September 27, 2007

 

Market demands accountable, environmentally friendly fishing, FAO says
 

 

The seafood industry would have to adapt to growing demand from retailers and consumers for "environmentally friendly" fish as it is this sector that is shaping the industry, the Food & Agricultural Organisation said at a seafood conference September 25.

 

During opening remarks at the 2007 Seafood Industry Congress in Dublin, Grimur Valdimarsson, Director of FAO's Fishing Industries Division, seafood producers would need to account for the environmental impact of their products

 

The push towards sustainable fisheries is not just coming from government or environmental groups, but from the market itself, Valdimarsson said.

 

This is in evidence as major seafood retailers like Unilever, Tesco, Walmart and Asda have already committed to selling only fish harvested or raised sustainably.

 

Years ago, the seafood industry was uncertain as to whether these trends were a momentary fad. Today, there's no question - it's the way of the future, he stressed.

 

Responsible and sustainable fishing requires monitoring fishing activities via tracking systems, labels and similar mechanisms.

 

While there are diverse and competing efforts, Valdimarsson stressed that, overall, the trend is a positive one.

 

Complying with these new imperatives is technically challenging, but the industry would have to find ways that are both adequate and economically feasible, Valdimarsson said.

 

Already, producers have put into place internal systems to ensure that they are providing seafood that is fresh, safe to eat, and of the highest quality -- which is what today's consumers demand," Valdimarsson said.

 

However, developing countries would have a particularly hard time making the transition to fully certifying their fisheries, he said.

 

These countries are struggling to comply with health and safety regulations on fish imports.  Valdimarsson explained. It is important that the FAO address the issue, he said.

 

He noted that  FAO, the fisheries and the aquaculture sector will need new resources to help the developing world's fisheries sector adapt.

 

Valdimarsson also criticised open fishing, noting that with open access, fishing becomes an extremely competitive, zero sum game, leaving little incentive to conserve the resource.

 

The result? Overfishing.

 

Valdimarsson stressed that this must change as the industry is required to state where, when and how a fish was caught.

 

Only fishermen who hold clear rights and are not obliged to outfish a large group of competitors would be able to operate with that level of transparency, he added.

 

This year's World Seafood Congress was co-organised by FAO, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Food Quality Certification Group, and Ireland's Sea Fisheries Protection Authority in collaboration with the International Association of Fish Inspectors and with the support of the Irish Sea Fisheries Board, Enterprise Ireland, and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

 

The congress has traditionally focused on seafood safety and quality issues, but environmental concerns have become more prominent in the congress in recent years.