Round table with employers in the field of Aquatic Bioresources

On March 27, 2023, a round table took place with employers regarding the update of the master's program in the specialty 'Water Bioresources and Aquaculture' according to modern labor market requirements and the development of new biotechnologies.

This event was part of the Erasmus+ KA2 AFISHE project 'Development of Education in Aquaculture and Fishing for the Green Deal in Armenia and Ukraine: From Education to Ecology.'

At the meetingwere invitedrepresentatives of the State Agency for Melioration and Fisheries, fish farming enterprises of the region, scientific institutions, and the public.

The main goal of the meeting was to discuss with employers the current issues in the industry in production, scientific, and administrative-legal spheres, and to determine what new knowledge and skills future specialists should possess. The meeting took place after the participation of project team representatives in a round table discussing the concept of restoring Ukraine's aquaculture, organized by the Methodological and Technological Center for Aquaculture of the State Fish Agency. During the organizers' presentation, there was an emphasis on the need to revise state policy in the field of aquaculture and information was provided about proposals for changes in legislation regulating aquaculture and fishing.

The meeting was opened by the project manager from NUVHP, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor Yukhymova Y.R., who presented the project, its goals, objectives, and prospects for the university. After this, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Water Bioresources Konontsev S.V. presented an analysis of the current educational program at NUVHP and the results of benchmarking similar programs in the EU, USA, Canada, and other countries. The areas of activity of the integrated multitrophic aquaculture laboratory, which will be created within the framework of the grant project, were also outlined. Director of the Institute of Aquaculture Pryshchepa A.M. expressed the advisability of involving graduates of bachelor's degrees in other specialties in the master's program.

The discussion was attended by Kun'chyik Taras Mykolayovych, head of the Department of the State Agency for Melioration and Fisheries in the Volyn region; Governor Iryna Valentynivna, chief specialist of the Department of Ichthyology, Fisheries Regulation and Melioration of the State Agency for Melioration and Fisheries in the Rivne region; Karpova-Laursen Yanyna Yuriyivna, director of LLC 'Laursen Aquaculture' (Rivne region, village of Zaborol); Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, Professor Mandygra Mykola Stanislavovych, National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, as well as representatives of the Research Station for Epizootology of the Institute of Fisheries of NAAS and other fish farming enterprises in the Rivne region.

As noted by representatives of production enterprises, full-scale military actions have posed new challenges and complications; however, most enterprises in the region continue to operate. During the stakeholders' presentations, it was noted what specific skills, knowledge, and competencies future specialists need to acquire under modern conditions.

• Specialists in organic production are needed, capable of preventing the spread of fish diseases, effectively applying modern therapeutic and preventive measures in fish farming. It is important to focus on the green European course, to implement biologically safe treatment methods for aquatic organisms instead of chemical (toxic) methods and antibiotics, which will have a positive effect on the fish farming industry and contribute to its development.
• Specialists are needed who can analyze the impact of water parameters on the health of aquatic organisms and ensure compliance with biosecurity principles.
• They will have knowledge and skills in water purification technology in closed aquaculture systems (analysis of feeding and polluted water parameters, technology for cleaning from major pollutants, waste disposal).
• Suggestions for introducing a separate module into the educational program dedicated to the HACCP system, with particular attention to the quality system of aquaculture products.
• Specialists who are well-informed about the rights of entities engaged in aquaculture. It is important to acquire skills related to the completion and submission of statistical reporting documentation for fish farms, in accordance with existing procedures approved at the national level.

The meeting was very fruitful and interesting, with employers expressing important suggestions that will definitely be taken into account by the project working group during the development of the updated master's program at NUVHP.