Laszlo Varadi holds a PhD. degree in aquaculture (thesis: development of integrated aquaculture systems). Since 1975 he has been involved in aquaculture development projects both in Hungary and also in developing countries as consultant, mainly for FAO. He has been the director of the Research Institute of Fisheries, Aquacultute and Irrigation at Szarvas since 1991. He is Chairman of the Aquaculture Sub-Commission of the FAO European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC), and the Eastern Europe Committee of the European Aquaculture Society.

For this workshop, Dr Varadi was not only the rapporteur but he also made a presentation on Freshwater aquaculture and the competition for water resources.

Session 1. Inland fisheries and Freshwater Aquaculture in Europe

Moderator: Dr. Christian Proske, German Fish Farmers’ Association

Socio-economic aspects of aquaculture development need to be properly addressed in European aquaculture development. Although socio-economy is one of the pillars of the EC Strategy on the Sustainable Development of European Aquaculture, there are some trends, which require more study. It could be deemed unfortunate, for example, that the decreased supply by fisheries is compensated mainly by imports rather than aquaculture. The image of aquaculture should also be improved. It may not be well recognised that aquaculture is a viable business, which can be taken up by the new generation. The social and environmental benefits of the sector are also not always well demonstrated to policy makers and the general public. It was emphasised however, that reliable data should be available, in order to provide good support to the representatives of the aquaculture sector during the dialogue with policy makers. When the data and information basis of the aquaculture sector is developed, clear objectives are needed what kind of data should be collected and what method for data collection should be used. The sector and individual farms should also be more cooperative in order to assist the establishment of databases in aquaculture.

Specific problem for carp producing countries is the expensive procedure needed to obtain the permission for the use of gonadotropin hormones, which is used for the artificial propagation of cyprinids. These hormones are synthesised and stored in the pituitary glands of the live carp. The pituitary glands are collected from the fish during processing. The use of gonadotropin hormones in carp propagation is an efficient and safe method, which is based on thorough scientific works. This type of hormone, which is a simple muco-protein (consisting of amino acids and sugars), can not be mistaken with other hormones (e.g. steroids) used in animal husbandry. If the use of gonadotropin hormones is limited by legislation, it will have serious consequences in the seed supply of common carp and other cyprinids. Since food safety has a primary importance in aquaculture production it is understood and fully accepted that there are rigorous procedures (in which not only DG FISH but DG SANCO and DG ENVIRONMENT are also involved) in order to get permissions for the use of various substances during the propagation and production of aquatic animals. There is a need however to investigate the possibility how to go through the procedure in order to get the permission for the use of gonadotropin hormones in carp propagation. Future action may require wide cooperation of European carp farms and the assistance of respective authorities taking also into account that many small family enterprises are involved in carp production.

The EC Strategy on Sustainable Development of European Aquaculture emphasises the importance of extensive aquaculture, and financial support will also be available for the development of this sub-sector. It should be clearly defined, however, what are the criteria for defining extensive aquaculture. If extensive aquaculture means the production of aquatic species without supplementary feeding, most of the presently applied technologies could be excluded from EU financial support. Redefining or clarifying the term „Extensive aquaculture” (described by „Aqualex”) seems to be timely and necessary. This is a very important issue because the unclear definition of this term can have serious financial implications especially on the production of relatively poor rural farmers. The Commission is aware of the importance of this issue. Producers associations are ready to assist the efforts to clarify the term „Extensive aquaculture”.

