CIHEAM and its role for aquaculture in the Mediterranean

The mission of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) is to 'develop cooperation between Mediterranean countries through postgraduate training and promotion of cooperative research in the field of agriculture and natural resources'. This is achieved by providing supplementary education (economic as well as technical) and developing a spirit of international cooperation among private/public sector executive, academic-researchers and officials. The Centre was founded at the joint initiative of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Council of Europe on 21 May 1962 and now has thirteen member countries: Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey. Other countries are in the process of joining soon. Main CIHEAM activities are: i) organization of advanced courses for professionals, post-graduate specialization courses and Master of Science programmes; ii) promotion and coordination of cooperative research programmes; iii) organization of other cooperation activities (workshops, technical meetings, etc.); and iv) preparation and distribution of technical publications. One of the five functional areas is fisheries and aquaculture. It offers a Master programme in aquaculture and one in fisheries economics and management. Furthermore, CIHEAM has coordinated the TECAM (Technical Aspects of Mediterranean Aquaculture) and SELAM (Socio-economic and Legal Aspects of Mediterranean Aquaculture) networks in the Mediterranean under the umbrella of the FAO General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean/Committee of Aquaculture (GFCM/CAQ). Some of the relevant seminars and courses offered have been related to environmental impact assessment of aquaculture and aquaculture management.