New e-commerce platform launched to boost UK seafood sales

KuulFoods, a retail arm of software developer KuulGroup, has unveiled a new sales solution specifically aimed at giving the means to increase online trade to U.K. seafood companies.

Funding for the platform was provided by the Fish on Friday’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant Program (RRGP), which was developed by the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust (FCFCT) and Seafarers UK to assist food charities, fishing and seafood businesses impacted by the ongoing coronavirus situation.

KuulFoods said that it has been working closely with Fishmongers’ Company since the start of the crisis to build the solution. Coming at no cost to the user, it runs online orders and payments and includes a reporting tool for all sales, orders, revenues, and stock.

Adapted from another piece of technology used in the hospitality sector, the system has been designed to make it easy to sell seafood products online – both B2B and B2C – with little tech knowledge and no major investment. Businesses can choose to customize their online shops to fit with their company branding, or they can link their e-commerce page to a social media account.

The intention is to add to the solution with a customer app and a fully integrated electronic point of sale (EPOS) function in the summer.

KuulFoods’ Gary Pleece told SeafoodSource that the solution is a long-term program and is now onboarding its first customers.

“The e-commerce solution is good to go with a few enhancements in production. The in-store version will be ready in circa eight weeks,” he said.

According to the Fish on Friday project, the RRGP prioritizes initiatives that demonstrate collaborative working among stakeholders, with preference given to COVID-19 grant applications under GBP 10,000 (USD 12,259, EUR 11,195).

Job vacancy - Sales Management Assistant based in Penzance

Sales Management Assistant Penzance 

Role would involve contacting existing customers regarding orders, tele sales, taking orders via phone and email and managing delivery logistics. Occasionally would be required to oversee production. Experience in the fish sector is essential. Must have a good telephone manner and be able to work as part of a team. 

Start time would alternate from 5am to 9am. 

Salary is dependent on experience but starts from £25,000.

Please email a CV and any questions to emma@therealcornishcrabcompany.co.uk 

Seafish "Future of Our Inshore Fisheries" project outlined

The next steps for an ambitious and collaborative project which aims to improve how inshore fisheries are managed in the UK have been published. 

The industry-led steering group of the Future of Our Inshore Fisheries project has released both a report, detailing discussions from a conference held last year and an action plan, which sets out the first stage of practical actions to reform the management of UK inshore fisheries. At the heart of the project is the desire to establish an effective inshore fisheries management system that can deliver a viable and profitable inshore fishing industry that supports flourishing coastal communities. 

 
The two-day Future of Our Inshore Fisheries conference, which took place in October 2019, brought almost 180 representatives together to discuss the challenges faced by UK inshore fishermen. 

Participants included sixty active fishermen together with industry leaders, policy makers, regulators, researchers and representatives from environmental groups. Conference attendees heard examples of fisheries management solutions and best practice from around the world and considered their relevance to the UK’s inshore fisheries. Seen as the first milestone in the delivery of the project, the conference set out to ensure that the vital expertise and experience of active inshore fishermen set the priorities for the project’s next phase and inform its upcoming work. 

The Future of Our Inshore Fisheries conference report details the conference presentations, the findings from group discussion sessions and the results of live polling. While the report does not make specific recommendations, it does outline the key themes which emerged and captures the priority areas identified by participants. The report concludes by recognising that the scale of change which is wanted and needed is significant, and that developing and implementing solutions will take time. 

