Current Initiatives
7th Framework Programme (FP7)
AquaInnova
AquaInnova deals with the establishment of an operational framework for dialogue – based on best governance practises - between the aquaculture industry, the research community and policy makers, focusing on exploiting the potential for innovation and technological development in the European aquaculture value chain. Read more
AquaMed
The strategic aim of the AQUAMED project is to reinforce scientific
collaboration between the main stakeholders concerned with of the
freshwater and marine aquaculture sectors in the Mediterranean basin. Read more
COEXIST
Coastal areas are subject to an increase in competing activities and
protection and are a source of potential conflict for space allocation.
COEXIST is a broad, multidisciplinary approach to evaluate these
interactions with the ultimate goal to provide a roadmap to better
integration, sustainability and synergies among different activities in
the coastal zone. Read more
MarineTT
MarineTT is premised on the concept that knowledge is a major source of competitive advantage in business. Much potentially valuable knowledge, locked into inaccessible or
non-user-friendly contexts, is unused because key stakeholders are not
aware of its existence. Marine TT is primarily concerned with marine
environmental research, but the approach used will facilitate coverage
of other themes (climate change, biodiversity, earth observation, and
urban development) and important sub-topics (such as fisheries and
aquaculture) to be included, given their relevance to the key area of
the impacts of economic growth leading to environmental degradation,
and the current ecosystem management approach supported by the EC. Read more
EU Lifelong Learning Programme
Aqua-RET 2 
Aqua-RET 2 builds upon the Aqua-RET (Aquatic Renewable Energy
Tecnologies) project which developed online training materials to
improve end-user’s understanding of marine renewable energy
technologies (Run of River, Tidal Impoundment, Tidal Stream, Wave and Offshore Wind). Aqua-RET 2 will use the existing Aqua-RET resources, and match them to the needs of the market by carrying out a needs analysis of the sector and piloting customised training courses. Read more
Pescalex 2
The PESCALEX project's main aim is to create content and language integrated learning (CLIL) courses in fish health/fish diseases in order to benefit those areas of Europe where the aquaculture industry is vital to the economy. It is hoped that this methodology will enable users to both teach and learn vocationally-oriented material through the medium of a foreign language. Read more
VALLA
VALLA will develop and pilot methods of recognising
and accrediting lifelong learning in the aquaculture sector via the
European Qualifications Framework. VALLA builds on the results of WAVE
and will contribute towards the aims of the EQF by developing
competence-based learning outcomes for a specific sector, providing a
reference for the validation of non-formallly acquired competences, and
linking such reference points to establish sectoral standards. Read more
Vocational Aqualabs
The overall aim of Vocational Aqualabs is to improve VET systems in the
European Aquaculture sector to ensure researchers receive continual
professional development training in generic skills which will a)
result in increasing the quality, attractiveness and security of
research career pathways b) increase the relevancy of researchers and
their research to the sector c) improve knowledge transfer to industry
for exploitation contributing to a sustainable sector in Europe. Read more