On December 4 and 5 in Heraklion, Greece, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Greek Ministry for Rural Development and Food, will host the Regional Aquaculture Conference. This event, supported financially by the European Union, aims to review the progress made in sustainable aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions over the past decade, address emerging challenges, and establish future priorities.
Building upon the successes of the 2014 Bari conference and the recent 2023 High-level Conference on MedFish4Ever Initiatives, this gathering will bring together high-ranking officials, country representatives, aquaculture experts, and professionals from across the region. The conference will serve as a platform to discuss the balance between growth and environmental sustainability in aquaculture, promote ecosystem health and economic viability, and integrate aquaculture into existing political commitments.
Addressing Pressing Challenges
Aquaculture has become a key driver of food security, employment, and economic development in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region. Over the past decade, marine and brackish water aquaculture production has increased by 91.3 percent, and revenues have grown by 74.5 percent. However, the region faces unique vulnerabilities due to climate change, population growth, and economic instability, which are putting increasing pressure on food systems. These pressing issues will be at the center of the conference discussions.
Defining a Shared Vision
The conference will begin with country representatives evaluating their progress since the 2014 Bari conference, focusing on national and regional regulatory frameworks and targeted national aquaculture plans. These discussions will lay the foundation for a unified vision of the future of sustainable aquaculture in the region.
Thematic sessions will delve into key challenges, including climate change and food security. Topics will cover:
- Today’s and tomorrow’s aquaculture food production systems
- Moving towards ecologically sustainable aquaculture food production systems
- Navigating change: strategies for addressing current and emerging challenges
These sessions will feature panel discussions and aim to identify a set of follow-up actions for the development of sustainable aquaculture.
Side events will address specific issues, such as artificial intelligence in aquaculture, network creation, and women’s involvement. The conference will also feature live demonstrations and exhibits showcasing emerging technologies and the work of relevant aquaculture organizations.
Who Will Attend?
The conference is open to participants from government departments and agencies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, aquaculture platforms, the research community, and aquaculture farmer organizations across the region.
Registrations for the Regional Aquaculture Conference are open until October 25. For more information and to register, please visit
