The main goal of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy towards aquaculture is to reconcile exploitation with sustainable development and environmental protection. The contribution of PATHMEDA to this objective has been twofold. First, we provide new information on little known pathogens of farmed fish and second our research provides a basis to develop more efficient prophylaxis and treatments. Ultimatelly this will facilitate better control policies, diminishing the use of chemicals harmful to the marine environment. In addition, the development of molecular tools for pathogen diagnosis carried out during this felowship has the added value of not requiring the sacrifice of fish, thus allowing to preserve valuable specimens, such as broodstock.

PATHMEDA seeked to integrate a wide range of different expertises (microbiology, virology, fish health and parasitology) available at the University of Valencia and its Partner Organizations.

The main scientific objective of PATHMEDA was to consolidate new research avenues at the University of Valencia in two key aspects:

	Diagnosis and typing techniques of pathogens, particularly for fish viruses.
	Techniques to evaluate the immune response to pathogens of  finfish species of interests for Mediterranean aquaculture.