HUNGARY
NACEE, the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Central-Eastern Europe
Bringing pond aquaculture stakeholders together
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reshwater pond aquaculture is prevalent across Central and Eastern Europe. The practice of this type of fish farming, the species cultivated, and the challenges faced are similar in many countries in the region. NACEE endeavours to bridge gaps in language, governance, and political systems to create a flexible network of pond aquaculture professionals.
Rebuilding scientiďŹ c collaboration The Network of Aquaculture Centres in Central-Eastern Europe was formed in 2004 partly in response to the political and economic changes in Central and Eastern Europe in the 90s. With the collapse of the old order the cooperation that had existed between scientists and research institutes across the region also flagged. NACEE set out to revive this cooperation so that scientists, students, researchers as well as private companies and public administrations from Central and Eastern Europe both from within the EU and from outside could exchange knowledge and experiences. Aquaculture in the region is dominated by freshwater pond farming and many of the species farmed, the methods used, and the challenges faced, for example, climate change, are similar. The initiators of NACEE were aware that was much to be gained by creating a platform that would allow stakeholders to interact, bring institutions closer together, and create an awareness among non-EU countries about 44
the EU and its initiatives in the aquaculture sector.
Initiating activities for members to build on NACEE was formally established with the help of FAO in 2004 in HAKI, the Hungarian Research Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Originally a network, in 2010 it was registered as an association with its address at HAKI and with Laszlo Varadi, the Director of HAKI as President and Peter Lengyel, the Foreign Relations Officer of HAKI as the General Secretary. It is a relatively low budget organisation dependent on a modest membership fee and some funding coming in from the projects in which it participates. Today the association comprises institutions and individuals from 10 countries. Discussions are ongoing with the FAO about NACEE participation in some FAO projects. As an association registered in an EU country, NACEE has access to EU funds. It is a partner in an EU project, TAPAS, which aims to promote the sustainability of EU aquaculture. If represented by the association the freshwater pond aquaculture sector may carry more weight and attract greater attention and support from EU policy makers, who sometimes overlook it, feels Prof. Varadi. However, he is keen that NACEE does not become too involved in project work. NACEE is a network, he says, and its strength lies in its ability to draw institutions and individuals closer together. “We
Professor Laszlo Varadi, President of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Central-Eastern Europe (NACEE)
do the catalytic work,� he says, “and then it is up to the members themselves to take things further.�
HAKI support, dedicated secretariat are invaluable assets Some of this catalytic work includes organising a workshop each year in connection with the annual general meeting of the association. The workshops tend to be held under big-tent themes, advances in Central and Eastern European aquaculture, for example, that allow a wide range of topics to be discussed. Scientists from EU countries that are not members of the association are encouraged to attend, present, and network with their counterparts from countries such as Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Moldova. Another event the association organises regularly is the young scientists conference which serves a two-fold purpose. One is to contribute to the international exposure young scientists need to further their careers, while the other is to encourage them to
play a more active role in the association and to gradually take over from the initiators as they start to retire or move on to other things. As Prof. Varadi says, the association is only as active as its members and its ability to survive and thrive depends on their dynamism and commitment. While this is true, it is also a fact that the association is highly dependent on the institutional support it gets from HAKI as well as on the dedication of the three-person secretariat. When it was established, a key slogan was “small steps in the right direction,� something that the association has successfully managed so far. With the support of staff, institutions, and members Prof. Varadi is confident that the organisation will continue to make these steps well into the future. For more information: Szvetlana Lengyel NACEE Technical Secretary szvetlana@nacee.eu www.nacee.eu
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