15.2 Objectives and programme structure

15.2 Objectives and programme structure

MARICULT was initiated to examine possibilities for increasing the sustainable culture, harvesting and use of marine resources in the future. A main question is whether increased activity in mariculture will be feasible and acceptable from an environmental point of view. The ultimate goal of MARICULT (1996-2000) has been:

• To provide a basis for the evaluation of environmental constraints and the potential for increased sustainable provision of food, raw material and energy from the ocean

A further exploitation of the marine system should be based on knowledge of how the system functions. Such knowledge was needed to obtain the main objectives of the Programme, and the core activity of MARICULT has therefore been fundamental, strategic research on the marine ecosystem. This represents a main strategic decision meaning that the critical evaluations of both environmental constraints and possibilities for developments in the field of mariculture and marine management must be based on scientific knowledge. New concepts of harvesting and mariculture have to be both sustainable and environmentally acceptable. The production potential of new methods should therefore always be elaborated together with the environmental impact of the methods.

Two main activities were originally planned:

• Sub-programme `Marine food webs'
• Sub-programme `Marine macroalgae'

Sub-programme `Marine macroalgae' was not implemented, mainly because of problems in obtaining adequate funding for the planned research activities. The environmental perspectives were given the highest priority in Subprogramme `Marine food webs'. The research was organized within four main research areas. The main objectives of Subprogramme `Marine food webs' (hereafter denoted MARICULT) were as follows:

• To understand how enhanced natural or controlled nutrient supply and appropriate restocking measures of marine systems can affect the marine production and harvesting potential
• To gain insight into the assimilation and cycling of nutrients in pelagic and benthic marine ecosystems and define the conditions which result in undesired environmental situations

15.2 Objectives and programme structure