Based on the report’s findings, the steering group has identified five themes that will shape future work: co-management; collaborative science; credible fisheries management; rights and access; and effective compliance. The action plan is the first attempt to set out clear, deliverable actions across these themes that will be progressed over the next 12 – 18 months. Key actions include: 

1. Mapping inshore fisheries by species, stock and management status, and creating a database where this information is stored and updated annually. 
2. Establishing a formal process that enables scientists, industry and policy makers to collectively ‘peer review’ the science that is used to inform management decisions. 
3. Developing a ‘harvest strategy standard’ that will guide how inshore fisheries will be managed, with each fishery having a management target that helps set fishing effort and a series of triggers to guide if new management measures are needed. (New provisions for Fisheries Management Plans set out in the UK Government’s Fisheries Bill will allow for such new approaches to management.) 
4. Reviewing access across priority inshore fisheries to determine the optimal arrangements to prioritise sustainability, deal with excess capacity, address technological development and test new ways of allocating fishing opportunities.

A series of pilot studies will be used to test and refine the various initiatives. This will ensure that the experience and expertise of fishermen will directly inform the project, every step of the way. This project will also act as a focal point for a range of wider initiatives taking place across government and industry that will ultimately contribute to improved fisheries management. 

 
Commenting on the publication of the report and action plan, steering group chair Michel Kaiser, Professor of Fisheries Conservation at Heriot Watt University, said: 

“At the conference last year we heard about approaches to inshore fisheries management from around the world. Crucially, we also considered how well they might apply at home. With this next phase of work, we will start developing and testing some of the solutions to see what will work best for UK fisheries.” 

“The action plan is wide ranging and reflects the complex nature of the task ahead of us. Transforming how our inshore fisheries are managed will not be easy, will take time and there may well be mistakes along the way. Too often reasons have been found not to start this work, but with the industry and government collaborating we have an opportunity to get this right now.” 

“I firmly believe that the conference was a success because we had active fishermen in the room contributing their vital expertise and experience. This is the ethos we will maintain as we undertake this critical project and I am very pleased that we have inshore fishermen represented on the steering group.” 

Steering group member Barrie Deas, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation said: 

“The conference report is rich in energy, information and insight, informed by the participation of active fishermen. But it is of course not an end in itself; I doubt that we would have seen the engagement from fishermen across the country if our ambition was limited to producing a report. 

 
“I particularly welcome the publication of the action plan. Importantly, it builds on the conference outcomes and takes into account the priorities that conference attendees set. The individual projects in the plan represent the building blocks of a world class fisheries management system, and over time these have the potential to add up to a fundamental transformation. 

 
“We should be ambitious in wanting a fisheries management system that is truly sustainable, and which not only meets our environmental objectives but is also capable of meeting our social and economic needs at a national, regional and local level. 

 
“Clearly reforming our inshore fisheries is a long-term project, but this is a good start.” 

Steering group member and inshore fishermen Joel Dunn said: 

“I am involved in the Future of Our Inshore Fisheries project because I want to have a say in the future of inshore fisheries management. Obviously with covid-19 we have extra difficulties and pressures facing us as fishermen at the moment, so along with others on the steering group I had to think about whether this was the right time to launch the next phase of the initiative. In the end I decided that it was important to keep going so we can keep pushing for the changes inshore fishermen want and need. 

“I know and understand that some fishermen may not be able to get involved as much as they might like at the moment, but this is a long term project and there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved. If this project is to have any impact or benefit it is no good to let it drift, so I believe it is the right thing to do to get this next phase started.” 

The Future of Our Inshore Fisheries project was set up in January 2019. Six inshore fishermen who attended the conference joined the project steering group earlier this year to ensure that the insights of active fishermen continue to inform the process at a strategic level. 

The steering group also includes representatives from several fishermen’s representative bodies including National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO), Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers Organisation (ANIFPO) and the Coastal Producers Organisation (CPO). Others represented on the steering group include DEFRA, DAERA, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), CEFAS and the Association of IFCAs. The project is facilitated by Seafish, the public body that supports the £10bn UK seafood industry. 

Access the full report, the action plan and further information on the Future of Our Inshore Fisheries project.

Innovative Responses to the Pandemic

In recent months, the UK fisheries industry has had to rapidly respond to the changing national and global landscape in the face of the ongoing pandemic. In addition to support from governments, the industry has also taken steps independently to ensure its continued survival. This has resulted in a number of unique innovations, most notably in terms of trade and welfare support.

