AIPCE-CEP, EAPO, Europêche and FEAP, representing the EU’s fisheries and aquaculture industries, announced their intent to form a strategic alliance aimed at advancing shared goals and promoting critical industry priorities on a broader stage at Seafood Expo Global (SEG) 2024 in Barcelona.
Through this new alliance, they will seek to amplify their impact by forging common ground and promoting collaborative initiatives to reach out to a wider audience.
In a joint statement, the five associations said: “We need society to be aware that fishery and aquaculture products represent a low-carbon source of animal protein that offers significant advantages for human health, climate impact and sustainability. Seafood consumption is good for the people’s and planet’s health.”
By uniting efforts, the alliance intends to bring these topics to the forefront of EU and global policy discussions.
“We believe that by aligning our efforts, we can achieve meaningful progress in advancing the positive message of seafood consumption,” the alliance stated. “Together, we can effectively communicate the value of our products, advocate for supportive policies and drive positive change.”
During the gathering there was a unanimous call to return to a model within the EU institutions where primary food production, including fisheries and aquaculture, is prioritised alongside agriculture to ensure food security in the market.
They advised that the repositioning of the fisheries and aquaculture mandate high in the European Commission’s agenda is crucial and should be implemented during the upcoming political mandate period (2024-2029).
This adjustment aligns with the structural framework outlined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which considers agriculture and fisheries as separate but equally significant EU policies, they said.
The alliance will also aim to raise consumer awareness regarding how seafood is produced, its nutritional benefits and the people behind the products.
