AquaTT
holds information event in Brussels
On January 21st, AquaTT - The European Network for
Training and Technology Transfer in aquaculture - held an information
meeting to present its European activities and its ambitions to consolidate
and expand these beyond Europe. The audience of 20-25 people comprised Board
members and staff of AquaTT, representatives of the European Commission DG
Fish and other Directorates, representatives of EAS, FEAP, the University of
Gent and others. The Chairman of AquaTT, Gavin Burnell, gave a presentation
of the history and achievements of the network, from its formation in 1992
under the EU COMETT programme as the University Enterprise Training
Partnership (UETP) for the European aquaculture industry until the present
day. He emphasised its historical strengths, in placements and exchanges and
in short training courses.
AquaTT Manager, David Murphy outlined the present
projects, including the 'EduTour' theme-based short training/work
placements, developed under the EU Leonardo Da Vinci programme, the AquaLabs
short training courses and the development of secondary level education
materials for students in Italy and the development of Interactive training
materials, such as the Basic Techniques in Fish Haematology CD-Rom. He also
explained the online services of AquaTT, notably through the PISCES project
and the AQUA-TNET network (for more information, please visit www.piscestt.com
and www.aquatt.ie). He also officially
launched the WWW.PISCESTT.COM website.
A new Resource for European Aquaculture. He highlighted many of the features
of the new website:
- FREE REGISTRATION
- EDUCATION DATABASE
- Hot Topics: Explaining consumer issues in Aquaculture in a simple way
- Career Profiles: Career & occupational profiles describing different
jobs in aquaculture
- Virtual Tours: Pictures and descriptions showing the different stages on
several types of farm
- FUN SECTION - Play the Seahorse Quiz, Snakes & Ladders, download
Salmon Wallpaper for your desktop. Free downloads.
- DISCUSSION FORUM - Discuss the latest issues in Education & Training
Finally, he explained the dissemination activities
through the biannual newsletter, a new e-newsletter 'Training News',
participation in the AquaFlow network and in the PROFET project and through
conference participation. David then informed the audience of new projects,
including Training News (mentionned above), the design of aquaculture course
for non-experts and interactive Aqua Tours in conjunction with AquaMedia,
for people to have a virtual visit of an aquaculture producing facility. New
proposals also include WAVE - Working in Aquaculture, Validation of
Experience - aiming to give an accreditation of skills and experiences for
those having worked for a long period in the industry, as well as further
short training courses, a directors' survey and student conference planning
and organisation (possibly in conjunction with EAS meetings).
Patrick Sorgeloos presented the future direction of
AquaTT. He commented on the validity of its original mission statement, he
stressed the importance of its involvement in European projects and networks
and expressed the desire of AquaTT to look to a better collaboration with
its European partners EAS and FEAP. When addressing the priorities of the
European Commission strategy on aquaculture, he noted the important role
that AquaTT would play for aquaculture in the Commission priorities on
employment, training, education and mobility. This last point was especially
highlighted through the 6FP emphasis on training, mobility and career
development, including beyond Europe. With a reference to the richness and
diversity of aquaculture in Asia, he indicated the strong potential benefits
of future AquaTT activities in strengthening European-Asian training and
exchange in this field, activities already taking shape in the form of the
Asia-Scotland Technology and Training (ASCOTT) initiative, headed by AquaTT
Board member Douglas McLeod.
For more information please contact the AquaTT
secretariat: aquatt@aquatt.ieaquatt@aquatt.ie
NEW POSTAL ADDRESS: P.O.Box 8989, Dublin 2, Ireland
(From Aquaculture Info List, e-mail: dave.conley@sympatico.ca)