This networks aims to strengthen research on environmental impacts of aquaculture by integrating European and Philippine expertise needed to provide support to sustainable and responsible production of aquaculture, to organize and encourage the exchange of information and joint research of a wider network of European and Philippine institutions to consolidate and improve the knowledge of the subject.

The partners will encourage research institutes, universities and other relevant institutions to join the network in order to achieve a critical mass of resources and effort.

This existing expertise of the partners will be networked around the project network partners aimed primarily at creating a solid platform of knowledge and durable integration of the research capacities of the network participants so that they can start to advance knowledge on environmental management of aquaculture.

The partners will assist the development of the Network and encourage the network members to;

• Consolidate and share present knowledge

• Encourage cooperation and coordination of research between network members

• Prepare joint research project proposals for funding

• Disseminate research and application of research

• Formulate guidelines that can be taken up by government planners and managers of aquaculture development as well as at the farmer and producer level.

• Develop a resource database that can be used for education and training in this topic.

Target Activities:

1. Consolidation and sharing of present knowledge

Consolidate present knowledge between Europe and Asia, and between researchers in the region.

• Develop web based database and synthesis documents on the present scientific understanding of aquaculture impact on the environment

• Identify gaps in knowledge

• Identify priorities

• Encourage focus groups of network members on specific issues in an interdisciplinary way

• Develop joint research proposals for funding

2. Integrated research activities

These activities are those that are directly targeted at the creation of a strong and lasting integration of the activities of the participants in the network.

• co-ordinated programming and adoption of the participants’ activities in research in order to strengthen their complementarities and develop mutual specialisation;

• sharing common research tools and platforms;

• joint use of research infrastructures, and adoption of the existing facilities with a view to their shared use;

• exchanges of personnel, opening of positions to researchers from other members of the network, staff mobility;

• twinning or mentoring between research institutes;

• integrated management of knowledge and intellectual property;

• reinforcement of electronic information and communication networks to support interactive working between the teams involved.

3. Joint research projects

This consists of research activities jointly executed to support the network’s goals. Priority areas for research will be identified and research proposals for jointly executed research to support the priorities and gaps will be formulated, e.g.

• developing new research tools and platforms for common use;

• generating ‘new knowledge’ to fill gaps in and/or extend the collective knowledge portfolio.

4. Knowledge-transfer and replication of research

An essential part of the network is to spread knowledge and the application of the research results beyond its boundaries to planners, regulators and producers through activities such as:

• preparation of teaching and extension material for training of young researchers and producers to ensure that appropriate information is available for universities and government agencies;

• communication campaigns for disseminating results and recommendations to users;

• raising public awareness of environmental impact of aquaculture in a reasoned and rational manner; and

• networking activities that will encourage knowledge-transfer and innovation.

5. Human resource development

Encourage a joint programme in training researchers and other key staff, since the steady supply of skilled staff is indispensable to the sustainability of high quality research.

6. Information dissemination

The project web site will disseminate and communicate knowledge and research findings, (including public awareness and understanding of the science) and help transfer knowledge to teams external to the network.

The promotion and exploitation of the results generated within the network will be an integral part of the in ensuring that aquaculture planning and development is based on sound scientific principles. Accordingly, the steering committee will develop guidelines for government planners and management agencies as well as practical best environmental practice guidelines that can be followed by producers.

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