MMF-ADC participants recieve hands-on training in daily fish farm operations including feeding, biomass monitoring, harvesting and net cleaning © Georgios Paximadis, FAO
The new centre – the most advanced of its kind in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region – was launched with a five-day technical training course attended by researchers and officials from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. Its etablishment was developed through a partnership between the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), with additional collaboration from the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC).
Located on the HCMR campus in Heraklion, Crete, the centre offers a unique platform where scientific knowledge, technical training and field application come together to promote innovation and best practices in aquaculture.
“After decades of cutting-edge research, and thanks to the support and spectacular development of the Greek aquaculture sector, which now has a leading role in marine fish production in the European Union, we would like to transfer this knowledge to other countries and interested shareholders, in order to sustainably advance in the era of aquaculture-produced healthy seafood,” said director of the HCMR, Dr Constantinos Mylonas, in a press release.
What sets this Aquaculture Demonstration Centre (ADC) apart is not only its advanced infrastructure, but also its partnership with the European Union Reference Centre for the Welfare of Aquatic Animals (EURCAW-Aqua), coordinated by the University of Crete. The integration of production, research and animal welfare within a single demonstration centre sets a new benchmark for climate-smart, ethical aquaculture in the region.
Established in early 2024, EURCAW-Aqua aims to set a global benchmark in aquatic animal welfare, with a focus on economically important farmed species and advancing sustainability across the Mediterranean.
Supporting inclusive growth across the region
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. 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. With a particular focus on supporting women, young people and small-scale farmers, ADCs aim to create a more inclusive and resilient aquaculture sector while promoting collaboration and partnerships across borders.
Through its network of ADCs, the GFCM brings innovation directly to the field, from new technologies and technical training to stronger links between science and policy. The launch of the MMF-ADC in Heraklion builds on momentum from the December 2024 Regional Aquaculture Conference and highlights Greece’s growing role in regional cooperation. As aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Sea grows - now producing 1.38 million tonnes annually and supporting over 100,000 jobs - the push for sustainable, inclusive development is more critical than ever, especially in the underutilized southeastern Mediterranean.
As the initial training concluded, participants left Heraklion with not only new technical skills, but also a renewed sense of purpose, feeling committed to building an aquaculture sector at home that reflects the principles of the GFCM 2030 Strategy.
