Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EURASTIP (Promoting Multi-Stakeholder Contributions to International Cooperation on Sustainable Solutions for Aquaculture Development in South-East Asia)
Teaser
Europe is the centre of the most intensive global trade in seafood in the world, of which ~70% is imported, mainly from Asia. With fisheries landings being stable the world is looking to aquaculture to provide higher sustainable yields of nutritious and healthy products for...
Summary
Europe is the centre of the most intensive global trade in seafood in the world, of which ~70% is imported, mainly from Asia. With fisheries landings being stable the world is looking to aquaculture to provide higher sustainable yields of nutritious and healthy products for consumers so as to meet the forecasts of doubling aquaculture production during the next decade.
Modern commercial aquaculture is largely indebted to processes and technologies that were developed or perfected in Europe yet Asia is by far the largest aquaculture production region. While European aquaculture has had to respond to many demands on environmental, food safety and consumer-related issues, the rapid growth of aquaculture poses serious challenges to Asia in terms of sustainability, social equity and suitable technologies.
The core objective of the EURASTIP project is to evaluate and prepare for the launch of an international multi- stakeholder platform which will provide a new mechanism to create and reinforce international cooperation on sustainable aquaculture between Europe and South-East Asia. The European Union has many successful examples, notably with the European Technology Platforms. Such structures do not exist in Asia. Thus, the first prerequisite for successful cooperation between Europe and Asia is providing the structural support in Asia to allow dialogue between the industry and relevant stakeholders at both the national and international levels.
To achieve this, the specific objectives are:
Facilitate the creation of and provide support for National pilot multi-stakeholder platforms in 3 states that are active in aquaculture in SE Asia
Develop and provide the networking required for the promotion of partnerships between industrial players
Identify, agree and address the topics relating to common standards for planning and operation of
sustainable aquaculture, including planning, health and welfare, food safety and governance
Reinforce professional skills and competences in industry and research
Ensure dissemination of activity and assess consequent policy impact
Provide recommendations for establishing an international multi-stakeholder platform
Work performed
National Pilot Platforms
• Five key TOR for NPPs identified
• Undertaken mapping of stakeholder interactions in partner countries
• Completed initial roadmap models for NPPs
• Established three stakeholder databases categorising the aquaculture sectors in partner countries
• NPPs are developing and prioritising their own national SRIA agendas whilst continuing to promote and develop the domestic legitimacy and ownership of their platforms.
Capacity Building, Alignment and Training Survey
• A report on results of a training survey - The two most frequent type of collaborations being identified as receiving students and collaboration with research stakeholders. Major challenges are identified as lack of funding to support collaborations and cultural differences.
• The Alignment Workshop Report highlights key insights from both Europe and south-east Asia into educational structures, challenges and development of education in aquaculture.
• Capacity Building Workshops:.The first EURASTiP Capacity Building Foresight workshop brought together 29 participants from 12 different countries, the second workshop brought together 28 participants from 19 different countries.
EURASTiP Exchange Programme
To maximise collaboration and strategic partnership, 3 calls for funded exchanges have been launched, with work packages 2&4 having delivered the first phase of what has proved to be a popular and successful programme for educators, researchers and industry.
Thematic Brokerage
Brokerage opportunities have been identified, initially focusing on the se-Asian shrimp sector. Brokerage activity is being organised in collaboration with SUSV (Sustainable and Equitable Shrimp Production and Value Chain Development in Vietnam – a programme supported by SwitchAsia and Oxfam Vietnam) and ICAFIS.
Linkage with ASEAN FEN
EURASTiP has boosted ASEAN-FEN’s reputation as a platform to promote academic/research excellence in the field of aquaculture. ASEAN-FEN has expanded its role as a centre to promote foreign academic staff and student training. This has attracted more universities in ASEAN to enrol in ASEAN-FEN. EURASTiP has assisted ASEAN-FEN in establishing new collaboration in Europe boosting more joint-research, publications, supervision, student exchange and other capacity building activities.
Dissemination
• The project website – www.eurastip.eu
• Successful project social media – FB and Twitter
• Factsheets, flyers and promotional materials for use at events and conferences
• A widespread promotional campaign across Europe, se-Asia and at other international events. A detailed dissemination log gives a breakdown on this far reaching activity.
Administration
• Online project management
• A project risk assessment
• Meeting minutes and reports
Gender Equity and Equality
EURASTIP partners have made a commitment to promote gender equality across all the platform’s activities. To this extent a gender panel has been formed and two gender panel reports submitted as project deliverables. Project dissemination activity includes promotion of gender issues in aquaculture.
EATiP Mirror Platforms
The EATiP Mirror Platform (MiP) network is identified as a key agent within the EURASTiP project and project methodology. EURASTiP has facilitated and part financed a number of MiP events. A joint meeting was held with EATiP, MiPs and NPPs to address multi stakeholder platform methodology and areas of mutual interest between MiPs and NPP representatives.
Final results
As the pilot NPPs in partner se-Asian countries mature and develop, the multi stakeholder approach is being successfully utilised in the development of SRIAs. Different methodologies and structures are being observed in the three partner countries to allow for regional, sectoral, political and socio-economic reasons.
The funded Exchange programme (running until the end of the second reporting period and likely to be extended to a further round due the high popularity). Exchanges have taken place across se-Asia and Europe, including non partner countries (e.g. Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia.)
Capacity building workshops are identifying numerous innovative methods of teaching and training and strengthening inter regional education networks.
Dissemination and outreach is widespread, particularly using web based and social media channels.
Brokerage activity has seen successful examples of symbiotic relationships with other EC funding streams (e.g. SwitchAsia) and collaboration with the NGO sector.
A much better understanding of European –se-Asian aquaculture trade and respective sectoral economic profiles has been developed through research and analysis of market data, common issues and certification.
Greater emphasis may now be paid to promoting the NPP model to non partner 3rd countries across se-Asia. Greater national prioritisation will be undertaken as NPPs begin to feed back SRIA outputs to EURASTiP Work Packages. Exchanges and Brokerage activity will continue until the close of the project. Roadmaps and evaluation of long term sustainability and financing of multi stakeholder platforms will be undertaken along with more detailed assessment of impact indicators.
Website & more info
More info: http://www.eurastip.eu.