New aquaculture demonstration centre opens in Heraklion, Greece

A new aquaculture demonstration centre (ADC) was recently opened in Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has confirmed.

The launch of the Mediterranean Marine Finfish Aquaculture Demonstration Centre (MMF-ADC) was marked by a five-day, hands-on training programme that included researchers and national authorities from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.

MMF-ADC was developed through a partnership between the FAO's General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), with additional collaboration from the HCMR's Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture.

Located on the HCMR campus in Heraklion, the demonstration centre provides a platform where scientific knowledge, technical training and field application can be conducted to promote innovation and best practices in aquaculture, according to the FAO.

“After decades of cutting-edge research, and thanks to the support and development of the Greek aquaculture sector, we would like to transfer this knowledge to other countries and interested shareholders, in order to advance in the era of aquaculture-produced heathy seafood,” said Dr Constantinos Mylonas, Director of the HCMR.

The MMF-ADC in Heraklion is part of a growing network of ADCs established by the GFCM to serve as regional hubs for training, research and knowledge exchange.

The FAO said these centres are tailored to the specific characteristics of their subregions and are designed to further scientific research, provide technical support, demonstrate best practices in aquatic food production and develop capacity among stakeholders.