Session 2. The Activities and State of the Sectors

Moderator: Dr. Antal Csoma, Hungarian Fish Farmers Association

Experiences on aquaculture practices under EU regulations from Germany and the Netherlands are useful for new Accession States. After the reunification of Germany, carp production started to decline due to market difficulties. The main issues encountered in aquaculture development have been the increasing of profitability, species diversification. Instead of the enlargement of production capacities and the establishment of new facilities, the reconstruction and modernisation of existing facilities received priorities during the development of the aquaculture sector. The yield is 500-600 kg/ha in most of the German carp ponds, although there are farms in South Germany where the yields can exceed 1 t/ha. The number of farms however has decreased in the past years. Carp production is sometimes a secondary farming activity, which in many cases is carried out by ‘elder’ farmers. Numerous carp farms are now also involved in recreation activities. Taking into account market realities, experiments with new species (e.g. sterlet) and new technologies have started. Although the advantageous effect of common carp on the pond biology is well known, there are new fishpond technologies without common carp. Aquaculture development is also market driven in the Netherlands. African catfish producers received state support for production development in the early 1980s, however support was stopped when market problems started to occur. The competitiveness of the sector can only be increased if production development is based on genuine market demand. It has been shown that the marketing of common carp can also be improved by processing, where the value added product (e.g. fillet) may be more acceptable by consumers even if they have a negative perception on traditional carp products.

Common carp has recognised importance in the stocking of natural waters [e.g. lakes, ponds…], mainly for improving the conditions for recreational fisheries in a wide range of European countries. Common carp, however, cannot be stocked into natural water bodies in Poland, since common carp is not an indigenous species. Even if common carp is an ‘exotic’ species in the Czech Republic, systematic stocking is made into natural waters in order to meet the high demand of sport anglers. Common carp is considered an indigenous species in Hungary, where enhanced fisheries (mainly for recreation) plays an important role in fish culture activities. According to the Environment Protection Act, the criteria of the „indigenous” status of a species in Hungary is the existence of a given species in the Carpathian Basin in the past 2000 years. Nonetheless, the consideration of what species are native, exotic or introduced remains a very sensitive issue. When this issue is considered, sensible approaches and appropriate impact assessments are required.

Session 3. Fish Health and Environmental Challenges

Moderator: Dr. Wolfgang Stiehler, Fish Farmers Association in Saxony

The proposed new EU Directive (SANCO/10774/2003) on the control of fish diseases is presently under discussion and is planned to be in place by the end of the year 2004. According to the current information, all fish farms should be licensed and allocated a categorisation based on disease or pathogen presence. Only farms belonging to the top Category (I) would be able to supply stocking fish to natural waters. These farms should prove that the stocks are free from pathogens of diseases that will be specified in the Annex of the new regulation. Some of the pathogens that have been cited are widely spread in Europe (SVC, BKD and IPN) therefore many farms will have difficulty in obtaining this status. Taking into account this reality, the exclusion of the SVC, BKD and IPN from such listing has been proposed. At the same time, however, the Koi virus is not on this list. This deadly infectious disease may impose a serious threat to common carp production in Europe. This contagious disease is spread by the Koi carp, apparently through the international trade of ornamental species. According to data from Germany, 15% of the Koi stocks, which are traded throughout Europe are infected with the virus. Even if there have been strict measures against virus infections at many carp farms, the trade of the ornamental species appears to be rather uncontrolled, which means that ornamental species can be transported from region to region without the strictest veterinary control. Wide international collaboration is required to improve this situation. Future regulations and restrictions however, should not jeopardise the normal operation of those European Koi farms, where stocks are free from diseases. Extensive research has been carried out on Koi disease both in Israel and Europe, but there are still many unanswered questions, and appropriate treatment methods are still not available. Existing EU projects like PANDA (dealing with research on the control of contagious fish diseases) may provide a good framework for promoting joint research on Koi virus.

There are more than 365 legislative items in the EU that are elated to aquaculture. The full text of these is available on the DGFISH website, in the official languages of the EU (see http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/doc_et_publ/factsheets/legal_texts/aqua/aquaculture/aquaculture_en.htm ).

An extensive socio-economic survey on carp farming in Europe is being prepared. The study will provide valuable data, which can be used during the elaboration of development strategies and management plans in European carp farming, especially in Accession countries. Unfortunately there are farms which are reluctant to provide data for the study although the results of the study will be beneficial for the whole carp producing sector in Europe. Data improvement, for the support of policy development and application, is an area that should be investigated.

