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Offshore Mariculture 2010

In its 2006 report, “State of World Aquaculture”, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that nearly half of the fish consumed as food worldwide are raised on fish farms (compared to 9 percent in 1980) and estimated that worldwide aquaculture production would have to increase from 45.5 million mt in 2004 to 80 million mt in 2050 to just maintain current per capita consumption levels. The FAO highlighted the growing consumer demand for seafood as one of the most important driving forces behind the surge in production and went on to say that the commercial aquaculture of marine finfish is expanding and likely to take place in more offshore locations than have been used traditionally.

In order to help aquaculturists capitalise on the opportunities offshore fishfarming represents and, following two successful previous events, Malta 2006 and Alicante 2008, the third Offshore Mariculture Conference, entitled ‘Exploring the progress and prospects for offshore mariculture in European and international waters’ will be held at the Hilton Imperial Hotel, Dubrovnik, Croatia from 16-18 June 2010.  As in previous years, the two day technical conference will be followed by a third day dedicated to a visit to a fish farm.

Croatia has a tradition of both freshwater and marine aquaculture; the major species produced are tuna, seabass and seabream, carp, rainbow trout and mussels. Mariculture in Croatia intensified in the early 80's and the strategic goal is to massively increase the production of cultivated fish and molluscs in the immediate future, whilst at the same time improving the competitiveness in the European market. Croatia is already leading the way in the very complex issue of spacial coastal planning and can boast being one of the first countries to have reached an agreement between the ministries of fisheries, tourism and environment.

Previous Offshore Mariculture conferences

Alicante 2008
Malta 2006