7. The GFCM Secretariat provided a brief history of the EAM Network since it was first established, clarifying its initial objectives, highlighting some of its major achievements and the reasons for the cessation of activities (seeAppendix C). In order to facilitate the discussions at the meeting, the experts were briefed on the modus operandi of the GFCM statutory and its sub-committees, the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ), as well as on the current structure and relations between all the CAQ networks and the Commission.
8. The present legal relations between these networks and the GFCM was raised and discussed.The Executive Secretary, Mr Alain Bonzon, explained that since CAQ was fully operational and the GFCM endowed with a true Secretariat, there might be no further need for partner institutions to ensure the coordination of these networks. The EAM Network could therefore be formally established as subsidiary body of CAQ with the support from the Secretariat as in the case of the SAC. This would, however, require amending the GFCM Rule of Procedure X (1).
9. The meeting Chairperson, Mr Katavić, provided additional information on the history of EAM. He noted that EAM could have been successful, but due to budget constraints, the most relevant aquaculture environmental issues could not be effectively addressed and more emphasis had been given on technical production matters. The importance of the interactions between aquaculture and the environment has increased and called for careful attention among all GFCM Member countries.
10. Furthermore, it was recalled that EAM, such as the other CAQ aquaculture networks, was established in the framework of the FAO Regional Project MEDRAP (Mediterranean Aquaculture Network). In this regards, the experts requested some background information on the work currently performed by the other networks prior to continue with the discussions on the re-establishment of EAMin order to take advantage of the experiences so far learned.
11. Mr Bernardo Basurco, on behalf of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), Spain, briefed the experts on the current situation with regards to the coordination of the two CAQ networks on Technical Aspects of Mediterranean Aquaculture (TECAM) and Socio-economic and Legal Aspects of Mediterranean Aquaculture (SELAM).The Secretariat, on the other hand, referred to the Information System for the Promotion of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (SIPAM) network emphasising that the system is undergoing a restructuring process particularly with regards to the collection and display of information through its Web site.The experts were further informed on the importance of active national coordinators for SIPAM to effectively function and meet the demands of the Commission.
