COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0M(94) 258 final 
Brussels, 23.06.1994 
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION 
EUROPEAN AQUACULTURE RESEARCH 
CURRENT POSITION AND PROSPECTS 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
A communication from the Commission on "European Fisheries Research: current 
position and prospects" (COM (93) 95 final) was presented to the Council during the 
first semester of 1993. The Council considered in its conclusions (SN 3289/93) that 
the initiative of the Commission to prepare a review on fisheries research had proven 
to be very positive and therefore invited the Commission to prepare a similar report 
on research in the field of aquaculture. 
The successful development of aquaculture in Europe needs the support of research 
and technological development (RTD) activities. This support has to contribute to 
provide solutions to the industry constraints as well as to the environmental and 
consumer safety problems. Moreover, the implementation of a Single Market 
demands the development of scientific bases for the establishment of Community 
regulations. Although the means exist at both national and Community level, a 
common and coordinated approach is necessary in order to improve the efficient use 
of these means. 
This report aims to provide the necessary basis for discussion on Community 
aquaculture research by setting out its function and content and then describing the 
major problems and the means currently available for dealing with them. 
EUROPEAN AQUACULTURE RESEARCH: CURRENT POSITION AND 
PROSPECTS 
1. Introduction 
There is a considerable tradition of aquaculture in some European countries, 
moreover, during the last 20 years there has been a rapid increase in the aquaculture 
industry in the Community. Production has progressively increased, being around 
1.000.000 tonnes in 1991 (Table I), which represents a value of 1.500 million Ecu 
(Table II). Since 1971, the European Community has also played a significant role 
in the development of the aquaculture industry by means of its structural policy, 
providing financial support to the industry. 
Research and technological developments have been undertaken by Member States 
for many years in accordance with their environmental characteristics and their 
potential for various types of aquaculture. In spite of geographical differences it is 
clear that all Member States would benefit from the coordination of these national 
research efforts . Moreover, common problems in aquaculture such as environmental 
interactions or disease aspects need a cooperative European approach to be fully 
effective. Since 1988 the Community has also provided support for research and 
technological development in aquaculture through the research framework 
programmes. 
The aim of this report is to provide the necessary basis for discussion on Community 
aquaculture research by first setting out its function and content and then describing 
the major problems and the means currently available for dealing with them. 
2. Nature and function of aquaculture research 
2.1. Science and technological development 
Aquaculture is an activity which requires the development of rearing techniques for 
the cost-effective production of aquatic organisms. Aquaculture in Europe mainly 
aims to produce food of high commercial value and to provide employment in rural 
and coastal areas. Sometimes aquaculture is a way of allowing the sustainable 
integration of an economic activity with the protection of the environment. The 
successful development of an aquaculture activity in a particular area is only possible 
if certain conditions occur simultaneously, such as the availability of a site with 
suitable environmental conditions, the existence of an efficent rearing technique for 
the species to be cultured and the possibility of producing at an economically 
competitive level. The nature and function of aquaculture research is to deal with 
these conditions. The research requirements change as the aquaculture system 
develops and passes through a series of evolutionary different phases. Although each 
kind of aquaculture has its own particularities the following general progression is 
common to most. 
After identification of the species which are potentially interesting for aquaculture in 
a certain area, it is necessary to develop a culture technique. This requires some basic 
biological knowledge about the life cycle of the species, something which is often 
lacking mainly as a consequence of the difficulties involved in studies in the aquatic 
3 
environment. Unlike traditional agriculture and animal husbandry the necessary 
biological information on potential culture species has not been available to 
aquaculture. Therefore, research effort has to be assigned, at an initial phase, onto 
basic aspects of reproduction, larval development and subsequent growth up to the 
adult stage. These studies should provide the information necessary to set up the 
appropriate environmental conditions and essential feeding regime required, _as well 
as help establish an effective culture system. However, aquaculture biotechniques 
very often have been developed in an empirical way without the necessary basic 
scientific knowledge and research has followed later allowing optimisation of culture 
conditions. 
Once the biotechnical aspects have been reasonably well established for a species and 
its production is feasible at intensive level, research in aquaculture must be focused 
on other aspects which are also involved in the development and efficient practice of 
this activity. Particularly important are the disease problems which emerge with the 
intensification of aquaculture. Research efforts are required on all aspects of 
pathology, not only in order to identify and treat the diseases but also to prevent 
them. Therefore, longer term research has to be carried out on the study of the 
defence mechanisms and on the genetic resistence to disease of cultured organisms. 
Research, in this second phase, should also anticipate the potential problems which 
can affect or be provoked by the development of the different culture systems. 
Consequently, studies on the interactions between aquaculture and the environment 
have to be undertaken. The intensification of aquaculture often leads to economic 
problems since once rearing techniques have been successfully developed and 
production reaches a certain level, market problems arise which create economic 
problems for the industry in spite of the technical viability which has been achieved. 
The various salmon crises and the recent market difficulties of sea bass and sea bream 
are examples of this general evolution in new fish farming developments. To counter 
these problems it is valuable to improve culture performance which could be 
attempted through the use of genetic techniques as well as optimising aspects of 
feeding. Therefore, research efforts, at this phase, must also be focused On genetics 
and nutrition. Moreover, the overriding importance of the economic ancLmarket 
problems of aquaculture requires a socioeconomic research approach including an 
assessment of the marketability of the species at an early stage. 
In conclusion, aquaculture requires the joint application of research in many 
disciplines such as physiology, pathology, genetics, ecology, socioeconomics, 
hydrodynamics, engineering, etc. A multidisciplinary approach is essential and 
scientists with diverse background will have to integrate their different contributions. 
This varied character of aquaculture requires an efficient coordination of research for 
its proper development, and to avoid unnecessary duplication. 
The Commission considers that research has to provide answers to the problems and 
constraints of the industry in order to make it more competitive, economically 
profitable and environmentally friendly. Taking account of the diversity of culture 
systems we can differentiate between the technical constraints of the finfish culture 
industry and those of the mollusc culture industry. 
2.1.1. Finfish industry constraints 
In the freshwater finfish sector, rainbow trout is the species most widely cultured in 
the Community and has a long tradition in several countries. The culture of marine 
finfish has developed more recently but very rapidly. However, the main constraints 
are common and concern economic rather than the technical aspects. 
