Trust IT Services, EUROFISH International Organization
The document outlines the launch of the VeriFish project, which commenced in Brussels on 14 May 2024. Funded by the Horizon Europe programme under the "Choose your fish: a campaign for responsible consumption of products from the sea" call, VeriFish aims to enhance the communication of sustainable seafood consumption through a comprehensive indicator framework. This framework will provide verifiable sustainability indicators, integrating data from various sources such as FAO Global Record of Stocks and Fisheries and FISHBASE. The project will develop a prototype web application, media products, and recommendations for stakeholders, including retailers and the hospitality sector, to improve understanding and promote responsible seafood consumption. Additionally, the project will produce educational materials for diverse audiences, including children. VeriFish is a collaborative effort involving eight international partners and will run for 24 months, concluding in April 2026.
The VeriFish Communication and Editorial Plan aims to effectively disseminate project results and engagewith stakeholders through various media channels. These live tools will ensure communication alignedwith project activities and stakeholder needs.A co-ordinated 24-month Communication, Dissemination, Outreach and Education strategy under WP3has been designed, built around specific communication and exploitation campaigns for raisingawareness of the project, measurable results, overall scientific benefits and impacts, and measures forreaching end-users and other stakeholders.Key activities include designing a visual identity, developing a public website, executing social media,publishing newsletters and articles, creating educational and promotional media products, andorganising events, such as the VeriFish conference. Regular monitoring through analytics tools, GoogleAnalytics, will enable adjustments to optimise communication strategies.This comprehensive plan will ensure that all stakeholders can be informed and potentially engagedthroughout the project lifecycle, maximising impact of project activities and outputs. This is the firstversion of the Communication plan (D3.1), which will be updated as needed during the project. Resultsarising from this Communication, Dissemination, Outreach and Education strategy will be reported inD3.6 Communication, stakeholder engagement final report (M24).
This deliverable defines a comprehensive suite of indicators designed to assess and communicate sustainability in the aquafood sector, specifically focusing on capture fisheries, aquaculture, and nutrition. These indicators address critical dimensions of sustainability, environmental, and nutritional impacts, providing a measurable and evidence-based foundation for evaluating sustainability.
Fisheries indicators: A suite of 21 indicators has been identified to measure sustainability in capture fisheries. These indicators include stock status metrics such as BMSY (biomass at maximum sustainable yield) and FMSY (fishing mortality at maximum sustainable yield), which assess whether fish populations are harvested within ecological limits. Indicators for ecosystem impacts evaluate habitat disruption, trophic effects, and bycatch rates, with a particular focus on vulnerable or endangered species. Climate-related indicators, such as CO2 emissions per kilogram of landed catch, highlight the carbon footprint of fishing activities and the environmental impact of gear types. Additional metrics address governance, such as compliance with fisheries management plans and efforts to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. These indicators are critical for monitoring the health of fish stocks, minimising ecological harm, and ensuring long-term viability of marine resources.
Aquaculture indicators span a range of environmental, economic, and operational aspects, reflecting the complexity of this sector, as well as provide insights into the sustainability of aquaculture practices. Key metrics include feed efficiency, such as the food conversion ratio, and the use of wild-caught marine ingredients in feeds, which have implications for marine food webs. Indicators for waste and pollution, such as nutrient emissions and plastic reuse or recycling, assess the environmental footprint of aquaculture facilities. Habitat impact metrics evaluate site selection and potential alterations to surrounding ecosystems.Biosecurity measures, including antimicrobial use and disease management practices, reflect efforts to mitigate risks to animal health and productivity.
Nutrition indicators focus on the composition and health benefits of aquafoods. These include high-quality protein content, which is essential for muscle maintenance and overall health, and the presence of omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, which support heart and brain health. Micronutrient indicators vitamins andminerals, such as vitamin D, selenium, and iodine, which are vital for immune function, bone health, and metabolic processes. The indicators also consider energy content, sodium, and the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fats, reflecting the overall nutritional profile of aquafood. These metrics align with public health objectives, promoting aquafood as a nutrient-dense, potentially climate-friendly protein source.
The indicators provide a basis for a rigorous framework for evaluating sustainability across fisheries, aquaculture, and nutrition. They are grounded in scientifically validated methodologies and reflect key priorities such as biodiversity conservation, resource efficiency, and public health. By enabling the measurement and communication of sustainability in the aquafood sector, these indicators can support informed decision-making and foster a more sustainable future for this vital sector in Europe.
Uploaded on December 11, 2024
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David Bassett
Employed by EATiP since 2017, David is responsible for the day-to-day management and direction of this European wide multi-actor ETP.
Working in the aquaculture industry since 2005, including a decade as the executive of a UK producer association, he has been active in numerous projects from the sixth Framework Programme. Among other roles, David has served as a director of the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum and served on the Technical Advisory Group of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC TAG) alongside being invited as a guest lecturer at the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling (UK).
