Invest in France Agency taiwan Office

The cluster has 3 main objectives:

• Rational and sustainable farming of species while at the same time developing new products with high added value that conform to consumer expectations
• Strengthening companies’ technical expertise and environment
• Improving food quality and safety

Advantages

The North Pas-de-Calais region offers several advantages:
             
Significant population under age 26   
•    Population of 4 million
•    36.7% under 26 years old   

Dynamic economy
•    3rd leading French region in terms of international trade accounting for 9% of total French exports
   

Centrally located region close to major markets
•    100 million consumers accessible within a 300 km radius
•    Three major cities closely linked by train: Paris 1 hour, London 1 hour 20 minutes Brussels 35 minutes

Leading region in the Seafood Product sector with :
•    150 companies
•    33 international groups
•    7,000 jobs

Boulogne-sur-Mer: Biggest port in France
•    40,000 tons unloaded in 2007
•    No. 1 seafood processing center in Europe

Creation of a collective brand, “Filière Opale”, for members of the cluster in order to promote the quality of its seafood products.

Members

More than 40 members divided into 4 categories

Professional organizations
16 organizations including Syndicat Général des Mareyeurs, From Nord, Comité Régional des Pêches Maritimes et des Elevages Marins, Copalis, Syndicat des Armateurs, Normandie Fraîcheur Mer, From Bretagne.

Technical Expertise Centers
9 centres including Centre de Formation Produits de la Mer, Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale, Agence Française pour la Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA), Centre d’Expérimentation et de Valorisation des Produits de la Mer (CEVPM), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre National de la Mer (Nausicaa).

Institutions and Financial Partners  10 partners including Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Communauté d’Agglomération du Boulonnais, Ville de Boulogne-sur-Mer, Ville de Gravelines, Région Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Office d’Intervention dans le secteur des Pêches et de l’Aquaculture (OFIMER).

Associated Members  9 members including Aquanord, Bretagne Saumon, Fleury-Michon Traiteur, Delpierre, Capitaine Houat, Direct Océan, Mer Alliance, Roquette, Unima Frais.

Current R&D partnerships (refer to appendix)

38 projects were certified as at June 2008, accounting for total funding of over 86 million euros.

17 of these projects have already received funding and 21 are in the process of receiving funding

Approximately €515,312 was awarded by the Inter-ministerial Single Fund (FUI) between 2005 and 2007.
Half a million euros awarded by the French National Research Agency (ANR).

International partnerships

Current
•    Partnership with Québec, Biotechnologies Valorization Center
•    Participation in trade fairs: Conxemar de Vigo, Spain, European Seafood Exhibition, Brussels, Belgium

Future
•    Participation in the International Agro-Food Fair (SIAL), Paris
•    Participation in the Agadir Fish Morocco trade fair in March 2009
•    Organization of a mission in Japan

Appendix: Examples of certified R&D projects 

• More information on the Filière Produits Aquatiques cluster