who have passed a national
vocational qualification exam to automatically have their education accepted by
companies in other countries. At the same time it will raise the training
standard. "The largest companies in Norway are positive about
joining the pilot project, as are Scottish Sea Farms and the Icelandic
companies Arctic Fish and Arnarlax. We also hope to bring the Faroe Islands on
board. Then the industry will have a good base for learning from each other and
creating common standards," says Stav. 
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