In addition to working on multiple Horizon Europe projects David is one of the Technical Experts assisting with the implementation of the EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism in addition to chairing the research focus group of the Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC) and sitting on the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research – Fish Committee (SCAR-Fish).
For further information on EATiP please see www.eatip.eu
Paul Bulcock
Paul Bulcock is responsible for developing and maintaining aquaculture information in SFP’s systems (e.g., FishSource, AIP Directory, Metrics). He also supports development and implementation of aquaculture strategy through research and analysis.
Paul has extensive program support and aquaculture research experience (particularly in Southeast Asia), having worked for the Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific (NACA) and DFID’s Aquaculture and Fish Genetics Research Programme (AFGRP) at the Institute of Aquaculture, in Stirling, UK. He has an MSc in aquaculture from the University of Stirling and a BSc in marine and fisheries zoology from the University of Aberdeen.
Paul is based in the UK, in Glasgow, Scotland.
Fabio Grati
A fishery biologist presently employed at the National Research Council, Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (Ancona, Italy), he brings to the table more than thirty years of expertise in marine environmental conservation and sustainable resource management. Over the course of his career, he has overseen and participated in numerous international projects focused on understanding and mitigating anthropic impacts on marine ecosystems. Since 2019, he holds a membership in the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) under the European Commission. Within this role, he has chaired two STECF Expert Working Groups (EWG 22-12 and EWG 23-18), where he led efforts to establish scientifically robust yet accessible criteria and indicators for assessing the sustainability of fisheries products.
Andrea Fabris
Andrea Fabris born 11.08.1968, Italian, has a Veterinary Medicine full graduation achieved at the University of Parma. He has also a Specialization in “Farming, Hygiene, Pathology of Aquatic Species and Control of Derivative Products ” achieved at Udine University and a Specialization in “Animal Feeding” obtained at Bologna University.
Actually (from May 2016) he is Director of Associazione Piscicoltori Italiani (API – Italian Fish Farmers Association). At National level behalf of API he is member of some working groups at the General Direction for Fisheries and Aquaculture of Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Italian Ministry of Health regarding aquaculture EU rules and their implementation at national and regional level, and member of Exotic Species Aquaculture Committee – Italian Ministry of Agriculture. Lecturer on in training /courses organized by Ministry of Health, Universities and Local Veterinary Authorities; member of Board of Directors of SIPI (Italian Society of Fish Pathology).
He is also involved at international level with the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) as Chairman of FEAP Fish Health and Welfare Commission. Andrea is part of the FVE (Federation of Veterinarians Europe) Aquaculture Working Group, and of FishMedPlus Coalition, and from the beginning member of Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC) where is actually Chair of WG1 – Finfish.
He published as an author or co-author about 30 articles on international and national scientific journals concerning Fish pathology and Aquaculture and more than 60 issues on divulgative (fishermen and aquaculture producers associations) publications
Anne Marie Cooper
Anne shapes global sustainable fisheries and aquaculture policies through her work at the science-policy interface. Driven by a commitment to improving human lives and aquatic ecosystems, she serves as the Professional Officer for Fisheries and Aquaculture Advice at the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in Copenhagen, Denmark. Anne leads ICES’ efforts in developing and applying methods to provide scientific advice on data-limited fish and shellfish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic, covering over 60% of ICES stocks. She also heads the development of ICES’ advisory framework for sustainable aquaculture. Before joining ICES, Anne advised on national fisheries, aquaculture, climate, and marine science policy in the US Senate, House of Representatives, and NOAA. She holds a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology and Development Studies and Social Change Theory and an M.Sc. in Fisheries Science from the University of Minnesota.
Pedro Reis Santos
Pedro Reis Santos is Secretary General of the Market Advisory Council (MAC), a stakeholder-led advisory body to the European Commission and to the Member States on matters relevant for the EU market of fishery and aquaculture products, as foreseen by the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation.
Before his appointment, in July 2019, as Secretary General, Mr Reis Santos worked as a consultant for a Brussels-based business intelligence service monitoring EU developments on fisheries, agriculture, food, animal welfare, alcohol and tobacco policy. Prior to that, he was a trainee at the Fisheries Unit of the Council of the European Union and a trainee at the Control Unit of the Portuguese Fisheries Authority.
Mr Reis Santos holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and a Master’s degree in International Law and International Relations from the University of Lisbon with a thesis titled “Marine Protected Areas beyond National Jurisdiction”. Besides his first language, Portuguese, he speaks English and Spanish
Irene Kranendonk
Irene Kranendonk is the Impact Manager at Fish Tales and a board member of the Fish Tales Foundation. Her work focuses on developing and guiding Fish Tales’ sourcing criteria including management of the environmental and social certification schemes. With the Fish Tales Foundation and local partner organizations, she drives social and environmental improvements in small scale fisheries. Irene holds a master’s degree from Wageningen University in Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management and is specialized in the field of fisheries ecology. In a previous role, Irene was sustainable seafood assessor for the Dutch seafood rating scheme the VISwijzer.
