 |
| The delegation which recently met up in Trapani, Sicily |
The event formed part of the METIC Project, co-financed by the EU under the Interreg IIIA Italia-Malta Programme 2004-2006.
Most delegates attending had interests in aquaculture and the seminar gave entrepreneurs operating in the area, opportunities to meet their counterparts from both industry and academia.
During their opening speeches, Dr Alfredo Barbaro, Honorary Consul for Malta, Professor V. Liguori, METIC project manager, Dr Joseph Mifsud (Head of Secretariat, Ministry for Foreign Affairs), and Dr Francis Agius (Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries in the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment), stressed the importance of strengthening the relations between the Mediterranean countries, with emphasis to create a forum between Malta, Sicily, Tunisia and Libya.
Researchers and government officials were given the opportunity to deliver presentations on Mediterranean and Middle East aquaculture technologies; an overview of the Maltese aquaculture scenario; as well as marine plant science research in respect of developing products for the cosmetic, medicinal and energy.
A round table discussion was later held, where most of the participants emphasised the importance of further developing the Sicilian channel, through complimentary fishing and aquaculture strategies cohesive to sustainable growth and to the maintenance of the Channel's ecological features.