Galway Declaration: Aquaculture Working Group

Dr. Jay Parsons, Director

Ingrid Burgetz, National Manager

Aquaculture, Biotechnology, Aquatic Animal Health Science BranchFisheries and Oceans Canada

March 27, 2015

Opportunities for Research and Innovation Collaboration in Marine and Arctic Science with Europe Meeting

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Introduction

• One of the themes under the Galway Declaration is Aquaculture

• Initial formation of an EU-US-Canada Aquaculture Sub-Working Group with representatives from the EU Fisheries Commission, US NOAA, and DFO

• The first action was an EU-organised Workshop on Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture (October 2014)

Outcomes• It is expected that cooperation among the EU, the

US, and Canada will:– increase scientific knowledge for the implementation of

an ecosystem approach to aquaculture, and – will provide technologies and engineering solutions for

monitoring and mitigating the impacts of aquaculture on the environment.

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Key Priorities• Three key priorities have been identified based on

– points emerging from the presentations, discussions and – which are currently subject to bilateral collaborations.

• The priorities share the common goals of – supporting managers, – helping producers reduce risk, and – enabling and developing sustainable aquaculture.

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Priority 1: Progressing models from scientific to operational status

• Both regulators and industry would like to access modelling tools that help evaluate risk and enable development of sustainable aquaculture.

• Specific topics for collaboration include:– a. Tools for impact assessment – b. Tools for risk assessment of escapees;– c. Tools for improved spatial planning

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Priority 2 - Improvement and integration of monitoring systems

• Environmental monitoring for aquaculture is a fundamental element for dealing with risk.

• Specific topics for collaboration include:– a. Monitoring environmental effects of aquaculture– b. Monitoring environmental effects on aquaculture, – c. Technological development in biosensors;– d. Linkage of monitoring to hypothesis-testing.

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Priority 3 - Adaptive strategies for dealing with climate change and other

environmental impacts

• Climate change will affect aquaculture both by shifting the spatial boundaries for cultivation of particular species, and by increasing environmental variability.

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Priority 3 continued• Specific topics for collaboration include:

– a. Changes in patterns of Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) occurrence

– b. Physiological changes in farmed aquatic species– c. Emerging diseases that may be enhanced due to

climate change;– d. Tools and strategies to minimize impacts from HABs,

pathogens/parasites, climate change and other factors on aquaculture operations.

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Modalities for future cooperation • 1- Information sharing

– 1.1- Collating information on existing cooperation between partners and with EU Member States and Associated States (top-down)

– 1.2- Publishing together (bottom-up)

• 2- Exchange of best practices– 2.1- Organisation of thematic workshops (bottom-up)

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Modalities for future cooperation • 3- Alignment the planning and programming of

research activities– 3.1- Twining of on-going or new research projects (top-

down)– 3.2- Exchange and training of students and scientists

(top-down)– 3.3- Opening and encouraging participation of

international partners in national research programmes/calls in particular Horizon 2020 calls, NSF.

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Way Forward• Canadian Aquaculture Working Group will be

established:– self identified persons – willingness to explore and/or identify new or existing

opportunities for cooperation with the EU and/or US.– establish a tentative roadmap for 2015/16.

• EU, US, and Canada SubWorking Group:– Ongoing discussions to identify existing collaborations,

develop a road map, and establish thematic workshops

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Report on Ocean Literacy

to Passports for Partnerships :

From Galway Implementation

Meeting February 23, 2015

Anne Stewart , Co-lead for Ocean Literacy,

Galway Canadian Marine Working Group.

Director, Canadian Network for Ocean Education,

(CaNOE).

Acknowledgements and thanks

• Organizers of Passports for Partnership

• Marine Resources Unit of the Bio-economy Directorate , European

Commission (EC) Directorat-General for Research & Innovation

• National Marine Educators Association (NMEA)

• Northwest Aquatic & Marine Educators (NAME)

• Canadian Network for Ocean Education (CaNOE)

• European Marine Science Educators Association (EMSEA)

• College of Co-Exploration

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada

• Foreign Affairs , Trade & Development Canada

• Many diverse “players” with different interests in ocean literacy

Ocean Literacy is all about understanding the ocean’s influence on you and your influence on the ocean.

Context

Conceptual Framework• The Ocean Literacy

Principles refer to these

seven essential

principles of ocean

science. The

conceptual structure is

built on these principles.

Goal is to engage an

ocean literate society

within and beyond the

classroom.

EU Context

• Impetus from EU to reach agreement

can be found in their Action Plan for a

Maritime Strategy in the Atlantic

• EU recognizes Blue Growth as an

economic driver with great potential for

innovation and ocean literacy is part and

parcel.

Follow-up Activities to Galway Statement

•Transatlantic Ocean Literacy (TOL) Workshops•Plymouth, UK, 2013 (Report & Vision Statement published)

•Goteborg, SW, 2014 (Report & TOL Implementation Plan published. Consensus to adopt the Ocean Literacy Principles.)

•EC Horizon 2020 calls for proposals, Blue Growth (BG) BG-13 and BG-14

In plenary, Gaelle LeBouler, EC reported for Paula Keener NOAA

(grounded by blizzard)• BG-13 thirteen proposals received, two progressing to project stage - April 16 launch

• Sea Change Marine Biological Association (MBA) (UK)

• ResponSEAble University of Brest (FR)

• BG-14 Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance Coordination and Support Action (AORAC-SA) Marine Institute), (IE)

Fiona Crouch, MBA presented on Sea Change

• Consortium of 17 European/International

Organizations including UNESCO/IOS, Ciência

Viva, European Marine Board, CEFAS, AQUATT,

NUIG, UGOT, VLIZ, ECSITE etc.

• Focus on links between human well-being and

ocean health through education, engagement,

governance

• Goal: change European’s relationship to ocean

and empower sustainable activity towards

healthy seas.

Sea Change continued

• Use social change methodologies, change agents, embed across networks & established strategic initiatives

• Build on what has been done, evaluate on sustainability, effectiveness, efficiency

• Leave a legacy to continue beyond project life & ensure more active role of citizens

• Dissemination & communication in coordination with ResponSEAble

Denis Bailley, U.Brest on ResponSEAble

• 15 partners, a mix of large research groups, NGOs and enterprise

• Map links between society & benefits of the sea as well as society’s influence on the sea

• Use social science to see what works in a cost-efficient way

• Produce ocean literacy products and good communication (Live-lab tested)

Peter Hefferen, Marine Institute, Galway

• AORAC-SA (BG14) • Governance, coordination and

communication• Work closely with other OL projects to

meet the Galway agreement• Enable society to be able to ‘see into the

water’• Specific work package on OL led by

Ciência Viva• First event planned for Lisbon, June 5th

• In concert with Blue Economy with a special

edition of Economist planned• Want to change perspectives

There are more questions than answers about where this is going. It is still ‘early days’.

• Foregoing is not an official transcript or minutes, they are just my notes.

• Please contact me with comments, suggestions or interest in advancing ocean literacy in Canada

• astewart.bamfieldATgmail.com

Opportunity for Canadians to pull together for ocean

literacy.• You are invited to the 1st Conference on Ocean Literacy in Canada, Vancouver, June 17 - 18

• Canadian Network for Ocean Education CaNOE www.oceanliteracy.ca

• Call for presentations, posters, early-bird registration, travel bursaries

• Recruiting for CaNOE Board (specifically for francophones from la belle province).