The major problem of the marine finfish culture industry is the high production costs 
which inevitably results in high sale prices. Sectors such as salmon, sea bass, sea 
bream and turbot have recently suffered economic crises due to over production and 
subsequent low market prices. In order to improve this situation different approaches 
are required ranging from improvement of the technology and management to reduce 
production costs to the development of profitable processing and marketing strategies. 
Freshwater species, although currently farmed at lower production costs, also have 
problems resulting from low market prices which provide small profit margins for 
the producers. Trout production is close to the minimum profitability threshold 
virtually throughout the Community. The situation in carp production is even worse 
with most producers suffering losses. For other freshwater species the major problem 
is that production and demand is very limited not allowing the producer organizations 
to collect sufficient funds to invest in promotion campaigns. Consequently, demand 
continues to be limited. 
It is difficult to predict the evolution of the markets for aquaculture products and 
evaluate the effects of the interactions between different sectors. The Community 
trout market seems to have arrived close to the equilibrium point between demand and 
supply but this equilibrium could be affected by the development of new freshwater 
species. However, the risks of product substitution and the different interactions 
between sectors are phenomena which are poorly researched and understood. 
Another problem is that the Common Fisheries Policy mechanisms for support of 
market prices are not appropriate to the problems faced by the aquaculture industry 
which has to develop in a framework of free competition and not of guaranted prices. 
In order to improve the profitability of fish farming a number of approaches could 
be taken including the development of products not intended for the direct human 
consumption and the transformation of traditional products into higher value items. 
Environmental problems are also important in freshwater and marine aquaculture and 
often involve additional costs for the farmers which could affect the economic 
viability of their enterprises. Aquaculture units must be installed in areas where 
environmental conditions allow the survival and growth of the species being 
cultivated. Therefore, water quality and competition with other coastal or rural 
activities will limit the availability of suitable locations for aquaculture units. On the 
other hand, there is a need to protect the natural environment from the possible 
adverse impacts of aquaculture installations. The potential impacts are diverse and 
range from physical and biological effects to socioeconomic considerations. 
Another important constraint to the industry is the problem of diseases. The 
improvement in rearing techniques has allowed a progressive intensification of 
culture systems. However, this intensification facilitates the development and spread 
of diseases which create substantial losses for the industry. The list of disease 
problems affecting cultured finfish is very long but the most important have been 
included in the Council Directive 91/67/EEC which concerns the animal health 
conditions governing the production and -the placing on the market of aquaculture 
animals and products. Specially relevant for the finfish industry are viral 
haemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN). The 
Community directive is set up to facilitate trade and avoid the spread of disease, 
however, implementation can involve the industry in substantial additonal expense. 
Finally, the finfish culture industry has also to pursue high quality in their products. 
Size, taste, flesh texture, the appearance of the product and its safety for the 
consumer have to meet high quality criteria in order to achieve a more competitive 
product justifying of a quality label. This search for high quality is very often the 
industry's answer to the price collapse which usually occurs when production 
increases and market problems arise. 
2.1.2. Mollusc industry constraints 
Bivalve culture is an old and traditional practice in Europe. Although its production, 
in volume, represents about 70% of the total aquaculture production, its value 
corresponds only to approximately 40%, Spain and France being the main producers 
of mussels and oysters, respectively. The other Member States, with the exception 
of Belgium and Luxembourg, are also shellfish producers. Technology in this sector 
is extremely simple and reached an acceptable level many years ago. Current 
constraints arise mainly from market, environmental and sanitary problems. 
Contrary to finfish aquaculture, in which for most species the different phases of 
their biological cycles are carried out in captivity under controlled conditions and, 
consequently, require the establishment of reproduction and larval rearing techniques; 
the development of bivalve culture has been facilitated because part of the biological 
cycle takes place in wild conditions. For species such as mussels and native oysters 
culture is limited to the spat collection and subsequent growth until the market size, 
because reproduction mainly occurs in the natural environment. This avoids the need 
for a complex hatchery technology. However, the introduction of foreign species 
such as the Japanese oyster or the Manila clam has involved the use of artificial 
reproduction and nursery techniques until the juveniles are released into controlled 
areas. In certain areas these species adapted to local conditions and created self-
sustaining populations which can be exploited with traditional fishing methods. 
The market problems mentioned in the previous finfish section also affect the culture 
of bivalves. Although the production costs are lower than those of finfish, the 
economic viability is still marginal and its survival is often difficult. 
Shellfish culture is particularly dependent on environmental conditions and many of 
the constraints originate from direct environmental effects. The quality of the water 
at the culture sites is extremely important because bivalves must filter water to feed 
and this increases the risk from toxic algal blooms and from the presence of 
pollutants. The appearance of blooms of toxic algae in mollusc culture areas provokes 
the suspension of harvesting with inevitable adverse economic consequences for the 
industry. Antropogenic pollutants are also an obstacle to culture both because of 
their direct effect on shellfish and because they render them unsafe for human 
consumption. This high reliance on environmental quality makes the location of the 
shellfish farms very important. Other problems arise from the intensification of 
bivalve culture producing overstocking which exceeds the carrying capacity of the 
culture areas. As a consequence growth problems appear and the rapid spread of 
diseases is facilitated. Waste solids can also deposit on the bottom and may become 
a problem if they smother benthic organism and produce toxic gasses. In recent 
years, mussel farmers have also found, difficulties resulting from reductions in the 
availablility of juveniles for ongrowing. The origin of this phenomenon has not yet 
been established. 
Disease is another important problem of the shellfish industry. The low production 
levels of the flat oyster in Europe are due to the diseases caused by Martelia refrigens 
and Bonamia ostreae, consequently current European production is based on the 
Japanese oyster Crassostrea gigas, a species resistant to these diseases. Both diseases, 
marteliosis and bonamiosis together with the finfish diseases VHS and IHN, are 
covered by the Council Directive 91/67/EEC which aims to prevent the spread of 
disease by controlling the relaying of molluscs. Disease in shellfish is a specially 
important constraint since therapeutic treatment of molluscs is particularly difficult 
and the success of disease eradication campaigns is poor. 
As with finfish the quality of the final product is especially important for mollusc 
culture but maintenance or improvement of product quality is difficult due to the 
system of culture which is entirely dependent on environmental conditions. 
