[ NEWS INTERNATIONAL ] to innovate and to exploit technological changes. Improving the situation is dependent upon the identification, analysis, and definition of the skills needed to make workers more attractive to the sector. Better qualified workers will increase competitiveness
in the sector and improve the functioning of the labour market. The European social partners, representatives of management and labour at the European level, have studied the feasibility of creating a European
Council for skills and employment in the fisheries sector. They conclude that such a body would need to tackle several issues including the harmonisation of fishermen’s training; the absence of training centres and programmes in some Mem-
ber States; the weakness of the training system and the lack of compulsory basic training for fisherman in many Member States. Addressing these issues would increase skills, reduce unemployment, and enhance competitiveness in the sector.
Montenegro: Mareza trout farm, and smokehouse Ahileis host workshop participants
The fish farm Mareza is one of the biggest in Montenegro. Annual production amounts to about 100 tonnes all of which is sold on the domestic market.
The Ahileis smoking plant processes a variety of imported and domestic fish species. It was established by former international basketball star, Ljubo Vujacic.
Eurofish, FAO, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Montenegro coorganised a workshop for trout producers in the region addressing trade as well as food safety issues. On the final day of the workshop participants visited the trout farm Mareza, and the processing plant Ahileis.
Ahileis factory, which specializes in smoking various fish species, was founded by Mr. Ljubo Vujacic, a former basketball star in Montenegro and abroad. After living many years abroad, he returned to his home town Golubovci located 15 km from Podgorica. When Ljubo considered construction of a processing factory, he chose a fish smoking business since many local businessmen and producers dealt with meat and ham products. Today, the factory produces various fish species such as Norwegian salmon, sardines and mackerel from Italy and Spain, local and imported carp,
Established in 1975, Mareza is one of the oldest and largest farms in the country and is part of one of the biggest companies in Montenegro, 13. Jul Plantaže, which is also involved in wine and grape brandy manufacturing. The farm has 14 raceways, where trout is 8
Eurofish Magazine 6 / 2012
farmed. The company has its own hatchery with broodstock (4,000 females) producing eggs, fingerlings (6-7 million/year), and grows fish for consumption (250 g average weight). The fish feed (around 100 tonnes/year) is bought from Skretting, Italy. With the fish ponds covering 6,000 sq. m, Mareza produces and sells 100 tonnes of Californian trout per year. Trout is distributed on the local market through supermarkets, the company’s own retail shops (30 stores), one open market, hotels and restaurants. The company has a restaurant Mareza in the vicinity of the farm that caters to tourists.
rainbow trout and other species. The annual production capacity is 200-300 tonnes produced in 2 shifts. Currently, the sales are for the local market, but the objective of the company is to explore export possibilities. As the first step in this direction, the factory implemented a HACCP system. This includes the analysis of food hazards, the identification of critical control points, the establishment of critical control limits and preventive measures, the establishment of correction and corrective action, the keeping of records and the systematic and regular audit of the system by independent certification bodies. www.eurofishmagazine.com