Seafish, the public body supporting the UK's £6bn seafood industry, is urging its various sectors to unite in boosting consumption to make Seafish's vision of a thriving seafood industry a reality.
The call comes from Seafish as it publishes its new three-year Corporate Plan, which introduces a bigger focus on pushing the UK Government's recommended advice that people should eat two portions of seafood a week.
Recent research conducted by Seafish revealed that 72% of adults do not know that they should be eating two portions of seafood a week, one of which should be oily. This, coupled with stagnant consumer demand for seafood and strong competition from other proteins, has been recognised as an important issue for the seafood industry. It is one of the key challenges for Seafish in the 2018 - 2021 Corporate Plan.
The plan sets out a bold vision for a thriving seafood sector. Increased consumption is a key factor, which will bring benefits beyond the supply chain, creating prosperity, bringing job opportunities, contributing to sustainable communities and improving the health and wellbeing of the public.
Seafish has worked closely with its three industry panels which represent the seafood industry from catch to plate to identify the issues and challenges that matter most.
As well as boosting consumption, Seafish will address four other critical challenges over the next three years:
- Changing Landscape - A changing political, economic and regulatory landscape as the UK exits the EU.
- Safe & Skilled Workforce - Competing with other food production sectors for access to a suitably skilled workforce, while addressing complex challenges around workplace safety.
- Good Source & Supply - Sourcing sustainable seafood in an increasingly competitive global market, alongside continued public concern over practices that compromise human welfare and the environment.
- Deep Insight - Successfully accessing the data, information and knowledge that will ensure the sector is equipped to understand and respond innovatively to a changing environment.
Seafish CEO, Marcus Coleman, said:
"We believe seafood is the way forward for business, communities, the environment and for personal health and wellbeing.
"Our new Corporate Plan's message is clear. We want to unite the industry with a common purpose - a thriving seafood industry for all. Getting more people to eat more seafood, more often plays a big part in that but we want to support the industry with issues like Brexit and responsible sourcing too.
"We are in a unique position to offer an industry-wide outlook and work in partnership with the sector to overcome the challenges it will face in