TUNIS, Feb 12 (NNN-TAP) — Tunisian-Italian co-operation programmes in the fisheries sector were discussed at a working session held here Tuesday between offiicials of the Tunisian Agriculture and Fisheries Union (UTAP) and Italy’s National Association of Fisheries Co-operatives.

The meeting looked at mechanisms likely to bolster the partnership between Tunisia and Italy in the fisheries sector as regards quality, production, exports, fish breeding and rationalisation of utilisation of halieutical resources, and to strengthen co-operation programmes in the fields of training and guidance, and exchanges of scientific and technological expertise.

The working session was an opportunity to discuss the deep changes experienced in the fisheries sector at world level and the challenges which the Mediterranean countries were faced with in view of the dwindling halieutic resources and the trade requirements imposed on marine products.

UTAP Chairman Mabrouk el Bahri highlighted the solid relations binding Tunisia and Italy in various fields, pointing to the importance of reinforcing complementarity in the fishing sector and boosting partnership, notably in the fields of aquaculture and rational management of halieutical resources.

The National Association of Italian Fisheries Co-operatives chairman Ettori Ianni praised Tunisian expertise, notably in the fisheries field, while expressing his country’s readiness to launch pilot projects and targeted programmes to improve competitiveness of the two countries’ fishermen and their capacities to export.

A partnership agreement was signed during the meeting between the two organisations. The accord provides for identifying projects in the fields of developing marine products, improving their quality and guaranteeing their conformity to the traceability and health-safety standards in force.

It also stipulates to create partnership projects in the aquaculture field and development of biological fish farming. The two sides also agreed to set up a joint commission tasked with following up implementation of this agreement. — NNN-TAP

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