Morocco was selected among five small-scale aquaculture producers in the southern Mediterranean to participate in an intensive training program organized by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Greece-based New Agriculture New Generation.
Participants from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia are receiving coaching to strengthen their business, entrepreneurial, and marketing skills in an innovative capacity development program.
The program includes classroom instruction, field trips, and personalized coaching sessions. Its goal is to help small-scale aquaculture flourish sustainably in the southeastern Mediterranean by giving commercial, marketing, and entrepreneurial insights to farm owners.
“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.
Participants attended the program’s first phase, which began in June with an event in Athens where Maria Damanaki, Former European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, emphasized the importance of aquaculture for future food security and praised initiatives that develop capacity and skills for farmers in the region.
Representatives from significant industry stakeholders were present, such as the Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Association, the Agricultural University of Athens, and Greek industry groups, as well as embassy representatives from the hosted countries.
During stage one of the program, participants attended some training courses throughout Greece on strategy, innovation, sustainability, technical developments, marketing, and sales.
The group heard about regional techniques and practices, shared ideas and goals, and toured contemporary aquaculture and aquaponic units as well as research facilities to obtain insight into Greek competence in the industry.
“Participating in this program has been a transformative experience, as it provided numerous insights for growth and development,” said participant Massaad Ejbeh, from Lebanon.
“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 another participant Abderrazak Kiram, from Algeria.
This program emphasizes the significance 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, the FAO blue transformation vision, and the UN sustainable development goals.
The initiative emphasizes how small-scale aquaculture may assist in providing healthy, high-protein foods, diversify livelihoods, create jobs and income, and empower women in the community.
Moving ahead, program participants will receive tailored coaching in their respective nations on how to expand their enterprises sustainably.
“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,” he added.
Through effective implementation of this program, the GFCM hopes to duplicate similar efforts in other Mediterranean nations.