Bringing pioneers together

Leading lights in the aquaculture industry will meet in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in June for the third Offshore Mariculture Conference and high on the agenda will be discussions on best strategies to expand the competitiveness and responsible practices of the sector.

The conference, which will take place from 16-18 June at the Hilton International Hotel in Dubrovnik, is aimed at farming companies, research organisations and suppliers looking to avail themselves with the latest policies, products, research and case studies within the finfish, shellfish and seaweed offshore farming industries.

Croatia is internationally renowned for its freshwater and marine aquaculture, producing a vast array of premium species including tuna, seabass, seabream, meagre, carp, rainbow trout and mussels. It is also famous for its farmed Mali Ston oysters.

There will be a specific focus on the country and its successful spatial planning policy. This unique expertise is of special interest to government officials from many farming nations who are looking to adapt similar principles into their own ministries of fisheries, environment and tourism.

In addition, the conference will be of relevance to international farming companies and suppliers looking to enter or invest in the Croatian market, which has stated its intention to significantly ramp up its aquaculture production output for both finfish and shellfish species.

This year’s event follows two successful editions, held in Malta in 2006 and Alicante in 2008. It will consist of a two day technical conference (16-17 June) and a third day (18 June) will offer participants the opportunity to visit a local seabass and seabream farm outside Dubrovnik.

Many of the industry’s leading associations have pledged their support including the European Aquaculture Society, European Aquaculture Technology & Innovation Platform (EATiP), the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), HGK, Grupacija Akvakulture (Aquaculture Affiliation of the Croatian Chamber of Economy, and member of FEAP), and the Danish Aquaculture Association.

Members of the European Aquaculture Society are entitled to a 10% discount off the standard delegate rate, as are members of the other aforementioned associations.

Entitled ‘Exploring the progress and prospects for offshore aquaculture in European and International waters’, the conference will be Chaired by Arne Fredheim, Director of Sintef/Create.

The full programme, which is available online at www.offshoremariculture.com, will include the following seven sessions:

· Policy, legal framework and key research updates – to include updates on Europe by Torgeir Edvardsen, board director, EATiP; the Americas, Michael Rubino, manager NOAA Aquaculture Programme; and Asia, Prof Patrick Sorgeloos, director, University of Ghent.

· Practical offshore farming operation - this session will include papers on ‘Integrated and remotely controlled operations for feeding and harvesting’ from Jone Gjerde, chief operating officer, AKVA Group; ‘Preventing escapes’ from Dr Tim Dempster, Sintef; ‘Interaction between wild and farmed fish: effect of offshore fish farms on wild stocks’ from Professor Pablo Sanchez Jerez; and ‘Effects and treatment of hypoxia in cage environments, from Dr Frode Oppedal, senior researcher, Institute of Marine Research, Matre.

· Spatial planning and monitoring – included in this session will be a paper on the ‘Cross ministerial approach to spatial planning’ by Vlasta Franicevic, head of aquaculture with the Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Rural Development, Croatia. In addition, the FAO will report on ‘Spatial analysis and remote sensing for the sustainable development of off-the-coast and offshore aquaculture from a global perspective’.

· Spotlight on Croatia – Croatian companies Kali Tuna and Riba Mljet will give case studies on their successful fish farming operations. Kali Tuna, based in the archipelago of Zadar, along Croatia’s Central Adriatic coast, farms Atlantic bluefin tuna and is a renowned producer of sashimi-grade tuna. While Riba Mljet is the country’s only organic-certified seafood producer, specialising in seabass, seabream and meagre.

· Ecological monitoring and future technologies – ‘Seaweed farming for second generation bio-fuel’ delivered by Pål Bakken, CEO and founder of Seaweed Energy Solutions, together with a paper entitled ‘Meeting the quest for spatial efficiency: progress and prospects of extensive aquaculture within offshore wind farms in Europe’ by Professor Bela Buck of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Mine Research are just two of the papers to be included in this forward-looking session.

· European and International case studies – companies such as Aotearoa Fisheries (New Zealand), Atlantis Group, Shellfish Solutions and others will provide insight into their latest shellfish and fish farming experiences.

· Manufacturers’ updates – the latest products and technology.

The conference will round off with what is likely to be a lively debate entitled ‘So what is stopping us?’ with a specially selected panel moderated by Alistair Lane, executive director, European Aquaculture Society. On the panel will b e Torgeir Edvardsen, Hayri Deniz, director of mariculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Turkey, and Dr Stamatis Varsamos, European Commission –DG RTD.

Networking opportunities will be plentiful, not least at a Gala Dinner which will take place on the evening of Wednesday 16 June at the Revelin Fortress, which was built in 1462 to provide protection to the Eastern City Gate Place.

Overlooking the Old City Harbour, the Revelin's terrace offers, what are probably, the best views of the old city and its famous harbour.

The conference will also feature a highly focused exhibition, including companies such as Silver sponsors Rotogal, Badinotti, Olrac, Refamed, Tencate, AKVA, Hvalpsund and Retificio Ribola Giovanni.

The standard delegate rate for the Conference is €649 which includes attendance at the Gala Dinner.

Places on the fish farm visit can be booked at €89. This price includes return coach travel and refreshments. To book a place contact Karen Tolley at ktolley@mercatormedia.com, or tel +44 (0)1329 820099.