PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate release 1^st December 2005

First FEAP Award for Excellence in European Aquaculture

During the 37^th Annual Meeting of the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers, which was held in the beautiful Greek island of Hydra, the first presentation was made of the FEAP Award for Excellence in European Aquaculture.

This award is to be made annually to a person who has excelled in their contribution to the development of European aquaculture and has been proudly sponsored by Schering-Plough Animal Health Aquaculture.

The FEAP Award for Excellence in European Aquaculture is represented by a specially-commissioned beautiful silver statue of Poseidon, and each recipient receives a smaller replica.

The first recipient of the award is Baron Charles de Fierlant Dormer who has been active in the rearing of freshwater trout in the Ardennes area of Belgium for over 40 years. Significantly, he was also one of the driving forces for the establishment of a European Federation for fish farmers in the 1960s which was incorporated as the European Federation of Salmoniculture [FES] in 1968 and he was responsible for European Affairs within this fledgling organisation.

After being a Vice-President of the FES, Baron de Fierlant Dormer became President in 1993. With the request of adhesion from the Federation of Greek Maricultures, the first non-salmonid fish farming Association, the FES changed its statutes to become the FEAP. This change in structure resulted in a rapid expansion and differentiation of the Federation’s scope and activities during his Presidency.

The award was presented to Baron de Fierlant Dormer by the President of the FEAP, Mr. John Stephanis, and Mr. Rod Watson, Senior Director Europe, Africa and Middle East of Schering-Plough Animal Health, and in the presence of Commissioner Joe Borg of the Director-General of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.

Mr. Watson, in presenting the award, affirmed the commitment of Schering-Plough to develop innovative research-based health solutions for the future and to apply the same passion, commitment and professionalism for European aquaculture as so admirably personified by Baron de Fierlant Dormer.

John Stephanis expressed his extreme pleasure that the FEAP has inaugurated this annual event and that someone who has contributed so much to the development of the FEAP’s activities was the first recipient. He said “It gives me, as President, and all of the representatives of the FEAP an immense pride to present this award to someone that we admire so much”.

In accepting the Award, Baron Charles de Fierlant stated simply that “if you love your work, the commitment and devotion come naturally”.

The FEAP Award for Excellence will be made each year at the Annual General Assembly of the Federation. Recipients will be selected from nominations made by a National Aquaculture Association that is a member of the FEAP.

ENDS

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Notes for Editors:

The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) represents 28 Aquaculture Associations from 23 European countries, representing over 1.3 million tons of finfish production.

Founded in 1968 as the European Federation of Salmoniculture, it became the FEAP in 1994.

The FEAP is a member of the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture of the European Commission and is active in many European and international actions relating to the fish farming sector.

See www.feap.info