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Resolutions voted by the Presidents Meeting of the F.E.A.P.
(2008 - Bodrum)
 CORMORANTS - BETWEEN FISHERIES AND THE PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT AND SPECIES
EFSA SCIENTIFIC OPINIONON THE ANIMAL WELFARE ASPECTS OF THE HUSBANDRY OF FARMED TROUT
AVAILABILITY OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS TO EUROPEAN FISH FARMING AND ENSURING THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF FARMED FISH IN EUROPE
RESOLUTION 1
CORMORANTS - BETWEEN FISHERIES AND THE PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT AND SPECIES
Background
• Populations of cormorants are increasing all over Europe, causing more and more damage to the environment and fisheries.
• A solution must be found which is compatible with European law, and takes into account the interests of fisheries and the need to protect this avian species.
• There is little reliable information from the Member States on cormorant populations at national levels
• There is a need to promote more regular scientific research, to provide reliable and generally recognised data on the total size of cormorant populations in Europe.
The subspecies of Phalacrocorax c. sinensis was deleted from the list of bird species to which special conservation measures applied as far back as 1997, while the subspecies Phalacrocorax c. carbo which have never been endangered, was not included on the list at all. A core question raised is ’Why do the Member States need a derogation; the European situation needs clarification.
Resolution
The membership of FEAP wishes to see a European management plan that urges the European Commission and the Member States of the EU to promote the sustainable management of cormorant population by means of scientific and administrative coordination, cooperation and communication.
It is essential that administrative consensus is reached so as to create the appropriate conditions for the drafting of a Europe-wide cormorant management Plan.
RESOLUTION 2
EFSA SCIENTIFIC OPINIONON THE ANIMAL WELFARE ASPECTS OF THE HUSBANDRY OF FARMED TROUT
The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) commends to the attention of the European Commission (EC) the scientific opinion of the panel on animal health and welfare on a request from the EC on the Animal Welfare aspects of husbandry systems for farmed trout (the EFSA Journal (2008) 796, 1-22)
The FEAP considers this scientific opinion, and also the former scientific opinion on welfare of farmed salmon, has responded accurately to the mandate from the EC and forms a base upon which to maintain and improve high standards of welfare for farmed trout and salmon in Europe.
The opinion is careful to confine its comments to what is scientifically proven or supported by the practical experience of industry experts. Anthropomorphism has been avoided.
RESOLUTION 3
AVAILABILITY OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS TO EUROPEAN FISH FARMING AND ENSURING THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF FARMED FISH IN EUROPE
Background
There are common diseases that affect the sustainability of the aquaculture of new and established farmed fish species, giving the potential to create significant economic losses.
Fish farmer issues related to availability of Veterinary Medicinal Products include:
• Safeguarding and assuring the best Fish Welfare
• Assuring the sustainability of the sector (especially in front of new emerging diseases)
• Underlining the feasibility of diversification with novel farmed species
• Breaking down the uneven playing field concerning imported aquaculture fish from third countries where VMP availability is not an issue.
• Reducing the possibility to develop resistance to antibiotics / antiparasitics
• Assuring food safety
• Protecting consumer health
All the interested parties are fully aware of costs and time required for establishing marketing authorisations across the EU market.
Practical Examples
1. The existing legislation is endorsed at national level with different practical implementations: see the positive example of “provisional licence” in Norway and other European countries, applied to make available vaccines against certain existing or emerging diseases, whereas the same concept is not applied in Italy.
2. There is the example of Denmark where environmental legislation opposes the proper use of fully authorised veterinary medicines.
3. An example of Ireland exists where limited access is given to alternative sealice treatments due to environmental issues, causing the iincreased risk of emerging sealice resistance to existing treatments.
4. The fact that the Cascade system (EC Dir. 28/2004) in the application of Veterinary Medicinal Products has became more the rule instead of an exception is a clear indication of failure of policies and their implementation across the EU.
Resolution
The FEAP urges the Commission (DG Mare, DG Sanco and DG Enterprise) to organise rapidly a workshop (indicated previously for autumn 2008) where expert representatives of the various relevant stakeholders concerned by this issue in Europe, including
• The private sector – i.e. Producer Associations, Pharmaceutical industry representatives, FEFAC ’s Fish Feed Committee and individual feed company representatives,
• European organisations such as EMEA and EFSA
• National Veterinary officers
• the Global Animal Health Technology Platform
could identify and discuss the related problems and potential solutions. This could also be a first step towards developing a total EU Aquaculture Health management scheme.
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