In September 2002 The European Commission presented 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 Visiting Proofessor in the University of Gent (Belgium). He 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 Instituteof Oceanographic and Fisheries Research (1978-1982) and a Senior Research and Teaching Associate in the Department of Zoology at the Universityof Athens(1974-1978).

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