2.1.3. Other aquaculture activities 
In addition to molluscs and finfish species, crustaceans, seaweeds and other organisms 
such as sea-urchins are also cultured in Europe or have potential for aquaculture. 
Most of the crustaceans reared in Europe are prawns although this is limited to a few 
farms in the South of Europe and is economically irrelevant in the Community 
context. Industry constraints concern primarily the economic viability and not the 
technical aspects, which have been relatively successfully developed. Competition 
from third countries, where the production costs are lower, has hindered the 
development of this sector since all produce must compete on the world market. 
Many parts of the Community's coastline is suitable for seaweed farming and most 
of the economically important macroalgae grow there. Cultivation would allow 
improvement of quality and protection of natural stocks. As demonstrated in Asia, 
there are no serious technological problems for cultivation but to date seaweed 
production is undertaken only on a small scale. A major constraint to the expansion 
of this industry would be competition with other activities carried out in coastal 
areas. 
2.1.4. Interactions with other activities 
Aquaculture is an activity integrated into rural and coastal regional development but 
also competing with other activities such as agriculture, fisheries or tourism. These 
activities interact in ways which are not always negative but may occasionally be 
complementary. One of the relevant problems is the competition for sites _and the 
environmental quality degradation produced by these different sectors. Most marine 
aquaculture units are placed in the coastal waters in areas where tourism represents 
an important economic activity. The development of tourism reduces the availability 
of sites for aquaculture and may also degrade water quality. On the other hand, 
tourism also has a positive effect on aquaculture by increasing the demand for marine 
products and ensuring the survival of aquaculture units. 
Aquaculture also has varied interactions with fisheries for example, competition in the 
market place. Until recently this has been insignificant because aquaculture production 
was low and concentrated on species (trout, carp, mussels and oysters) for which 
there were no large commercial fisheries. The development of marine finfish culture, 
however has changed the situation and there is now direct competition for the same 
market. 
Other interactions concern the ranching and restocking where aquaculture contributes 
to fisheries through the supply of reared juveniles. 
2.2. Present orientation of the research in aquaculture 
The problems mentioned above require a research approach to provide the appropriate 
solutions both to the production difficulties of the industry but also to those related 
to the environment and consumer safety. 
2.2.1. Diversification 
Diversification is a common response of the industry to the economic difficulties 
engendered by over-production. However, the same problems of over-supply could 
also quickly occur with the new species unless there is careful regulation of 
production in relation to the market size. For shellfish, research is addressed to 
native species with high market value. For finfish, research on alternative marine 
species such as Pagellus bogaraveo and P. acarne, Diplodus sargus and D. vulgaris, 
Puntazzo puntazzo, Pagrus pagrus, Dentex dentex, Seriola dumerili, etc, are being 
addressed mainly in Mediterranean countries. In the North Atlantic efforts are focused 
on species such as Hippoglossus hippoglossus, Gadus rnorhua and Anarhichas lupus. 
Research programmes dealing with algae culture are also being carried out. Research 
on new species should continue in order to diversify the aquaculture production in 
Europe which is, at present, limited to a relatively small number of species. 
However, in comparison with landbased animal husbandry the range of species 
currently cultured in water is considerable. 
(2) 
2.2.2 Alternative markets for freshwater finfish 
With reference to the specific problems of freshwater species the possibility was 
mentioned of products not destined for direct human consumption. There are several 
alternatives all of which would require research to establish their feasibility. 
- Classic restocking for sport or professional fishing (specially in lakes) carried out 
by public authorities or by private organizations. 
- Ecological restocking, that is the reintroduction of species which have been 
eliminated or severely reduced in public waters. 
- Fish stocked to provide sport fishing in ponds ("put and take" fisheries). 
The finfish used for restocking should be guaranteed disease free and of good genetic 
quality. The risk of possible deleterious genetic alterations of wild stocks should be 
taken into account although so far this risk is only based on speculation. Research 
on the genetic characteristics of European freshwater finfish populations should be 
carried out in order to identify the existence and characteristics of different strains 
of each species and to determine the genetic pools suitable for restocking. The 
results could have economic benefits as the producers could identify and provide 
fishing societies and public authorities with fish of known genotype for restocking. 
This could also apply to marine finfish used for restocking or ranching. 
2.2.3 Transformation or processing 
The processing of traditional products would be another way to make freshwater and 
marine aquaculture products more profitable. However, research in this area would 
require promotion as well as study of quality aspects such as the factors influencing 
flesh quality or the parameters necessary for identifying the quality or origin of 
products. 
2.2.4. Environmental interactions 
The interaction between aquaculture and the environment is a subject which requires 
increased research effort. The development of methods which allow an appropriate 
evaluation of the impact of different culture systems on the environment, as well as 
detecting the effects of environmental conditions on culture systems must be pursued 
as a basic objective for the rational development of aquaculture. Therefore, research 
must be aimed at providing a scientific basis for regulations concerning location, 
survey and monitoring of aquaculture units. Research should be focused on the 
evaluation and mathematical modelling of the sustainable carrying capacity of 
potential aquaculture sites, as well as on cheap methodologies for the identification 
and monitoring of negative effects. This may be very varied ranging from physical, 
biological and chemical impacts to the spread of diseases or the genetic modification 
of wild stocks produced by escapees. In particular, more work is required to evaluate 
the risks of eutrophication from aquaculture, specially for the Mediterranean sea. 
There is also a need to study the effects in the environment of the chemicals used in 
aquaculture (drugs, antibiotics, antifoulants, etc.). The risk of the transmission of 
disease from the aquaculture units to wild stocks should also be evaluated, as well 
as the problems arising from genetic interactions between escaped or deliberately 
released cultured organisms and natural populations. 
With reference to the effects of environmental conditions on aquaculture, special 
attention is required in the study of toxic algal blooms which mainly affect mollusc 
culture. The detection methods need to be calibrated, new operational methods 
developed and sampling strategies improved. Studies on contamination and 
decontamination dynamics should also be addressed. Nevertheless a research 
approach could help to prevent adverse effects and develop management strategies 
which avoid negative consequences. The dynamics and effects on aquaculture 
systems of pollutants coming from human activities must also be studied. 
The interactions between aquaculture and the environment constitute a very complex 
subject which has diverse implications including socio-economic issues. These aspects 
should also be taken into consideration in any research carried out in this field. 
