A.          RTD (Practical)

• Mediterranean sustainability guidelines seen as an important document
  • Need to bring these into reality & practise (new Code? Certifiable?)
• Fish Health – major topic
  • Need: epidemiological studies
  • Need:  practical stress/best welfare  indicators
  • Need: best husbandry practises
  • Need: strategies for combating viral diseases
• Research needed on fast-growing species & improved performance of established ones (selection criteria and methodology? Genetics? – no clear suggestions)
• Deformities remains a big issue for Mediterranean hatcheries
  • Trend of fewer but larger hatcheries
  • Need: Uniform diagnostics
• Concern raised with regard to the omega 3 level of fish fed with substituted ingredients in the feed (i.e. substitution would lead to a weaker nutrient profile of fish – less acceptable to consumer)
• Research in the direction of identifying genetic strains of fish that are more susceptible or welcoming   to feed substitution (components) was mentioned as an important issue.
• Production of biolipid and bioproteins from natural gas was proposed as a possible alternative source of feed ingredient substitutes
• Lessons to be learnt from the salmonid industry with regard to treatment and health management of the fish stock.  (networking/crossover)

B.          Managerial/Commercial

• Consumer studies on drivers/barriers (Seafood Plus) – limited awareness of aquaculture
  • Better marketing, more consumer information needed
  • Communication needs improvement
• Potential for ‘new species’ not clear
• Proactive rather than reactive approach required in fish health management
• The promotion of organic fish in the market must be done in a cautious and responsible manner as not to harm the image of the ‘conventionally’ produced fish.
• Within the issue of image of the industry and its products, the need of common eu labelling standards was stresses by a number of speakers and participants. 

C.           Social/Political

• Long standing issues of importance must be supported by policy makers – licensing, spatial planning, support & guidance to RTD (spatial planning a regular topic)
  • Site selection and carrying capacity needs support data
  • Clearer position on MPAs and aquaculture potential needed
  • Marine policy could play an important role here
• Constructive cooperation between producers and relevant stakeholders must be established
• Potential need for an aquaculture observatory (to follow developments)
• Aquaculture should be an equal rights user (point comes back regularly)
• Need: Better Coordination of RTD – quantifiable objectives, efficient evaluation mechanisms (of results)
• Key factor remains communication by explaining sustainability (a better choice)
• The issue of access to research funds was raised, along with the problem of limited funding capacities for SMEs (and Associations under FP7 rules)
• Everyone stressed the fact that demand for fish will increase and that capture fisheries cannot supply the market.  Aquaculture is here to fill the market gap with high quality products
• Mediterranean aquaculture has an important role to play in the wider European aquaculture environment.