The European Commission has presented in September 2002 a Communication to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and to the Committee of Regions on “ A strategy for the sustainable development of European Aquaculture”.

This presentation gives  :
·         an overview of the needs for research concerning the European aquaculture as they are presented in the Commission’s Communication, as well as the  proposals made in order to finance this research,
·         the comments made by the above mentioned Institutions on that particular chapter of the Communication, and
·         a brief overview of research needs, financing possibilities and Commission initiatives concerning this important sector of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Constantin Vamvakas is currently the Head of the Aquaculture Unit within DG FISH and has had a long association with the development of aquaculture in the European Union during a distinguished career within the Directorate General for Fisheries, where he has been Head of Unit for the ‘Conservation of Resources’ (1983-1990), ‘Aquaculture, Equipment, Infrastructure’ (1990-1993), ‘Informatics’ (1997-1999)and ‘Information Technology’ (1999-2000)as well as ‘France, Italy and Spain (1993-1997). He was Director-General of the Institute of Oceanographic and Fisheries Research (1978-1982) and a Senior Research and Teaching Associte in the Department of Zoology at the University of Athens (1974-1978).

Contact Details:  European Commission – Fisheries Directorate General – Rue Joseph II 99 – B-1000 Brussels
E-mail: constantin.vamvakas@cec.eu.int