2.2.5. Diseases 
Diseases represent not only an important constraint for the industry but are also of 
great concern to the Community in the implementation of the Single Market. The 
increased movement of stock between Member States brings greater risk of the spread 
of disease. Community sanitary directives concerning aquaculture aim to control 
animal health in aquaculture units and to avoid the introduction and spread of the 
virulent diseases affecting cultured species through the Community. Therefore, 
research programmes on epidemiology and diagnostic methods continue to be 
important and the development of quick and accurate diagnostic techniques is a high 
priority for the control of disease transmission. Now molecular biological methods 
are creating exciting and significant advances in aquaculture pathology. Currently the 
use of medicines is widespread in aquaculture for the prevention and control of 
disease problems. However, because there is a risk that they will have adverse effects 
on both the environment and human health the optimisation of medicines use and their 
replacement with other treatments is an important subject for research. — 
Efforts should also be aimed to the control of diseases problems through the use of 
vaccines for those diseases which are endemic in the Community. At present effective 
vaccines are only available for a small number of diseases. Therefore, research 
should continue in order to develop new vaccines. Studies aimed at understanding 
disease mechanisms and basic research on host-pathogen interactions and the immune 
system are also desirable. 
A genetic approach to solving disease problems should also be pursued in order to 
select resistant strains to diseases, particularly for those species whose diseases can 
not yet be effectively, treated, for example shellfish. 
2.2.6. Genetics 
Genetics is a discipline which can provide effective answers to many of the 
constraints of industry by improving the performance of cultured stocks through the 
manipulation and exploitation of their genetic composition. However, research in 
aquaculture genetics is limited in Europe making it a key area for active promotion. 
Particular subjects justifying support include quantitative genetics with the aim of 
developing selection programmes to improve production characteristics, genetic 
manipulations (gene transfer, sex and ploidy manipulations, etc) and all applications 
of molecular genetics relevant to aquaculture. The development of genetics in 
aquaculture is constrained by the increasing pressure of public opinion against the 
modification of organisms, making research on the implications of thesegenetic 
changes for the environment and the consumer, of special importance. 
2.2.7. Nutrition 
The profitability of finfish aquaculture is adversely effected by high production costs 
which could be reduced by improving feeding strategies and nutrition. Therefore 
research on these aspects is desirable in order to develop more suitable and cost 
effective diets for each culture phase: breeding, larval rearing, weaning and grow-out. 
Research could also contribute to the identification of economically viable protein 
sources as an alternative to fishmeal in the manufacture of feeding stuffs. The 
influence of nutrition on the flesh quality of cultured species is another area in which 
research could have a substantial benefit. 
2.2.8 Interactions with other activities 
There is a need to identify and measure the diverse interactions between aquaculture 
and other activities. Therefore, socioeconomic studies on the role of aquaculture in 
integrated coastal or rural development should be undertaken in order to provide the 
basis for future planning. In particular, economic studies on the interactions between 
aquaculture and fisheries are desirable in order to avoid social problems which might 
arise from the rapid development of aquaculture, as well as those studies which could 
forestall market problems. Although the feasibility of ranching and restocking, is not 
yet proven further research in this area is required, particularly on the interactions 
between wild and cultured stocks. 
3. Resources and structures- current situation 
3.1. Member States 
In most Member States at least two ministries, fisheries and research, are responsible 
for research in aquaculture. In addition, regional administrations very often have 
competence in this matter. Although differences exist between Member States, in the 
organization and the resources available, in most there is no central organization to 
ensure the coordination of the research carried out in all the institutions involved in 
aquaculture. 
Annex 1 gives an overview of the organization of aquaculture research in each 
Member State, while Table III summarizes aquaculture research facilities in each 
Member State indicating the number of centers and university departments involved 
as well as the number of large research stations within the Community. 
11 
3.2. The means available to the Commission 
Since 1988 the Community has played a very active role in aquaculture research in 
Europe through research framework programmes. The Fisheries and Aquaculture 
Research (FAR) programme (1988-92), included in the second Community RTD 
framework programme, was the first Community research programme specifically 
concerned with fisheries and aquaculture. Most importantly the programme offered 
financial support for research projects but it also facilitated the coordination of 
research at Community level by other means. In addition to the research projects, 
and in order to encourage cooperation the FAR programme used part of its budget 
for the coordination of research, giving financial support to a variety of actions such 
as workshops, seminars, meetings, publications, and bursaries for student exchanges. 
Since 1991 research in aquaculture has also been funded under the Agriculture and 
Agroindustry, including Fisheries Research (AIR) programme which is included in 
the third Community framework RTD programme. This integrates agriculture, 
agroindustry, forestry and fisheries, and covers the period 1991-94. The AIR 
programme is implemented through shared-cost research projects and concerted 
actions to coordinate research activities which are related to the programme but 
financed by national bodies. There are also accompanying measures, including the 
organization of seminars, workshops, conferences, studies, bursaries, etc. 
Information concerning the implementation of the FAR and AIR programmes is 
given in annexes 2 and 3. 
Research in the fisheries management field has benefitted from other specific 
activities available to the Commission, such as "biological studies", the 
"Mediterranean studies" or "specific measures", which have supported a more 
efficient operation of the Common Fisheries Policy and have enhanced the 
coordination of research efforts. These alternative approaches have not been 
adequately applied to aquaculture so far. However, they could be vital as they allow 
for targetted research and the support of specific studies which do not fit easily into 
the framework of the Community research programmes. 
3.3. International bodies 
Several international organizations work in the aquaculture field to coordinate 
research, elaborate guidelines, disseminate research results, etc. These include the 
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which has a Mariculture 
Committee with several working groups: "Pathology and Diseases of Marine 
Organisms", "Genetics", "Environmental Interactions of Mariculture", "Introductions 
and Transfers of Marine Organisms", and "Mass Rearing of Juvenile Fish"; the 
European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC) of FAO, the Group of 
Experts on Scientific Aspects of Environmental Protection (GESAMP) which has a 
Working Group on Environmental Impacts of Coastal Aquaculture and the diverse 
associations of researchers or professionals involved in aquaculture such as the 
European Aquaculture Society (EAS), the European Association of Fish Pathologists 
(EAFP) and the Federation of the European Salmon and Trout Growers (FES). The 
activities of these organizations have been beneficial for the coordination of the 
research, therefore, it would be desirable to strengthen these organizations in order 
12 
to make efficient use of existing structures rather than creating new ones. 
