The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Seafood group met with EU Commissioner Maria Damanaki yesterday as part of an industry alliance pressing for radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
The alliance, which includes FDF, WWF and retailers have put together a common position calling for more sustainable fisheries management policies and the elimination of the current wasteful practice of ‘discards’, where fish in excess of quota limits are thrown back into the sea dead.
FDF’s director of sustainability Andrew Kuyk, joined David Norman of the WWF and Stephen Parry of AIPCE-CEP - the EU fish processors association, and Ally Dingwall representing the retail sector, to present proposals to Commissioner Damanaki, which included an end to the current ‘race for fish’ based on long-term fishery management (LTFMP) plans and more local decision-making involving the whole supply chain.
Andrew Kuyk explains: “We are calling for the new CFP to identify long term targets and to make these plans the means by which we reach our goals. The plans would environmental impact assessments of the individual fisheries and more regional management to develop a clear strategy for reducing discard levels.
“Taking less but earning more should be core to this work and with better marketing and liaison between processors and suppliers we can better match demand, and meet consumer needs for this healthy and renewable food source.”