The APPG will be hosting an online public meeting for attendees to learn more about these initiatives, and to put their questions to the panel. The meeting will be taking place via Zoom on Thursday 4 June from 3pm to 4.30pm.

A panel of sector representatives will present on a number of innovative responses that are taking place across the UK. There will also be attention drawn to existing measures that have proved invaluable during this time. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A session, where all attendees are invited to submit questions for the panel. The meeting is a great opportunity for Parliamentarians and the industry to learn about the action taking place within the sector.

APPG Schedule 

2.50pm Attendees join via Zoom. See the Zoom Information Pack for more details. Please note that the event will be recorded. 

3.00pm Meeting begins with an introduction from Sheryll Murray MP, who will chair the session. 

3.10pm Chris Ranford - Community Engagement Lead, Seafood Cornwall Chris will talk about how Seafood Cornwall is supporting the Cornish fish supply chain, through the #FishToYourDoor initiative among others. 

3.18pm Bob McCoubrey - Owner, Mourne Seafood Bar Bob will talk about how his restaurant business has changed to become a drive-through fishmongers, also supporting local fishers. 

3.26pm Ben King - CEO, Pesky Fish Ben will discuss how his fishermen’s market and distribution model has adapted to support fishermen through direct sales to consumers. 

3.34pm Patrick Salmon - Owner, Alfred Enderby Ltd Patrick will speak on the role of his business in distributing produce directly to consumers, and support of the wider Grimsby seafood sector. 

3.42pm Martin Yorwarth - Fisherman and Fishmonger, Yorwarth Fresh Fish Martin will discuss how he has collaborated with local fishers, expanded sales to rural communities, and his links with providing meals for the homeless. 

3.50pm Q&A and discussion. Questions will be taken first from MPs and Peers and then opened to the floor. 

4.30pm Meeting ends. 

fisheriesappg.org @FisheriesAPPG Twitter On Twitter? 

Contribute to the discussion online using #FishingResponses.

Information on speakers and the event schedule is available here.

If you wish to attend, or for further information, contact us at secretariat@fisheriesappg.org.

Breton fishermen in an "extremely worrying" situation

The situation of the Breton fishing and aquaculture sector is "extremely worrying" at this beginning of deconfinement, alerted on Tuesday the president of the Regional committee of maritime fisheries of Brittany, Olivier Le Nezet, making being of a letter in this sense to the government.

"The situation is extremely complicated," said Olivier Le Nezet, also head of the Breizhmer association, which brings together players in the Breton fishing and aquaculture sector.

"The impact of Covid-19 on the industry is much greater now than during confinement," he said.

In a letter addressed to the government and dated Monday, he explains that the "market cannot absorb all the landings", while most of the ships have set to sea.

"The prices have collapsed and even when the catches find buyers, the armaments are far below the profitability thresholds", continues the missive of which AFP obtained a copy.

The resumption of catering activity "will not be enough to reverse the trend", believes Olivier Le Nezet, judging that the situation is worsened "by an unprecedented resumption of imports of fishery products since the beginning of containment".

"These imports at abnormally low prices are neither accidental nor anecdotal. It is obvious that the British fishery, at the origin of many of these imports, takes advantage of this situation to settle on the French market and strengthen its position in the ongoing Brexit negotiations ", denounces the sector in its letter to the Prime Minister and the Ministers of the Economy, Foreign Affairs and Agriculture.

"Since the gradual deconfinement, with the return to the sea of ​​more notably deep-sea vessels, the market has just stalled at the start of the week," explains the National Fisheries Committee in a letter addressed to the Minister of Agriculture Didier Guillaume on Thursday.

"Even if the health situation seems to improve, the market is not able to absorb a + normal + level of production", he continues, asking the State to continue to support the sector by maintaining temporary stops and partial activity grants until the end of September.

