Oceanic Developpement fishing industry and seafood processing experts

In the frame of the “multi-annual national programme for the collection of biological, environmental, economic and social data” implemented by the Direction des Pêches Maritimes et de l’Aquaculture of the French Ministry for Fisheries, the IRD is entrusted with the part of “tuna tropical fishery”. A programme of scientific observer onboard fishing vessels was set up to estimate accessory species and discards (species, quantities and sizes) of the French tuna purse seiners in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Since March 2007, the data collection is carried out by observers from Oceanic Développement.

The Direction des Pêches Maritimes et de l’Aquaculture (DPMA) of the French Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries has selected Oceanic Développement in association with Capgemini (an IT services and business consultancy company) for the conception of a regulatory database that includes all legal texts applicable to the maritime fishing industry wherever the fishing vessels is operated. The implementation of this new tool is intended to make the regulatory framework easily known to users and public agents in charge of the implementation of control.

In the frame of an information campaign on the enforcement of the fisheries control policy, the Office National Interprofessionnel des Produits de la mer et de l’Aquaculture (OFIMER) contracted Oceanic Développement for the realisation of a reference handbook that presents the European Community regulations pertaining to minimum landing sizes and compulsory grading categories by species. This reference handbook is completed by a synthesis on how control is implemented, with rights and obligations of each party. It constitutes a mean of documentation for use by all professionals of the fishing industry.

In association with the European Aquaculture Society, Oceanic Développement has just completed a study of the impact of the 4th and 5th Framework research Programmes of the European Community on the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors. The quantification of the impact has been done through an extensive consultation of a large panel of stakeholders throughout all European states concerned. The results of this study can be consulted in the report available for download.

Oceanic Développement has been selected to implement a programme aiming at strengthening the capacities of the Centre de Surveillance des Pêches of Madagascar (the National Fisheries Monitoring Centre). This project, financed by the European Community, has the objectives of strengthening the necessary function of surveillance of the fisheries within the EEZ of the country, including an adaptation of the legal framework, a new organisation for management of personnel and equipment, and the implementation of operational procedures of control. The technical assistance programme includes also an assistance for the purchase of a new 50 m patrol vessel, the supervision of her equipments, and the training of the controllers onboard.

In the frame of a project concerning the implementation of offshore wind farms off the coast of Normandy, Oceanic Développement has carried out for Creocean an evaluation of the impact of this project on the professional fishing sector operating in the area concerned. During this study, the existing information of fishing activities have been analysed, and consultations with representatives of the professional fishermen organised. This study finally assessed the consequences in technical terms, as well as associated economic losses.

Oceanic Développement, leader of a European consortium including Poseidon Ltd (UK) and Megapesca (P) has been selected by the European Commission to conduct all the evaluation studies of the fisheries agreements concluded between the Community and third countries for the next three years. Evaluations will take place before existing agreements are renewed or when new agreements are considered. These studies will provide assistance to the European community to conclude agreement guaranteeing the best cost/efficiency ratio, while encouraging the development of the fishery sector of the partner state.

In the frame of the EC Regulation No 2347/2002 a sampling plan shall be conducted on European deep-sea fisheries (Orange roughy, Portuguese dogfish, Black scabbardfish) assigning scientific observers onboard fishing vessels to record independent information on effort, catches and discards. In collaboration with ship owners, IFREMER and the Direction des Pêches Maritimes et de l’Aquaculture of the French Ministry for Fisheries, the sampling of catches of the French fleet is conducted by observers from Oceanic Développement.

Strengthening enforcement capacities of the European Member States to control their fisheries is an objective of the European institutions. On December 2003 European Heads of State decided the creation of the Community Fisheries Control Agency to be based in Vigo, Spain. The European commission entrusted an international consortium including Oceanic Développement, MRAG (UK), Poseidon Ltd (UK) and Lamans (Greece) with the task of studying the ways this Agency could provide the best services to the Member States considering the needs that were expressed.

Indonesian archipelago offers a great potential for development of aquaculture. Indonesian authorities wish to enhance this development by implementing regional research centres. In this context, a French Consortium including Oceanic Développement, IDEE and FMD was entrusted with the realisation of a project hatchery-nursery-farm on Batam Island for the production of Lates calcarifer and Epinephelus fuscoguttatus. In addition to the utilisation of a leading-edge technology, the project emphasises the training of Indonesian researchers.

The Syndicat des Armateurs Réunionais de Palangriers Congélateurs (S.A.R.P.C.) entrusted Oceanic Développement with the conception and realisation of the HACCP and Quality documents required to export seafood products on the international market and particularly to the USA. The SARPC is the professional association of the French shipowners who exploit toothfish (Dissostichus spp) with longlines in the waters of the Antarctic French Territories and in particular in the Kerguelen waters. SARPC members manage a modern fishing fleet of 6 vessels each 55 meters long.

Oceanic Développement in association with In Vivo Environnement were selected by the Conseil Général du Finistère for the realisation of a prospective study on the future of the Corniguel port area in Quimper (commercial port). Located at the bottom of the Odet estuary known as the most beautiful river of France, this port faces numerous challenges. Among them: traffic specialisation, access, urban pressure, competition with leisure boating, environmental issues

The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) entrusted Oceanic Développement with the realisation of the sketch project for the organisation of the new small-scale fisheries port of Providence, on Mahé Island. Through this project, small-scale fishing vessels will find a port with improved conditions in particular with the provision of new services as well as a dynamisation of the market through the delimitation of a zone dedicated to the creation of a sea-food processing units. This project is part of a more global project of a reorganisation of the Victoria fishing port.

What are the main characteristics (regulations, number of participants, catches) of recreational fishing for bluefin in the Western Mediterranean, and what are the economic impacts of this activity ? To answer these questions, the European Commission supports the international research programme SFITUM to which Oceanic Développement participates in partenariat with the French Federation of Sea Fishermen, and under the coordination of the Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Blanes (Spain).

The European Commission has selected Oceanic Développement to work on a study of the fishing sector in Libya, and the impact assessment of a possible fishing agreement between this country and the European Union. The output of this expertise shall be used to identify the fishing possibilities that could be used by the Community vessels, and to prepare the negotiation with the Libyan Authorities.

Processing room onboard and stowage facilities : Oceanic Développement designed and realised a processing room and stowage facilities onboard a newly built wetfish trawler (44m) which will operate in the North Atlantic. The work room and the stowage plan are designed for conditionning catches in boxes onboard.

Oceanic Développement is implementing a technical assistance programme to the seaweed industry in Kiribati islands (Pacific). A permanent expert will assist research on the culture practices and their extension. Short-term missions will support the development of the commercial activity.