Session 4. Socio-economic Issues

Session chairman: Mr. Jan Huda, Czech Fish Farmers’ Association

The impressive development of African catfish culture in Hungary has demonstrated the possibility to introduce new species to the market. The spreading of supermarkets for retail and the development of processing and active marketing activities has contributed to the successful market development of African catfish in Hungary. It was important to demonstrate to the consumer that the new product is different from conventional or traditional products (such as common carp). The consumers appreciate the colour and the texture of the fish flesh. As a result of tasting sessions made at supermarkets, even those consumers who refuse to eat fish started to buy this product.

There is no special program for the development of carp processing in the Czech Republic. Development work has been based on making market surveys (identifying niche markets) and efforts have been made to produce a variety of new products, including cheap ones like minced fish. It is costly to penetrate into a supermarket chain with new products, an exercise that is especially difficult for small-scale farmers.

Experience clearly indicates the great potential for the development of enhanced fisheries; it is recognised, however, that the Water Framework Directive (WFD) will impose certain constraints and limitations on the aquaculture sector. It is felt that once the regulations of the WFD will be fully in force, a decrease in such stocking activity should be foreseen.

Session 5. The Future of Freshwater Aquaculture

Session chairman: Prof. László Horváth, Szent István University, Hungary

Although high quality compound feeds are available for salmonids, there is a need for special feeds for ‘new’ freshwater species such as bass, pike perch and sturgeon. It has been shown that the fat content of commercial salmon feed is too high for pike perch. The current regulations do not allow the use of animal by-products (e.g. feather meal, bone meal, meat meal), although the potential danger of their use is not scientifically supported. However, consumers are also reluctant or refuse to buy food products that contain by-products of animal origin. Although changes may be anticipated in regulations and consumers attitudes, the recent food scares (e.g. BSE, dioxins…) still have great effects on attitudes. The marketing of fish products are also affected by the specific rules and codes of the large multiple store chains. These approaches are often seen to be marketing tools, which are not necessarily based on scientific evidence.

Promising results have been achieved within the framework of recent EU-supported projects (e.g. the CRAFT programme), aiming at the development of the farmed production perch and pike perch. Based on the results to date, it can be said that pike perch can accept compound feed if a proper technology is followed; however the occurrence of sudden mortalities remain an unexplained phenomenon. It was explained that the intellectual property rights of new technology developed in the frame of a CRAFT Project belongs to the SME partners, which are involved in such R&D work. Within the EU Collective Research programme, Industrial Associative Groupings (IAGs) take up such rights.

Advanced genetic research on common carp breeding is made in the Accession countries (in particular the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland). Microsatellites are used for genetic characterisation and DNA typing of common carps. There are marker-assisted selection programs in various Institutions in the Accession countries; however there is a need for better collaboration among these research centres.

Even if genetically improved common carp varieties are available, the future marketing possibilities of common carp requires further study for long term stability.

A national project for the development of the aquaculture sector in Hungary is a good example for the collaboration between research institutions and enterprises. New technologies and methods have already been elaborated; however the impact of this project can be assessed after the completion of the complex R&D program. A secondary impact of the project is the experiences in the implementation and management of such highly complex RTD project.

In conclusion, this PROFET Workshop highlighted successfully some of the common problems faced, particularly, by carp aquaculture in Central and Eastern Europe – where a continental climate provides strong influence on the availability of species for aquaculture. While the Workshop raised a lot of issues concerning common carp, there was considerable interest in the opportunities provided by ‘new’ species, several of which require further work for transition into commercial production.

As for other sectors of European aquaculture, there is concern for effective disease management and treatment while care needs to be taken on the potential for disease transfer through the movement of live fish.

The environmental role of ponds in landscaping water and habitat management is undoubted while the social role, in terms of employment and recreational support (particularly sport angling) is important. The contribution of freshwater fish farming and inland fisheries requires further study and improved data collection is necessary to have a clearer picture on trends for the implementation of policy.