This workshop had a particular focus on quality and freshwater aquaculture, underlining the application of standards and quality assurance.
A very comprehensive review was made on quality requirements of the consumer and how the quality of aquaculture products was subject to many influencing factors.

A.         RTD (Practical)

• Pikeperch and perch have potential opportunity, but
  • Year-round production of eggs and larvae needs resolving
  • Special diets needed for broodstock (big influence)
• Future fish feeds have a direct effect on fish farming
  • Improving feed efficiency while reducing dependency from marine raw materials
  • To what extent are vegetable raw materials suitable for freshwater fish feeds?
  • Develop aquaculture to be a net protein producer
• Future feeds may not be able to avoid GM
  • Needs new approaches and communication to succeed
  • Need to change approach from commodity use to incorporation of strategic ingredients that serve a purpose (fish and human nutrition/benefits)
• Lifestyle diseases are a global challenge
  • Many directly affected by an improved diet where fish/seafood has important role
  • New fish diets can act as functional food but
    • The public has been presented with conflicting scientific evidence regarding the risks and benefits of consuming various types of fish
    • The assessment and management of food safety in general tends to be a politically and morally charged issue
    • This highlights the need to develop effective risk communication about farmed fish
• Genomics/Genetics: Breeding efficiency is best achieved in the long term
  •  sustained effort and support necessary for success
  • Can have undesirable side effects on fitness traits
    • have to be monitored and genetic basis explored
• « Genetic pollution » of wild stocks with escapees needs clarification
  •  Is it worse than with non-selected stocks?
  • Option of containment with sterile (triploid) fish 

B.         Managerial/Commercial

• Quality is closely linked to safety
  • Post-mortem influences on quality v. important cf. quality pre-harvest (spoilage)
  • Need BMP linked to risk analysis systems to have clear safety objectives and standards
• Quality Assurance schemes  are a definite advantage – industry has to set and lead the trend (vs. being dictated to) – ownership of standard is important
  • QA reduces risks, improves performance, increases autonomy

C.          Social/Political

• Association provide essential hub with Government/Agencies/Organisations
  • Promote BMP and Codes of Practise/Quality Schemes
  • Need better communication tools and support – transparency of operation essential
• Licensing issues highlighted as being very complex for freshwater aquaculture, following regionalisation, noting
  • Diversity of local, regional and state authorisation procedures
  • Complexity of bureaucracy and procedures
  • Need for simplification and common rules
• Support needed to develop new projects (activities, investment, equipment)
  • Procedures lengthy & complicated, one-stop shop could help