Despite increased efforts, industry hears seafood consumption is falling amid environmental and sustainability concerns

“Sustainable fisheries management is not just about preserving fish stocks for future generations, it’s also about keeping our oceans healthy, especially for those whose livelihoods depend on them,” Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheriestold the Seafood Futures Forum at Seafood Expo Global (SEG) 2024 in Barcelona.

Addressing the 2024 edition of the Marine Stewardship Council’s annual SEG event, Sinkevičius acknowledged that the fishing and seafood sectors are the “lifeblood” of many coastal communities across the EU, and that they’re vital for sustaining economies, while the supply of these low carbon foods are crucial in the fight against climate change.

Tapping into the theme of this year’s forum: planet, price and diet, and how seafood is stacking up, particularly with regards to empowering consumers to make more sustainable food choices, the Commissioner said: “More than ever, consumers are aware of and attentive to the environmental consequences of what they buy. And while they may balance these considerations against other factors such as price, health, taste and quality, they also know how important it is that our seafood is sourced sustainably. Our job is to empower them, give them reliable, transparent information to make more sustainable choices.”