3.4. The private sector 
Like any other part of the food production sector, aquaculture involves a 
heterogeneous group of enterprises from production units to the companies which 
provide equipment, food, chemicals and technical advise. There is a large range in 
the size of the enterprises involved. Many aquaculture productions units are small 
to medium size, and are often family owned and operated. In contrast, some of the 
companies which provide equipment or food are large and international, having the 
capacity to undertake their own research and development. 
The degree of participation of individual aquaculture operations in research is varied. 
Traditionally, small family owned and run companies undertaking mollusc or 
freshwater fish culture have a limited involvement in research. The marine fish 
farming industry is rather different in this regard. Many companies have undertaken 
substantial amounts of their own RTD and have made significant contributions to 
research. Nevertheless, many of the research programmes undertaken by the private 
sector are applied rather than strategic and often of short duration. For both technical 
and economic reasons, the aquaculture industry itself is generally not able to 
undertake the long term research which is necessary for the continued development 
of aquaculture. The professional trade associations have an important role to play in 
research activities through coordination of the efforts of the industry to solve common 
problems and by integrating and adapting the results from public research. One means 
of achieving the latter would be for the industry to become more involved with public 
research. 
4. Subsidiarity in aquaculture research 
It is necessary to define the role of the different entities: private, national or 
Community, in aquaculture research with the objective of making the best usejaf the 
limited funds, structures and human resources available in the Community. 
Because of the technical and economical limitations of private sector research the 
public support of certain RTD activities is justified. Particularly for projects which 
involve a high degree of risk, or which are too costly for the industry since they 
require expensive facilities or have long term objectives. 
The Community should attempt to achieve its objectives in aquaculture through 
research programmes which complement national efforts and profit from national 
scientific capabilities. Gaps and overlaps should be identified so that Community 
funds can be better focused and duplication of effort avoided. 
In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity which implies that every initiative 
must be carried out at the most appropriate level, Community funds for research 
should be allocated to innovative and high risk programmes implementation of which 
would not be possible at national level, as well as on the disciplines which require the 
mobility of scientists with a high degree of specialization. Community support should 
also be provided to research projects which aim to solve transnational problems. 
13 
Nevertheless, the coordination of the national research in all the fields and disciplines 
involved in the development of aquaculture should be promoted and supported at 
Community level along with the exchange of scientists and the possibility of sharing 
large-scale equipment or research facilities. 
With reference to disciplines requiring Community support it seems evident that 
disease problems affecting the aquaculture industry have a transnational character and, 
therefore, research in this area needs to be addressed at Community level, 
particularly those programmes which can provide the scientific basis for Community 
sanitary regulations. 
Environmental problems related to aquaculture activities are also a transnational so 
that research on this topic requires effective Community cooperation in order to solve 
common problems and to elaborate guidelines for the establishment of monitoring 
programmes. 
Genetics is a discipline which has not been sufficiently developed and applied to 
aquaculture in the Community. However, research in this area would significantly 
improve the performance of different culture systems. Justifying an active 
involvement of the Community in the promotion of this key discipline. Especially 
with the training and exchange of researchers, and the support of transnational 
research projects which allow a better use of national expertise in all research lines 
from quantitative genetics to the more recent applications of molecular genetics. 
Socioeconomics is another topic which has not received adequate support and whose 
application to aquaculture activities is necessary in order to achieve effective and 
sensitive planning of rural and coastal development. Research in this area is very 
limited in Europe as the number of researchers is small. Promotion of this discipline 
and the training of specialists should be encouraged at European level. 
Other areas such as the development of rearing techniques for new species or the 
optimisation of husbandry for established species in such diverse aspects as 
reproduction, feeding, nutrition and so on, should be mainly addressed at- national 
level, or by the industry itself if the technical and economic capacity is available. 
Nevertheless, the Community should be involved in the integration of the different 
activities by supporting workshops or seminars and economic studies of unexploited 
markets, in order to promote the desirable diversification of production in the 
Community. 
5. Current problems in Community aquaculture research 
5.1. The lack of development of some research areas 
In the implementation of the FAR and AIR programmes it has been noted that in the 
Community certain disciplines have achieved a high scientific level and are supported 
by well qualified teams producing good science as well as practical results. This is 
the case for research dealing with disease problems, to which many specialists and 
considerable resources have been allocated. However, for other disciplines mainly in 
genetics and environmental sciences research is limited and inadequate. The lack of 
specialists in these areas is common in most Member States whilst on the other hand, 
14 
there is an excess of general biologists some of whom are absorbed by the industry 
while others have found difficulty in obtaining retraining in new disciplines. 
5.2. Coordination problems 
The lack of coordination of all Community aquaculture research activities continues 
to be a substantial problem. Although coordination of research has been considered 
as a major objective in the implementation of the Community research programmes 
(FAR and AIR) it has mainly been limited to the organisation of workshops, 
seminars, etc. and the exchange of students, while effective coordination of national 
activities has scarcely been attempted. A survey to identify gaps and duplication in 
research activities has proved to be very difficult because of diffuse national and 
regional responsibilities. Moreover, the fact that aquaculture research is included and 
integrated in a large specific programme such as AIR, in the scope of the Community 
RTD programmes, makes it very difficult to obtain information on the aquaculture 
research activities promoted by the Member States because aquaculture represents 
only a small part of the programme. There is an urgent need to document what 
research has been undertaken in Member States and to update this at regular intervals. 
On the other hand, as aquaculture research inevitability involves many disciplines, 
overlaps and duplications do exist in the support programmes offered by the 
Community, particularly in biotechnology and environmental aspects. Better 
coordination is essential within the Commission in order to make a more efficient use 
of available resources. 
Lack of effective coordination precludes the efficient use of the facilities available in 
Europe. According to Table II, the Community has some large aquaculture research 
stations which the individual Member States find expensive to support and which are 
consequently inadequately utilised. A better use of these costly facilities is desirable 
and could be achieved by sharing or renting the underused installations to other 
Community teams although it is recognised that this would be dificult to organise. 
