Politics, economics and strategic alliances: promotion of European shellfish cultivation
McLeod, D. (2001). Politics, economics and strategic alliances: promotion of European shellfish cultivation, in: Burnell, G.M. et al. (Ed.) Aquaculture and its role in integrated coastal zone management: handbook of contributions and extended abstracts presented at the International Workshop on "Aquaculture and its role in Integrated Coastal Zone Management" Oostende, Belgium, April 19-21, 2001. pp. 61-67 In: Burnell, G.M. et al. (2001). Aquaculture and its role in integrated coastal zone management: handbook of contributions and extended abstracts presented at the International Workshop on "Aquaculture and its role in Integrated Coastal Zone Management" Oostende, Belgium, April 19-21, 2001. European Aquaculture Society/Flanders Marine Institute: Oostende. 145 pp., more |
| Abstract | Shellfish cultivation in European Union Member States, totaling around 665 Thousand Tons in 1997, is already a significant generator of revenue and employment (approximately Euro580 Million and 20,000 Full Time Equivalent jobs). However, in order to ensure sustainable growth, and adaptation to the changing physical and regulatory environment in which the industry operates, most notably the implementation of ICZM, it will be necessary for the sector to pursue a greater involvement in politics, to focus attention on the economics of production and the marketplace, and to creatively engage in strategic alliances with adjacent economic, political and socio-economic interests. These promotional efforts will reflect, at national level, the scale of the industry, the different extent of ecological 'footprint' of the industry, political interaction and economic engineering, as well as each individual state's progress with the implementation of ICZM. But the optimum approach in terms of effectiveness and productivity is predicted to occur at the pan-European level, through mutually beneficial alliances negotiated between the officially recognised professional organisations at the Community level. Such a response will safeguard and promote the future prosperity of the industry. The alternative 'Business As Usual' scenario to a positive response to the challenge of ICZM is an industry condemned to decline, under seige from more aware and proactive competitive users of the coastal zone resources. |
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