In 1986, APROMAR was created as an association to defend the interests of the marine aquaculture sector. This year at the APROMAR General Assembly held on May 12, and opened by MAGRAMA Secretary General of Fisheries, D. Andrés Hermida, APROMAR celebrated 30 years of working for the aquaculture industry in Spain.

The president of APROMAR, José Carlos Rendon, highlighted some of the issues of importance for the sector. These included the National Strategic Aquaculture Plan, where he felt greater efforts were needed to implement the plan and to create awareness among local authorities about the need to streamline administrative procedures. Mr Rendon also said that the long delay in making funding from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund available to the sector was another important issue. While acknowledging the importance of mussel production, he pointed out that production growth is possible in many other species too. Mr Rendon reminded the audience that APROMAR, backed by more than 60% of European producers of seabass and seabream, had filed a complaint with the European Commission against the government of Turkey for the subsidy that it pays to farmers for these species. If Turkey does not withdraw its subsidies, the European Commission should impose a duty on these products, he demanded. The final decision will be known in mid-September.