5.3. Limits on the means available to the Commission 
The means available to the Commission are not always appropriate for all 
requirements for example the system of invitations to tender presents some 
difficulties. The eligible topics are very general and too large making the focussing 
of research hard to achieve. This is mainly a consequence of the consultation 
procedure necessary in the elaboration of the research programmes where Member 
States tend to enlarge the Commission proposals on research topics in order to ensure 
their participation in the programme. The programmes are also dependent on the 
proposals submitted and, consequently, certain areas are oversupported while others 
are not adequately covered. As scientific quality is the first criterion for selection, 
funds are very often concentrated on the most experiences teams without giving other 
groups opportunities to achieve the required expertise. Another consequence is that 
proposals selected are not always in priority areas. Nevertheless in spite of these 
limitations, this procedure guaranties the quality of the research which is supported. 
15 
Another problem is that the implementation of the CFP requires ad hoc studies which 
are not considered as research and consequently cannot be addressed in the 
framework of the research programmes. This is the case, for example, of marketing 
and socioeconomic studies in traditional and new aquaculture activities. 
Similarly the establishment of permanent research networks is desirable but_cannot 
be supported by concerted actions and accompanying measures although they are 
effective in other aspects of research coordination. 
Although the FAR and AIR programmes have contributed to the training and 
exchange of scientists throughout the Community, the value of these activities justifies 
stronger support, specially at post-doctoral level. Nevertheless, this will not become 
fully efficient unless Member States make greater efforts to incorporate newly trained 
scientists into existing or newly created research teams. 
6. Conclusions 
Research in aquaculture has to provide a rational basis for sustainable production 
without compromising the natural environment. It must contribute to making the 
aquaculture industry more competitive but has also to cover the aspects which affect 
the environment and the consumers. 
The principle of subsidiarity requires that every initiative should be carried out at the 
most suitable level. Therefore, Community research should be focused on 
Community level problems. This does not mean that only subjects of general 
interest or involving many partners will be funded, but problems relevant to the 
application of the aquaculture common policy must be addressed. The Commission 
services, in collaboration with appropriate representative organizations, provides a 
suitable forum for the identification of these problems. Community research 
programmes can help to provide solutions to them by careful selection of invitations 
to tender. Topics and priorities must therefore be clearly established and coordination 
should be reinforced by encouraging the creation of networks for the different 
research disciplines important for aquaculture. 
Although the Community has the appropriate facilities and high quality teams to 
carry out the research required for the adequate development of aquaculture, there are 
substantial differences between Member States which should be reduced through 
cooperative programmes. This includes the promotion of networks of centres of 
excellence and stimulation of the transfer of knowledge between more and less 
advanced countries. In this case, the training programmes increasing the mobility of 
scientists will play an important role. 
16 
LIST OF ANNEXES 
Annex 1: Aquaculture production and organization of research in the Member States 
Table I : EC Aquaculture production (tons)-1991 
Table II: EC Aquaculture production in value (MECU)-1991 
Table III: Summary of Member States facilities 
Annex 2: FAR research programme. Purpose, implementation, operations 
approved. Breakdown of research subject financed. 
Annex 3: AIR research programme Purpose, implementation, operations 
approved. Breakdown of research subject financed. 
17 
Annexe 1:Aquaculture production and organization of research in the Member 
States 
Belgium 
Aquaculture production is not very substantial in Belgium. The country produces 
around 1500 tonnes per year of trout, eel, carp and other freshwater finfish species. 
A significant part of this production is sold for restocking rivers, lakes and angling 
ponds. In response to state reforms, RTD policy has been progressively and partially 
decentralized. Research is carried out by universities and private enterprises and is 
focussed on environmental effects, disease problems, genetics and larval nutrition. 
In spite of the scarce resources which are allocated to the research it is of good 
quality. Paradoxically, for a country which does not have a strong maritime tradition 
effort has been devoted to marine aquaculture research and strong international 
research links have been established. The European programmes are playing an 
important role in the support of aquaculture research. 
Denmark 
Trout, eels and mussels are the main species produced by Denmark. The Ministries 
of Education and Industry support research carried out by diverse universities and 
research institutes dealing with environmental issues, mainly concerned with fish farm 
effluents, and disease problems. Veterinary aspects are also very well researched. 
Although research primarily involves freshwater species, marine species such as 
turbot have also been promoted. Aquaculture technology has been well developed, 
especially concerning recirculation systems. A more active participation in the 
European programmes would be desirable since the extent of involvement to date 
undervalues the potential for aquaculture in the country. 
Federal Republic of Germany 
Aquaculture production is dominated by freshwater species, mainly trout and carp. 
Marine aquaculture is of little relevance. RTD activities are decentralized. The 
Federal Government finances its own research which is only in support of the 
legislation required and for internal measures. Other research at national level is 
conducted by the Federal Research Centre for Fisheries in Hamburg and at regional 
level by a variety of institutions and universities. Effective coordination of all these 
activities is lacking. Research deals with-enviromental and pathological problems 
associated with reared species. However, other aspects such as genetics, physiology 
reproduction and nutrition of marine finfish species are also being studied. 
Participation in European programmes has remained low. 
Greece 
Greece is currently the main European producer of sea bream and sea bass, the 
production of which has shown very rapid growth during recent years. Oysters, 
mussels and freshwater species complete aquaculture production. In spite of this rapid 
commercial development, research is very limited. RTD activities in aquaculture are 
mainly funded by the Ministry of Research, Energy and Technology. The Institute of 
Marine Biology of Crete is the most active institution, but universities are also 
carrying out research projects dealing with aquaculture. Nevertheless, the number of 
scientists working in this important area remains very low. Research is focused on 
new species for aquaculture in order to diversify production, but environmental and 
disease problems are also being addressed, as are the physiology of fish nutrition, 
improvement of the larval diet in hatcheries and the development of fish farming 
equipment. The European programmes have greatly contributed to the support of 
RTD activities in aquaculture in Greece. 
Spain 
Spain is one of the bigger aquaculture producers of the Community. On the north 
Atlantic coast production is based on molluscs, mainly mussels, and to a lesser extent 
on finfish such as turbot. In the south and in the Mediterranean sea, sea bream and 
sea bass are the dominant species. Of freshwater species, trout production is most 
important. During the last ten years great efforts have been made in aquaculture RTD 
at both national and regional level in order to develop this sector. The number of 
research institutions involved in aquaculture research is high and facilities have been 
built to carry out experimental rearing at a pilot level. Research has been focused on 
rearing techniques and pathological aspects. However, other disciplines such as 
genetics and environmental interaction have been poorly addressed. Although efforts 
have been made to coordinate the research activities carried out in this area effective 
integration is still lacking. The participation in the European programmes has been 
high and very beneficial for the establishment of international links. 