First fish auction for June.

Hake netter, Stelissa Berthed alongside the fish market at high water..

 to make landing easier...

the first full trip of MSC hake to come ashore for the month of June...

with young Ryan at the helm for this trip...

keeping the nation supplied with the finest hake on the market this morning...

along with quality flats...

and monk from the St Georges...

let's hope the prices held up for skipper-in-waiting Danny...

as the guys continue to practice social distancing...

there's plenty of work still to be done on the Ajax following her sale...

while across the quay the big crabber Nicola of Ladram lands to a French vivier lorry...

harbourmaster Rob Parsons cuts a dashing figure with his increasingly silvery Clooney-like locks...

while young Peter Bullock looks for that spanner that he knows can't be far...

as he gives his new punt some early summer maintenance...

the Belgian beamer Rubens...

lands her fish to the back of a lorry which will take her trip back across the channel to the fish auction in Zeebrugge... 

looks like Barry has his work cut out to make the new keel fit on his Boy Brax...

lost pots picked up by the Nimord...

new pots being rigged...

as Windcat 40 heads for a berth.

Morrisons: “We are selling 60% more British fish now than we do normally”

Fathom podcast, in conversation with Morrisons supermarket, finds glimmers of hope for seafood sales under trying COVID conditions.

In a special, feature episode - commissioned following direct input from fishermen on what they want to hear on the UK’s only commercial fishing podcast - the Fathom team welcomed Sophie Throup of Morrisons, and Mark Greet and Edward Polley of Falfish seafood processors for a wide-ranging conversation about the UK’s taste for British fish during lockdown.

At the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, supermarkets across the country chose to close fresh fish counters - a decision described by Paul Trebilcock of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO) as ‘counter-intuitive’ and ‘causing frustration at the quayside’. Challenged on this decision by the Fathom host, Sophie Throup - Head of Agriculture, Fisheries & Sustainable Sourcing at Morrisons - was candid in her response: “Everyone started behaving and shopping very differently - stockpiling toilet rolls and pasta. As a business we had to concentrate on helping customers move through the stores as quickly and safely as possible - closing counters meant we could focus our efforts on keeping shelves stocked”. The characteristic back-and-forth of fishmongers counters also presented a risk for retailers, with Throup adding: “Fish counters are about exchanging knowledge and information - personal contact - this is why they were shut right at the beginning”.

As shopping conditions changed, Morrisons - who source British fish via Falfish in the South-West - have spear-headed the reintroduction of fresh fish sales in supermarkets through developing a ‘British fish box’, putting a new emphasis on selling UK species. Asking if this represented a wider move towards ‘British produce for British customers’, Paul Trebilcock suggested this could represent a ‘new normal’ in the post-COVID consumer landscape. Responding, Throup noted that Morrisons “haven’t altered the range of seafood we’re selling, but what we have altered is the volume - we are selling 60% more British fish now than we do normally”. Throup added this includes a 1400% increase in sales of dover sole, and an 83% increase in sales of monkfish - something she characterised as ‘phenomenal’.

Emphasising how the ongoing lockdown conditions have changed how the public approaches seafood, Edward Polley of Falfish commented: “Under this period of lockdown, whilst people have been forced to stay at home, it’s also encouraged them to cook at home - and people are starting to eat more seafood at home. [People are discovering] how easy and simple seafood can be - the beauty is there’s something for every budget”

Whilst some sectors, the shellfish sector in particular, are still struggling to access much-needed export markets, Fathom hosts Paul Trebilcock and Chris Ranford reflected on how this difficult period could act ‘as a foundation’ for the future of fish sales in the UK - with strong communication between links in the supply chain paying dividends for buyers of all sizes, and for development of the domestic market: “Let’s hope the new norm is 60% increase in sales of British fish - let’s keep going in that direction!”

Listen to the episode in full here: https://cfpo.org.uk/the-fathom-podcast/