The Catch Welfare Platform has announced the first conference to be held in November which will have a focus on Future-Proof Fisheries
The Catch Welfare Platform has announced its first conference will be held on the 20-22 November 2023 in Bergen, Norway.
The platform will be a global industry-science driven network that aims to improve sustainability and profitability in wild-capture fisheries. The conference will facilitate discussions on the topic of catch welfare and launch the network. More information can be found on website catchwelfareplatform.com.
What is Catch Welfare?
The Catch Welfare concept focuses on pragmatic solutions to reduce individual stress levels in the catch (see Fig. 1). This includes unwanted and released animals, and those to be slaughtered onboard. Incentivizing fishermen, such as through the valorisation of seafood products adhering to good catch welfare standards, is envisaged as a key outcome. Work on the Catch Welfare concept will start at the conference and continue thereafter.
“Our approach will improve sustainability by reducing collateral mortality during fishing and enhance profitability by improving product quality and shelf-life. Reducing stress would create premium market opportunities for seafood caught with good catch welfare standards. We recognise the connection between the Catch Welfare concept and ongoing challenges in wild-capture fisheries, such as overfishing,” states Catch Welfare.
Figure 1: The Catch Welfare concept
Conference registration is already open, and the list of attendees is growing rapidly (see the website for the current list). Current participants represent a wide range of seafood-related industry stakeholders from across in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania:
- Fishing companies and associations : 17
- Fishing and processing equipment manufacturers : 8
- Wholesale/trade : 5
- Fish processors : 3
- Retail : 4
- Various : 4
Many researchers from various continents have signed up to participate in the conference, and the list of attendees from seafood-related industry and research consist of more than 95 persons.
The Catch Welfare Platform Team
The team behind the Catch Welfare Platform concept includes expertise in animal welfare, wild-capture fishing, food science and technology, consumer research and stakeholder engagement:
- Institute of Marine Research, Norway: Mike Breen, Neil Anders
- Nofima, Norway: Ragnhild Aven Svalheim, Themis Altintzoglou, Bjørn Roth
- UiT The Artic University of Norway, Norway: Endre Grimsbø
- Michelle Boonstra Consultancy, Netherlands: Michelle Boonstra
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Netherlands: Hans van de Vis (co-ordinator).
- UEH University, Vietnam: Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy.
How can you to take part?
Do you work in the seafood industry (e.g. fishing companies, wholesalers, processors, caterers, retailers, fishing and processing equipment manufacturers, ship builders, industry representatives)?
Then visit catchwelfareplatform.com and register now for conference attendance!
Source: Press Release