France 
Aquaculture production in France is dominated by oysters and mussels but freshwater 
aquaculture is also significant, particularly trout production. Among the marine fish 
species sea bass, sea bream and turbot are also cultured. The Ministries of Research 
and Agriculture are mainly responsible for the development of the aquaculture 
research. IFREMER, INRA and CNRS, which are governmental or semi-
governmental bodies, are the most relevant research organisations. They cooperate 
jointly and with Universities in specific subjects such as immunology and molecular 
genetics. In addition, research is also carried out individually by many universities. 
In general, research in marine aquaculture is focused on the basic biological aspects 
of reared molluscs, finfish and crustaceans, as well as the zootechnical aspects of 
turbot aquaculture. The environmental aspects also constitute appropriate subjects for 
research. Multidisciplinary programmes on coastal management are being carried out 
together with other environmental programmes for the monitoring and survey of 
water quality and the continuous survey of shellfish resources. France has participated 
very actively in the European research programmes. 
19 
Ireland 
Aquaculture production in Ireland is dominated by salmon. Shellfish and trout are 
also cultured but to a lesser extent. RTD activities in aquaculture are mainly 
supported by the Ministry of Marine through the Fisheries Research Centre and the 
Bord Iascaigh Mhara. But the Universities of Galway, Cork and Dublin also have a 
very important role in aquaculture research. The following subjects are considered as 
priorities for research activities: interactions between aquaculture and the 
environment, including the impact of algal toxin production on mollusc cultivation; 
improvement of the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of reared species; 
development of improved strains and introduction of new species for aquaculture; 
development of appropriate offshore and landbased production technologies for 
aquaculture; socioeconomic research to assist in effective rural and coastal 
management. Training courses in aquaculture are well covered, however, research 
activities are very dependent on the European programmes, in which Irish 
participation is particularly prominent. 
Italy 
Variety is the key characteristic of Italian aquaculture. With the exception of Atlantic 
salmon and turbot, all the species farmed in the EC are also cultured in Italy. This 
Member State is the main European producer of clams and eels, and a major producer 
of trout, sea bass, sea bream and mussels. RTD activities in aquaculture are mainly 
supported by two Ministries, Agriculture Resources and Scientific Research. The 
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) is a particularly important research 
institution, but Various universities, institutions such as ENEL or ENEA and regional 
organizations also have an active involvement in aquaculture research. Consequently 
the number of facilities and scientists working in this area is high. Effective 
coordination of this substantial research effort is poor at national level although 
collaboration between different teams is frequent. The research programmes cover 
feeding and nutrition, ecology, physiology and pathology of the reared species, 
genetics, fish farm technology, reproduction and culture of finfish and shellfish. 
Italy's participation in Community programmes has been important although the 
administrative problems of the institutions have considerably hindered international 
cooperation. 
Netherlands 
Mussels and eels are the main species reared in Holland. Oysters, trout and other 
freshwater species make up the remainder of its production. RTD activities are 
focused on the species already cultured and others with potential such as turbot. The 
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is responsible for research aquaculture. 
Research institutes such as Rijksinstituut voor Visserijonderzoek (RIVO) or the 
Institute for Agroeconomic Research (LEI-DLO) and several universities are actively 
involved in aquaculture research. Priority has been accorded to environmental and 
disease problems related to shellfish aquaculture but research dealing with the 
physiology and genetics of freshwater species is also being addressed. Participation 
in European programmes is generally considered as adequate. 
20 
Portugal 
Clams and trout are the main species reared in Portugal. Reporting to the Ministry 
of Sea is the Instituto Português de Investigaçâo Maritima, where RTD activities 
dealing with aquaculture are carried out. Universities such as the University of 
Algarve are also involved in aquaculture research which is primarily concerned with 
environmental and pathological problems, as well as the physiology of reproduction 
and growth of reared marine finfish species. There is also research effort aimed at 
the diversification of aquaculture production. A more active participation in the 
European programmes would be desirable. 
United Kingdom 
The UK is the main salmon producer of the Community. Trout, mussels, oysters and 
other shellfish are also produced. Most of the RTD activities dealing with 
aquaculture are funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) 
and by the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department (SOAFD). The Sea 
Fish Industry Authority and many universities are also actively involved in 
aquaculture research. RTD is concentrated on fish and shellfish disease control, 
including understanding the nature of major diseases and the development of 
diagnostic and control methods; minimising the impact aquaculture has on the 
environment; development of new cultivation techniques and investigating the 
potential for culturing new species. There is an escalating research effort on all 
aspects of aquaculture genetics. Participation in European programmes has been 
particularly prominent. 
Table I: EC Aquaculture production (tons) - 1991 
Member 
StateS almon Trout 
(1) Sea bass 
Sea 
bream Eel Carp 
and 
other 
finfish 
(?) Mussels 
(3) Oysters 
(4) Clams Other 
Shellfish 
(5) Total MS 
Belgium 800 130 600 urn. B 
Germany 22 500 450 17 «Q 19 400 155 MJSH 
Denmark 39 000 900 89 300 129 200 DK 
Spain 553 18 000 2 000 100 1 430 195 200 2 247 3 950 150 223 630 
France 42 000 700 220 8 260 61 880 131 542 70 244 672 
Greece 1 900 4 000 200 300 1 500 1 400 9 300 GR 
Ireland 8 500 1 400 15 300 J_Mi 50 26 391 IRL 
Italy 38 000 2 500 3 000 5 730 88 000 5 000 20 000 1-62 230 
Netherlands 250 1 000 1 100 48 740 1 295 52 385 N 
Portugal 2 000 300 10 2 800 5 110 
United 
Kingdom 40 500 15 000 10 680 1 390 80 67 650 UK 
TOTAL 49 553 180 850 9 500 6 000 35 030 530 000 144 670 26 800 300 982 703 
(1) Data 1990 for Greece 
(2) Other fish include: Freshwater species, Turbot! Tuna and Yellowtail. 
