A new forum has launched to support the UK fishing fleet’s transition to net zero.
The Vessels of the Future forum will bring together representatives from the fishing and aquaculture sectors, boat builders, ports and harbours, engine manufacturers, academia and governance.
Chaired by Mike Cohen, deputy chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO), the forum held its kick-off meeting in December 2022 where working principles were agreed.
“We cannot escape the reality of climate change – it is the biggest challenge of our age,” said Mike Cohen. “Vessels of the Future brings together experts from many fields, with the aim of fostering collaboration and innovation in order to develop solutions and technologies that will ensure that fishing remains sustainable in every sense.”
The forum will initially focus on:
- Promoting a culture that supports innovative technologies
- Developing regulatory framework
- Building awareness across the seafood sector
- Developing ports and harbour infrastructure
Dr Stuart McLanaghan, head of responsible sourcing at Seafish, the UK trade body providing support to the forum said the sector needed practical resources. “Engagement with industry in 2022 confirmed a need for pre-competitive collaboration across the supply chain and wider maritime sector, to support decarbonisation across our fishing and aquaculture vessels,” he said.
