The first workshop titled “Biosecurity in Mediterranean Fish Farming” by the Mediterranean EAFP branches, in cooperation with SIPI, took place in Cesenatico, Italy, on June 26, 2024.

Following nearly a decade of workshops on Mediterranean fish health management during EAFP conferences, this year’s inaugural workshop was organized back-to-back with the annual meeting of the Italian Fish Pathologists Society (SIPI).

Planned as a one-day workshop, the organizers chose biosecurity as the urgent topic for the Mediterranean area, with invited speakers covering various aspects of this field. Keynote lectures introduced new tools and strategies developed by the FAO, presented by Dr. Melba Bondad, and a task from the Horizon project, presented by Dr. Ivona Mladineo, focused on monitoring aquatic diseases and designing advanced biosecurity procedures. Sessions addressed specific risks and preventive measures, providing practical insights and best practices to improve disease management in the region and across different aquaculture sectors The risk of introducing disease linked to aklloctonous species farming was also addressed. The new Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on aquatic animal health and biosecurity in the region, organized by FAO GFCM, was introduced by coordinator Dr. Nadia Cherif from Tunisia.

The meeting was hybrid due to the inability of some speakers to attend in person. Despite this, 110 delegates, including EAFP members and participants from Italy, Croatia, Spain, and speakers from France, Israel, Tunisia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and the FAO, attended (see agenda). Engaging discussions ensued, with many questions and topics raised, particularly based on a questionnaire on knowledge gaps in biosecurity in European Aquaculture, moderated by Niccolò Vendramin from the EURL for fish diseases. Another interesting topic was the presentation on the European Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare – the Action in Biosecurity, a project financed by EU Horizon. The presenter discussed the work already done and nice future opportunities for project participation during the next 5 years.

The meeting was held in the magnificent Maritime Museum of Cesenatico, a charming tourist city on the western coast of the Adriatic Sea. The event organization and social dinner were delightful, thanks to Sara Ciulli from Cesenatico and SIPI President Andrea Gustinelli, along with General Secretary Anna Toffan. Hopefully, the great success of this meeting will lead to regular gatherings of the Mediterranean branches’ members in different countries in the future.