The MedAID assessment of Mediterranean aquaculture sustainability covered technical, economic, environmental, social and governance components, and identifyed main KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and enterprise typologies. Further integrative analysis led to develop the MedAID farm benchmarking tool.
MedAID run 15 experiments, including a two-site on-farm trial, in 6 countries, focusing on current knowledge gaps in rearing conditions, feeding strategies, management practices, welfare and interlinks with genetics. The applicability and economic profitability of the approaches was also assessed.
Α 60K SNP genotyping array (MedFish) was designed for seabass and seabream as a collaboration between MedAID and PerformFish projects and industrial partners. 10,000 fish were genotyped to study fat deposition and quality traits and identify potential markers for selection, and to examine the genetic diversity and relatedness of populations of both species, showing differentiation between wild and farmed populations. Genetic x Environment interaction effect was confirmed using the array in two Mediterranean locations.
A survey assessed farm biosecurity and pathogens in 8 countries to develop a farm risk scoring system. An analysis on Nodavirus introduction and spread identified hazard points, as introducing live fish in farms. MedAID analysed Mediterranean laboratories diagnostic capacities with two ring tests on Nodavirus diagnosis and a lab mapping. It organized the Mediterranean fish health forum and published a Manual on diagnostics of seabass and seabream diseases. A prototype vaccine against VNN virus (with innovative VLP bio-technology) was characterized, and lab challenges showed it is safe and effective. A list of welfare indicators for seabream was produced.
Consumer segments, their needs and potential for accepting new fish products, were identified in France, Germany and Spain. Adapted fish-product ideas were selected through a screening process with stakeholders, applying co-creation techniques and textual analysis. Eight product prototypes from seabass, seabream and meagre were developed at pilot scale. Four were elaborated in short production runs and validated with consumers. The optimal product and packaging configuration attributes were derived from consumers choice experiments. The products technical and economic feasibility was evaluated.
The economics of production studies investigated the technical efficiency and scale effects of Mediterranean aquaculture companies, indicating that there is still room for improving, and ranking the impact of selected KPIs on farms economic results. The AquiAID tool was developed with artificial intelligence to support farms’ decision-making. The market dynamics and price analysis described market drivers (including mass media coverage), showing price volatility, price sensitivity of demand, and supply being affected by production costs. The retailer/consumer study confirmed 3 preferred attributes: size, level of processing and country of origin. A forecast analysis of the impact of Covid-19 in the sector was done.
MedAID developed Guidelines in support of social acceptability (SA) for aquaculture development with Mediterranean stakeholders. A methodological framework to improve SA was proposed and tested in 3 local case studies (in Greece, Spain and Tunisia) showing how SA was addressed, identifying SA factors, and exploring potential responses from companies and acceptable scenarios of aquaculture development.
MedAID synthesized its main outputs in a benchmarking software and in 48 recommendations on technical aspects, business plans, better governance and social acceptance.
MedAID partners participated in 112 external meetings and published 81 articles, reports and conference abstracts. The project organized stakeholder consultation and dissemination activities (more than 20 local, national and international events), as well as 5 training courses for professionals.
