CONSENSUS main stakeholders European Consumers Organisation (BEUC) TEST ACHATS (Euroconsumers) European Bureau for Conservation Development (EBCD) Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) European Mollusc Producers Association (EMPA) European Feed Manufacturers’ Assocation (FEFAC)
Coordinated by EAS
What has CONSENSUS delivered? • Stakeholders defining desired trends & 78 indicators for sustainable aquaculture • A new Code of Conduct of the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers • Science-based factual information for European Consumer organisations
What’s on consumers’ minds
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Isn’t wild fish superior to farmed fish?
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Aren’t farmed fish unhappy?
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Isn’t fish farming just intensive factory farming?
Is fish farming really the answer to rising demand?
Our consumer partners European Consumers’Organisation (BEUC) www.beuc.eu 41 national associations in 30 countries
EUROconsumers 22 magazines in 5 countries and languages >2 million subscribers
What’s on their minds? • • • •
Food policy – EU & national Labelling & legislation Food chain & product (market) issues Protecting the consumer Lifestyle diseases Obesity Child nutrition & health Safety issues incl. HACCP
They want & need more information • Public interest is growing • More questions from their members • They are formulating their own position on aquaculture
Main messages • Health researchers agree that we should eat more seafood. • We are told to make sustainable choices. • There is not enough sustainable seafood. • Aquaculture can bridge the gap by demonstrating its sustainability. • Research shows that the sector has already come a long way.
Elements of messages •
on sustainable and ethical production
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on how aquaculture (management) can control contaminants in farmed fish
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on nutritional benefits of farmed fish & shellfish
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on European initiatives and governance
So how do we move forward?
- the project stops but the need goes on…
We need to keep consumers as the focus of our attention! A consumer platform (later Council), with representatives of BEUC and their member associations EUROconsumers conservation & development organisations (EBCD, IUCN Med) aquaculture producers (FEAP, EMPA, FEFAC) retailers (GLOBALGap)
Key objectives Assess current knowledge of consumer attitudes and perceptions of aquaculture as a food production sector Highlight key sustainability issues Find novel communication strategies to reposition the wild versus farmed mindset
Key objectives (2) Develop regular and balanced information for consumers and non-specialists Provide summaries of European RTD, grouped together by the sustainability issues identified Organise regional workshops that develop feedback and exchange of dialogue from associations and feed into policy
“The proposal put forward by the European Aquaculture Society to set up a platform that will bring industry, environmental NGOs and consumers together which I have already mentioned earlier on should be supported. I will ensure that my Services look at ways to actively support this”. Commissioner Joe Borg
"European Aquaculture and its Opportunities for Development", Brussels, 16 November 2007
Towards Sustainable Aquaculture in Europe
www.euraquaculture.info
“Our farm is 100 hectares and shelters migrating birds and protected animal species. Carp production is one of our activities, but we have others. Sustainability is about safeguarding our water heritage through management of these Photo ponds, courtesy: L. Varadi which have been here for 800 years”.
“Shellfish farmers are the gardeners of the sea. Our trays and beds stabilise the substrate and reduce coastal erosion. Sustainability is being able to produce high quality, safe, shellfish in pristine waters, not polluted by other activities” Photo courtesy: F. Vidal
“We focus on feed management. Sustainability is being able to produce fish in the best possible conditions for them, and without adverse effects on the seabed”
Photo source: Fish Farming Xpert – Oct07
“To me, sustainability is about handing on my knowledge and experience to my son/daughter”
