A new Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism became operational in July 2022 to support the European Commission in the implementation of the “Strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture for the period 2021- 2030”.

The Assistance Mechanism is part of a Service Contract funded under the call for tenders CINEA/EMFAF/2021/3.4.12 and CINEA/EMFAF/2021/3.4.13.

The Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism will provide the European Commission and the EU Member States with logistical, technical and administrative support to implement the new strategic guidelines. The Assistance Mechanism will also have a website to disseminate information and share good practices on sustainable aquaculture in the EU.

The Consortium that won the contract will develop a strategy to share knowledge within the Aquaculture community and raise awareness of the Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism. They will also organise technical seminars, training and conferences to engage stakeholders.

Consortium

The Service Contracts is jointly managed by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission (DG MARE) and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).

The consortium is coordinated by NTT DATA, in partnership with Everis Ingenieria, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), SCOPE, the European Aquaculture society EAS and the European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATIP). The Service Contract started in June 2022 and will run until May 2024.

The website is expected to be online in December 2022.

Read the Council’s conclusions on the new aquaculture strategic guidelines for a more sustainable, resilient and competitive aquaculture sector, adopted on 18^th July 2022.

Source: European Commission I CINEA (https://bit.ly/3BtYcsz)