Data 1990 for France and Germany (except carp), data 1989 for Spain and Belgium 
(3) Data 1990 for Germany, Denmark, Greece and United Kingdom 
(4) Data including culture and fishing 
(5) Estimation 
Table II: EC Aquaculture production in value (MECU) - 1991 
Member 
State 
Belgium 
Germanv 
Denmark 
Spain 
France 
Greece 
Ireland 
Italv 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United 
Kingdom 
TOTAL 
(1) Data 1990 1 Salmon 
2.58 
37.57 
199.26 
239.41 
or Greece Trout 
(1) 
2.10 
65.70 
78.80 
43.90 
76.40 
4.70 
4.00 
80.90 
0.70 
5.60 
50.70 
413.50 Sea bass 
Sea bream 
• 
21.50 
8.10 
41.10 
38.90 
3.20 
112.80 Eel (2) 
0.89 
3.10 
6.20 
0.70 
1.56 
1.47 
28.18 
6.90 
49.00 Carp and 
other 
finfish (3) 
2.50 
25.67 
12.63 
19.76 
0.66 
19.93 
3,57 
0.01 
84.73 Mussels 
(4) 
5.47 
25.18 
105.60 
64.20 
1.40 
2.29 
57.20 
23.20 
5.08 
289.62 Oysters 
(5) 
0.26 
10.25 
174.69 
8.90 
3.45 
13.05 
2.33 
3.87 
216.80 Clams 
31.30 
0.30 
49.60 
20.10 
101.30 Other 
Shellfish 
(6) 
0.78 
0.98 
0.24 
2.00 Total 
5.49 
100.20 
110.18 
229.24 
345.69 
58.23 
47.61 
287.76 
36.70 
28.91 
259.15 
1509.16 MS 
B 
P 
DK 
E 
F 
OR 
IRL 
I 
N 
P 
UK 
(2) Value calculated on prices from 1990 for Belgium, Germany, Denmark and The Netherlands 
(3) Other fish include: Freshwater species, Turbot, Tuna and Yellowtail. 
Data 1990 for France and Germany (except carp), data 1989 for Spain and Belgium 
(4) Value calculated on prices from 1990 for all Member States, except for France and Greece where the base was prices from 1989 
(5) Data including culture and fishing. Value calculated on prices from 1990 for The Netherlands and on estimated prices for Germany, Ireland 
and United Kingdom 
(6) Estimation 
TABLE III: Member States' facilities summarized 23 
Member 
State Number of 
research 
organizations 
not including 
universities 
(*) Number of 
centres (*)(**) Number of 
university 
departments (*) Large research 
facilities 
> 5 000 m2 
BE ± 12 
DK 
DE 12 12 14 
GR il 15 II 
-El 11 il 21 
FR. 26 26 
IT 40 42 11 
IE. 10 10 IS. 
NL 
PT 
UK 12 26 41 
(*) Source: European Directory(**) i.e. number of separate sites 
24 
Annex 2: FAR research programme 
Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Programme (FAR) 1988-1992 
Purpose: 
The main purpose was to provide a scientific basis for implementation of the CFP, the areas 
covered being: 
- fisheries management 
- fishing techniques 
- aquaculture 
- upgrading of fisheries products 
In the aquaculture area the research subjects considered as priority were: 
- Improving the rearing parameters (control of reproduction, survival and growth rate in early 
and on-growing phases, feeding, etc.) 
- disease problems in rearing species 
- genetics and conservation of gametes 
- interactions between aquaculture and the environment 
Implementation: 
This had two lines of action: financial support for research projects and co-ordination of 
research at Community level. 
Operations approved: 
Following publication of three calls for tenders, 127 research projects were selected for 
financing. The number of research centres involved was 236 and the total Community aid 
more than ECU 31 million. In aquaculture 47 projects were funded, with 37% of the total 
funds allocated to them. 
On the co-ordination side 38 activities (workshops, seminars, conferences, preparation of 
databases, publications, etc.) and 14 bursaries were given Community support. 
FAR Research Programme 
Field of Aquaculture 25 
Number of proiects financed per area 
Rearing Techniques 
36% 
Pathology 
36% Environment 
19% 
CEE Contribution per area 
Rearing Techniques 
29% 
Pathology 
42% Environment 
21% 
FAR Research Programme 
Field of Aquaculture 26 
Number of proiects financed per species 
Sea bass / sea bream 
27% Shelfish 
23% 
Saimonids 
26% 
CEE Contribution per species 
§ea bass / sea bream 
25% Shelfish 
28% 
Saimonids 
27% 
27 
Annex 3: AIR research programme 
Agriculture and Agroindustry Research Programme, including Fisheries (AIR) 1991-
1994 
Purpose: 
To improve the relationship between production of biological resources and their use by 
consumers and industry, by means of research, technological development and pre-
competitive demonstration projects. 
For aquaculture, research covers among others the following areas: 
- health of the aquaculture stocks 
- new species 
- interactions between aquaculture and the environment 
- reproduction and larval rearing 
- improvement and conservation of the genetic basis of aquaculture 
Implementation: 
The programme involves: 
- calls for proposals for research and technological development projects 
- concerted actions 
- demonstration projects 
- accompanying measures 
The RTD projects are shared-cost contracts. The concerted action, to co-ordinate research 
activities relating to the programme but financed by sources other than the Community, can 
be financed up to 100% of the co-ordination costs. 
The accompanying measures comprise organisation of seminars, workshops and conferences, 
studies, internal co-ordination by means of integrated groups, advanced -training and 
promotion of exploitation of results. 
Proposals selected: 
The first call for tenders (closing date 31 January 1992) brought in 776 proposals, of which 
99 were for fisheries and aquaculture. The assessment process resulted in selection of 18 of 
the proposals for fisheries and aquaculture shared-cost projects for financing. The amount 
of Community aid involved is more than ECU 14 million. 
The second call (closing date 30 October 1992) resulted in 1020 proposals, of which 140 
were for fisheries and aquaculture. A total of 33 proposals were selected for funding. 
A last third call for tenders has been published (closing date 14 January 1993). 
AIR Research Programme 
Field of Aquaculture 23 
Number of projects financed 
New species 
12% 
Health of aquaculturai 
stocks 
4B% Reproduction and 
larval rearing 
20% 
Environment 
12% 
Genetics 
8% 
CEE Contribution 
New species 
7% 
Health of aquaculturai 
stocks 
59% Reproduction and 
larval rearing 
17% 
Environment 
10% 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(94) 258 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 15 03 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-94-274-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-70666-X 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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