Interview with Javier Ojeda from the Spanish Professional Aquaculture Association (APROMAR)

Hi Javier, thanks for taking the time to speak with us! First of all, could you tell us a bit about APROMAR?

APROMAR is the Spanish Professional Aquaculture Association. This organisation represents almost all aquaculture companies in Spain, both in marine and fresh waters. The species it covers are finfish like seabass, seabream, rainbow trout, turbot, meagre, sturgeon and others like sole. Molluscs like abalone and clams; crustaceans like shrimp; and both micro and macro algae.

APROMAR’s objective is the sustainable development of aquaculture in Spain. To do this, it collaborates with public authorities, policy makers, trade unions, media, NGOs and researchers. APROMAR is also highly involved at international level with the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers, FAO, IUCN and other relevant organisations.

APROMAR promotes aquaculture and its products through several ways. Every year we publish an annual report on the state of the industry in Spain and in the EU. Available at http://apromar.es/content/informes-anuales. And on the markets, we promote a successful quality brand named Crianza de Nuestros Mares: http://www.crianzadenuestrosmares.com/.

What is APROMAR’s role in PerformFISH?

APROMAR leads the Spanish industry participation in this project. We are implicated both as a farmer’s association and leading the participation of Spanish aquaculture companies that are involved as third parties.

As farmer’s association we are involved in the Reinforcing of marketing (Work Package 5) on the analysis of the current state of the Spanish market, the analysis of consumer perception, and the identification of barriers. We will also work on building a Benchmarking System based on KPIs (Work Package 7) and on the development of a Code of Conduct and Best Practices. Finally, APROMAR will be involved in the dissemination of the project’s results (Work Package 8).

Why did APROMAR get involved in the project?

APROMAR really believes in the PerformFISH project results as a way to improve seabass and seabream production competitiveness in the Mediterranean. In fact, we were involved in PerformFISH even before its inception. We have been part of the stakeholders that made the European (H2020) call become a reality by persuading the European Commission of the critical situation of stagnation, or even reversal, on the efficiency of seabass and seabream production in the Mediterranean.

How will PerformFISH benefit the Spanish sea bream and sea bass aquaculture industry?

By implementing the new tools and using the new knowledge generated within the PerformFISH project in the areas of selective breeding, juvenile quality, health, welfare, feeds and feeding technology, the Spanish seabream and seabass aquaculture industry will improve their competitiveness. Consumers of fish will take advantage of better fish on the markets, and fish farmers will benefit by driving aquaculture’s performance through a sustainable Blue Growth.

Thank you very much for your time Javier!