Five small-scale fish farmers are benefitting from a new training programme to boost the sustainability of aquaculture in the south-east Mediterranean.
Run by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the FAO and New Agriculture New Generation, a non-governmental organisation based in Greece, the programme combines classroom training, field visits and coaching sessions.
The participants were selected, based on specific criteria, through an open call launched in Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia.
“Small-scale aquaculture is an integral part of Mediterranean heritage and contributes significantly to the Mediterranean diet,” said Houssam Hamza, GFCM aquaculture officer.
“It is crucial to support and modernise farming tools to ensure the well-being of farmers, aquatic species and the environment.”
For the first of the programme, participants have attended a series of workshops in Greece on strategy, innovation, sustainability, technological trends, marketing and sales. Future phases will see participants receive tailor-made coaching in their countries on how to best grow their businesses sustainably.
The programme aligns with the GFCM 2030 Strategy for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Sea as well as the FAO Blue Transformation vision, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The GFCM hopes to replicate this initiative in other Mediterranean countries.
