Due to good natural conditions and political will, marine aquaculture has developed recently around the Mediterranean sea and particularly in the non European Mediterranean countries. Both private entrepreneurship and public international cooperation have participated in this development. Most of its products are aiming at supplying European markets, where they compete not only with similar products from the European Mediterranean countries but also with other aquaculture products from the northern European countries. Advantages and constraints of aquaculture in the Mediterranean countries are analysed with regard to the project of "Euro-Mediterranean partnership" which should give birth within 25 years to a large free trade area. In order to develop a competitive aquaculture sector on both sides of the Mediterranean, a cooperation is necessary between the different Mediterranean countries. The implementation of networks for research and information purposes seems the best way to achieve this goal. [NOT CONTROLLED OCR]