Ferenc Lévai Hungarian Aquaculture Association Creating Frameworks of Good Practice Ferenc Lévai Hungarian Aquaculture Association Sustainable Aquaculture workshop (20th / 21st May 2014 - Vienna)

Topic for Today Good practice examples of effective and cost-efficient transposition and implementation of the WFD and MSFD. But what does ‘Good practice’ mean in the hierarchy of practice terminology? ‘Best practice’ - comparative benchmarked operating procedures (OPs). ‘Good practice’ - fully effective performance of documented OPs. ‘Improving practice’ - improving performance of improving documented OPs. ‘Failing practice’ - declining performance of documented OPs. ‘Poor practice’ - jokingly is said to be failing practice most readily recognised in other people’s organisations!!

Good Practice Frameworks Developing Good Practice frameworks for aquaculture depends on a number of interacting factors. Clear evidence-based definition of objectives and achievable outcomes. Well-designed, proportionate, properly transposed and enforced legislation. Fully adopted industry codes of good practice and good practice approaches. Professional management and a trained, skilled workforce. Facilities designed and maintained for the farming tasks and farm locations. Underpinning scientific understanding, and an appropriate evidence base for aquaculture and the environment.

Challenges for Regulators Avoiding inappropriate, inflexible, one size fits all legislation. Avoiding difficult-to-adopt, bureaucratic transposition and regulation. Adopting a risk based approach to regulation. Availability of relevant public R&D and a good environmental evidence base. Recognising that there are different ways of looking at things.

Challenges for the Aquaculture Industry Dealing with poorly-designed legislation and difficult-to-adopt, bureaucratic transposition and regulation. Continually implementing new systems and new production technologies. Constantly updating management systems and operator training. Continually updating CoGPs to reflect fast-changing technology and regulation. Achieving fully effective communication to relevant stakeholders.

FEAP Wide Perceptions Widespread Problems Multiagency – multi-legislation problems . Bureaucratic systems. Inconsistencies in systems and costs. Lack of parity with other users. Poor levels of understanding of aquaculture.

FEAP Wide Perceptions Examples of Good Practice Catchment and river basin management (UK). Freshwater Environmental Impact Unit Charging (EIUC) (England) Water extraction and pollution systems (Poland) Restocking and maintain biodiversity (Italy, Poland, Hungary) Preservation of ponds and wetlands (Italy, Portugal, Hungary)

Pond Farmer’s Perceptions Examples of Good Practice Pond fish-farming is a completely unique use of aquatic resources Water is retained and discharged Pond aquaculture is a purifier not a polluter 98% of organic matter is utilized inside the pond system Suspended solids are mostly mineral particles The ecological benefits of pond aquaculture is well documented Increased biodiversity Important wetland habitats

Pond Farmer’s Perceptions Examples of Good Practice The role of fishponds in water management include: Flood control Irrigation support Ground water support Water retention (546 Km³ only in Hungary) Support of wetland habitats

Pond Farmer’s Perceptions Negative burdens of WFD on pond farmers Pond farmers are treated as a polluter, similar to industrial and waste water management plants Each water discharge must be documented with an accredited laboratory result The cost of these must be borne by the farmers Negative results may lead to fines (no such incidents yet) Positive results may lead to…. Nothing

Thank you for the attention! Sustainable Aquaculture workshop (20th / 21st May 2014 - Vienna)