- The report, edited by the Spanish Aquaculture Observatory, analyzes the information on R&D&I activities in fisheries and aquaculture in Spain over the last 20 years.
- During the presentation, the XXII JACUMAR Aquaculture Research Award was presented to the Institute for Research and Training in Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Ecological Production (IFAPA) for promoting fisheries research and promoting the development of aquaculture.
The director of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), Elena Pita, accompanied by Isabel Artime, general secretary of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) has presided today, coinciding with the celebration of Aquaculture Day, the presentation of the report “Innovating towards the future: 20 years of R+D+i in fisheries and aquaculture in Spain”, edited by the Spanish Aquaculture Observatory (OESA).
The report compiles and analyzes the available information on publicly funded R&D&I activities in the last 20 years, which are related to fishing and aquaculture activities, and to the processing and marketing of aquatic products. Thus, a total of 1,923 projects have been identified and analyzed for the period 2000-2020, with a total amount of more than 2.2 billion euros and an average of 1.15 million euros per project.
The document points out that Spanish scientific production is 20% higher than the world average, with a level of excellence comparable to that of France and Germany, countries with the highest investment in R&D&I.
The report highlights that the National R&D&I Plan has been the main instrument for financing R&D projects in fisheries and aquaculture in Spain, with five national plans, 504 projects approved and an investment of 55.3 million euros; that the largest investment received from Europe was through the Framework Programs with more than 1,800 million euros and 515 projects; or that the “Horizon 2020” program is the program that made the largest disbursement for the development of R&D&I in our country.
This publication also serves as recognition for all the people and institutions that have promoted the development of this research activity in fisheries and aquaculture in recent years. The report can be downloaded from the OESA website: https://www.observatorio-acuicultura.es/form/20-anos-de-idi-en-pesca-y-acuicultura.
OESA AND PLEAMAR PROGRAM
The conference included two round tables with the participation of relevant personalities in the field of fisheries and aquaculture R&D&I in Spain, who reflected on the evolution of the sector in the last two decades and its future challenges and opportunities.
During the presentation, Elena Pita highlighted how the Biodiversity Foundation supports the fishing and aquaculture sector in its commitment to increasingly sustainable activities through the OESA and the Pleamar Program, which has just published an aid package endowed with more than 14.5 million euros.
For her part, Isabel Artime pointed out the importance of relations between the scientific community and the production sector and took advantage of this day to present the XXII JACUMAR (Marine Crops Advisory Board) Award for aquaculture research to the Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training, Food and Ecological Production (IFAPA), for promoting fisheries research in the field of marine fisheries and stimulating the development of aquaculture. The prize was awarded to the research line “IMRAS, a new integrated model of sustainable, eco-efficient and competitive aquaculture” of the IFAPA El Toruño center.
During the meeting, the progress of the Spanish Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2021-2027 was also presented by the State Research Agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the priorities and prospects for R&D&I in fisheries and aquaculture by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Platform (PTEPA).
AQUACULTURE DAY
The Spanish Aquaculture Observatory (OESA) is an initiative coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, with the collaboration and funding of the General Secretariat of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which serves as a platform for monitoring and analyzing the development of aquaculture in Spain, promoting its sustainability, strengthening its image in society, supporting research projects, technological development and especially environmental innovation, promoting knowledge transfer and supporting international cooperation.
Since its creation in 2002, OESA has promoted numerous actions and projects, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and all the sectoral agents in the aquaculture sector, especially in the areas of R&D&I, environmental sustainability and the improvement of the sector’s image.
In 2012, the Spanish Aquaculture Observatory (OESA), in coordination with the Spanish Aquaculture Society (SEA) and other associations and entities of the Spanish aquaculture sector, launched the celebration of Aquaculture Day, every November 30. Since then, this date has been consolidated as an opportunity to disseminate to society as a whole that aquaculture is a modern and strategic activity, key to boosting the blue economy and employment in many rural and coastal areas of our country.
In this edition, more than twenty scientific, productive, informative or gastronomic activities related to aquaculture have been organized throughout the Spanish geography, aimed at all audiences, to raise awareness of aquaculture in society through the programmed activities.
