There have been various efforts at regulating aquaculture practices around the world. This can be observed through the extensive regulatory documentation issued by many countries at different administrative levels, such as national/provincial/state laws, acts, codes of conduct, codes of best practices and practice guidelines. These can cover a wide range of related topics, from general concerns to more specific actions. E ach regulation is important for building a broader understanding of aquaculture . Our aim was to provide a series of policy recommendations based on current legislation per country regarding aquaculture and IMTA practices.
This analysis is focused on the Atlantic Area, involving 5 case studies from the IMTA sites involved in the ASTRAL project : Argentina, Brazil, Ireland, Scotland, and South Africa. Thirty-five semi-structured interviews were performed, and workshops were held, in which key stakeholders from different fields participated. In parallel , an extensive literature review was undertaken. After data collection was completed and triangulated, a codification structure was developed to organize and analyse all the information gathered. Thus, f our main themes emerged that played a major role in shaping the content of the analysis: 1) Policy dimension, 2) Environmental dimension, 3) Social dimension, 4) Communication dimension .
A ll contexts are diverse and each faces particular challenges. Yet, shared issues were identified on which the sam e policy recommendations could be developed . O ne of the main comments is the necessity for updated and flexible legislation and regulatory frameworks to ensure the insertion of novel technologies within aquaculture practices, such as IMTA systems. Moreover, i mproving the capacity and building the expertise of government staff, policymakers, and regulators, so that more informed decisions could be made was underlined. On the other hand, it was highlighted that the procedure for acquiring licences must be improved , for example, through the introduction of technical assistance for industry and e specially for new and small producers. Lastly, it was emphasized that further collaboration, involving the active participation of industry, small producers, researchers, scientists, academia, policymakers, and regulators, is key to enhance the development of a more sustainable aquaculture sector , highlighting the challenges in implementing IMTA practices .