Participants receive intensive training and coaching to strengthen their business, entrepreneurial and marketing skills

Five small-scale aquaculture producers from the southeastern Mediterranean are participating in an innovative capacity development programme organized by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and New Agriculture New Generation, a non-governmental organization based in Greece.

The programme combines classroom training, field visits and tailor-made coaching sessions. It aims to support the sustainable growth of small-scale aquaculture in the southeastern Mediterranean by providing owners of small-scale farms with business, marketing and entrepreneurial insights. The participants were selected, based on specific sustainability criteria, through an open call launched in Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia.

©GFCM/Georgios Kouzilos

“Small-scale aquaculture is an integral part of Mediterranean heritage and contributes significantly to the Mediterranean diet. It is crucial to support and modernize farming tools to ensure the well-being of farmers, aquatic species and the environment,” said Houssam Hamza, GFCM Aquaculture Officer.

Programme kick-off

In June, participants attended the first phase of the programme, which kicked off at an event held in Athens, during which Maria Damanaki, Former European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, highlighted the importance of aquaculture for future food security and lauded initiatives that develop capacity and skills for farmers in the region. The event was supported by the Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Association and the Pan-Hellenic Society of Technologists and Ichthyologists. Representatives from major industry stakeholders, including the Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Association, the Agricultural University of Athens and industry bodies in Greece, along with embassy representatives from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia, were also present.

©GFCM/Vassilis Anatsitos

During this phase of the programme, participants attended a series of training workshops in Greece on strategy, innovation, sustainability, technological trends, marketing and sales. They learned about various techniques and practices in the region, exchanged ideas and plans, and visited modern aquaculture and aquaponic units and research laboratories to gain insights into Greek expertise in the sector.

“Participating in this programme has been a transformative experience, as it provided numerous insights for growth and development,” said Massaad Ejbeh, from Lebanon. “The visit to the marine fish farms revealed the significant potential for cultivating red seabream, which opens new avenues for expanding our product range. Back home I am planning to develop a recirculating aquaculture system for red seabream, which will be a significant step forward in enhancing our production efficiently and sustainably.”

“After the intensive training on strategic management and marketing management for sustainable aquaculture products, we’ve learned practices and techniques that will help us improve our project back home,” said Abderrazak Kiram from Algeria. “We visited several farms and this will be extremely useful as we are currently planning to expand our cultivation of spirulina and algae, as well as explore how to cover the local market and enter global markets.”

Looking to the future

©GFCM/Giannis Nikolaidis

This programme highlights the importance of sustainable small-scale aquaculture in the Mediterranean by focusing on its contribution to the GFCM 2030 Strategy for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, as well as FAO Blue Transformation vision, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, the programme highlights how small-scale aquaculture can help to secure nutritious high-protein foods, diversify livelihoods, generate employment and income, and empower women in the region.

Going forward, participants in the programme will receive tailor-made coaching in their countries on how to best grow their businesses sustainably.

©GFCM/Giannis Nikolaidis

“The biggest gain from this training is the contact with the organizing team and other participants,” said Housni Chadli from Morocco. “I am sure that the work we started here will continue for a long time, creating profitable synergies for all of us.”

The successful implementation of this programme paves the way for the GFCM to replicate such initiatives in other Mediterranean countries.