FAO launches new aquaculture centre in Crete
The facility offers hands-on training in fish farming and promotes sustainable practices in the Mediterranean.
GREECE – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has launched a new aquaculture demonstration centre in Heraklion, Crete, through its General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).
The Mediterranean Marine Finfish Aquaculture Demonstration Centre (MMF-ADC) is the seventh facility of its kind in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region and is described as the most advanced to date.
Its development involved collaboration with the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) and the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC).
The centre hosted a five-day training programme for researchers and fisheries officials from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Participants were trained in daily fish farm routines such as feeding schedules, estimating biomass, harvesting procedures, and cleaning of fish nets.
Dr Amany Ahmed Mohamed, an Egyptian veterinary official, said the practical sessions were useful and allowed trainees to work directly with experienced specialists in a professional environment.
Combining science, production and animal care
The Crete centre brings together research, commercial production, and aquatic animal welfare efforts in one location, according to the FAO.
The project is being implemented in coordination with the European Union Reference Centre for the Welfare of Aquatic Animals (EURCAW-Aqua).
Professor Michail Pavlidis, who heads EURCAW-Aqua, said the initiative focuses on species important to Europe’s aquaculture sector while aiming to improve welfare standards across the region.
The facility is intended to support climate-responsible aquaculture by connecting scientific research with practical fish farming methods.
Expanding access and collaboration
FAO’s Aquaculture Demonstration Centres are designed to offer technical training, share industry best practices, and promote scientific approaches to aquaculture.
According to the GFCM, these centres also aim to build skills among youth, women, and small-scale producers involved in aquaculture.
The centres support cross-border partnerships and knowledge exchange among countries in the Mediterranean region.
Through these efforts, small-scale aquaculture businesses are expected to gain access to research findings, new technologies, and national policy networks.
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