FORMATION

Acuicultura Sin Fronteras been formed in Spain and has signed a memorandum of agreement with AwF. The activities of this sister organization have so far concentrated on its official formation and registration. At the moment, ASF is an association, not an NGO. Recognition as an NGO in Spain cannot be obtained until there has been two years of activity. Whereas an NGO can obtain some grants and projects from the government, an association has fewer opportunities. However, ASF may be able to obtain some projects from banks and financial entities that collaborate with these kinds of associations. ASF is working on that topic.

MISSION

According to its agreement, ASF has an identical mission to AwF and plans similar activities. Having the Canary Islands as a base for ASF is good because it is a centre for immigration from Africa, who bring their problems to us to be helped, their ideas of how poverty can be ameliorated and their own experiences. ASF will not be involved in large scale (industrial) aquaculture projects. We have created ASF to help poor people through our knowledge on aquaculture and our capacity to teach aquaculture and to develop aquaculture project.

ORGANISERS

ASF is being organised by the following committee members:

PRESIDENT: Daniel Montero, Aquaculture Research Group. Instituto Canario de Ciencias Marinas (ICCM), Canary Islands, Spain.

VICE-PRESIDENT: Manuel Carrillo, CSIC - Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal Ribera de Cabanes, Castellón, Spain.

SECRETARY: Rafael Ginés, Veterinarian Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. 

TREASURER: Lucia Molina, ICCM School of Aquaculture Technicians, Canary Islands, Spain, who has considerable experience with NGOs, having been involved in Medicos sin Fronteras and some NGOs related with cancer.

Relationships with other organizations: Marisol Izquierdo, Aquaculture Research Group, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

The organisers of ASF will present the organisation during the XI National Congress of Aquaculture, 24 - 28 September 2007 to be held in Galicia. This is expected to be the starting point of its activities and provide opportunities to obtain associates. Both ASF and AwF [based on a PowerPoint presentation provided by the chairman of AwF (UK), Michael New] will be presented by Daniel Montero Vitores at this meeting. 

ASF is in discussions with some NGOs to explore potential collaboration. ASF expects its first activities to be developed in Africa, since the organization "Andalucia por un mundo nuevo" is asking us for assistance in Malawi and another organization is asking us for collaboration in Cameroon. In addition we are now trying to obtain funds for a project that was referred to us by AwF concerning rural aquaculture in the north of Bolivia; however, unfortunately, Bolivia is now a non-priority country for the Spanish government. We are also in discussion with various companies related to aquaculture here in Spain, to try to obtain a sponsor who can help us to cope with administrative costs and help us to have one person to dedicate full time for fund raising and the exploration of potential projects and cooperation.

Finally, as suggested by AwF, we are working on a logo, which accords to the general one used by the AwF family, which will be provided shortly.