The VeriFish project aims to to develop a framework of verifiable sustainability indicators, a prototype app, and a EU Good Practice recommendation and will create and distribute a range of media products to be distributed for free among a selection of the VeriFish stakeholders, and run outreach campaigns to inform and promote these assets among these stakeholder groups, as well as raise consumers' awareness about how to “choose sustainable seafood” based on scientifically verifiable indicators.
Within this context, WP3 is designing and prototyping several easy-to-use media products including:
Flashcards and Board games: Educational tools for children and adults to promote ocean health and sustainable seafood choices. The goal is to communicate people about the importance of ocean health through sustainable seafood choices.
Maps and Calendars: Raising awareness about sustainability and supporting informed seafood choices.
Educational Posters: Educational posters about seafood . These posters will focus on sustainability topics and highlight the importance of supporting local providers.
Additional media products that will be developed by VeriFish are a children's recipe book created in collaboration with nutritionists and food experts, and the VeriFish Guidelines providing user communities and key stakeholders (i.e., policymakers) with guidelines on the use of verifiable seafood indicators to improve communications about their products. These are described in two dedicated deliverables (D2.3 Guideline for the use of seafood verifiable indicators [August 2025 and D3.8 VeriFish recipe book [January 2026]) and are not included in this deliverable.
This deliverable presents the preliminary list of requirements and specifications gathered during a series of meetings organised to explore needs and expectations.
This deliverable outlines the functional and technical specifications of the VeriFish Mobile App, designed to support transparent communication about sustainable seafood choices. It builds upon the sustainability indicator framework developed in WP2 and responds directly to the project's mission of enabling citizens, producers, retailers, and stakeholders across the seafood value chain to make informed consumption decisions. The VeriFish Mobile App translates complex datasets into an accessible digital product, integrating data on nutrition, sustainability, biodiversity, and provenance.
The design of the application is user-centric, informed by mock-ups and requirements gathered through a series of stakeholder workshops. The Mobile App will serve as an intuitive front-end to the underlying VeriFish Knowledge Base (KB), presenting FAIR data from sources such as GRSF, FishBase, and EuroFIR within a unified interface. Users will primarily access the system through existing GRSF QR codes, which serve as unique identifiers (UUIDs), enabling seamless linkage between stock-level information and value-added content such as food composition, recipes, and sustainability scores. Ultimately, the Mobile App will be one of the core media products of VeriFish, serving as a flagship tool for engaging a broad range of user groups—from informed consumers to seafood retailers—with verifiable, actionable knowledge.
This document details the system architecture, key components, APIs, data flows, and user interaction models.
VeriFish aims to offer a comprehensive framework of sustainability indicators, integrating data from trusted sources to assess environmental, social, and health-related factors in aquafood production, with the ultimate objective of allowing industry professionals and consumers alike to make informed decisions based on transparent, verifiable data.
This deliverable follows D2.1 - Indicator Framework Defined, which defined a comprehensive suite of indicators that might be used to assess and communicate sustainability in the aquafood sector, focusing on fisheries, aquaculture, and human health.
The indicator framework is built around three pillars, each addressing a critical dimension of sustainability to provide a holistic approach to assessing and communicating sustainability of aquafood. These pillars are: (a) Environmental, (b) Nutrition, and (c) Social and Economic, and serve as a backbone for sustainability assessment and communication.
In contrast, this deliverable focuses on: (a) practical application of these indicators (Section 2), and (b) data sources that can be used for implementation of the framework (Sections 3,4 and 5). More specifically, we catalogue and describe key data sources, detailing their coverage, and relevance, and explain access and processing of these data. Moreover, we map data sources to specific indicators, clarifying how each source contributes to describing sustainability across the different pillars. A matrix is also presented that aligns data sources with the indicators in the framework (Section 6). Overall, the final version of the framework comprises 84 indicators distributed across the three main pillars, each further categorised into specific sub-pillars. In addition, more than 35 relevant data sources have been identified and described to support the application and monitoring of these indicators.
The VeriFish initial recommendations for how to efficiently communicate to consumers about seafood are designed to be a useful tool for the seafood industry when designing seafood campaigns with the aim of increasing seafood consumption.
This report (D4.1 – Initial Recommendation for how to efficiently communicate to consumers about seafood) is linked to task 4.1, where input and experiences from WP2 and WP3, existing literature and knowledge on the issue is used to make an initial Good Practice recommendation on how to efficiently communicate to consumers about seafood and how to organise sustainable seafood consumption campaigns. Relevant communication strategies for consumer types, geographical areas, seafood types and media types, including characteristics of the products to highlight for different cases and how to present them are outlined.
Results from this will ultimately be published as a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA), which may serve as a foundation for a potential future ISO standard. The upcoming CWA from WP4 of VeriFish builds on this document, the indicator framework developed in WP2, and the communication strategies documented in WP3.
Following the introduction, the report is structured to guide the reader through the development of recommendations on how to efficiently communicate to consumers about seafood. In chapter 2 Consumer types, different aspects related to communication towards different segments of seafood consumers are addressed and elaborated, including geographical considerations. Within chapter 3 Seafood types seafood is categorized into groups with the aim of both including all seafood, but also bearing in mind the possibility of reconciling them with different consumer types where it can be appropriate to communicate different information about seafood. Because of the aims and complexity in grouping seafood, there is also a section with rationale behind rejected seafood type categorizations to be found as appendix (chapter 8). In 4 Communication strategies some essential considerations when planning how to communicate information about seafood to different types of audience is elaborated. Ultimately in chapter 5 Recommendations a comprehensive table of initial VeriFish recommendations for how to efficiently communicate to consumers about seafood sums it all up with specific recommendations per consumer type and seafood type. In 6 Examples there are two case examples of how the table of recommendations in chapter 5 Recommendations can be used in practice. In addition, we tested the use of the ChatGPT 4.0 app from OpenAI as a tool to plan and execute a marketing campaign for a seafood product as a case. The purpose was to assess the quality and documentation of the AI-generated output.
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.
The VeriFish Communication and Editorial Plan aims to effectively disseminate project results and engage with stakeholders through various media channels. These live tools will ensure communication aligned with project activities and stakeholder needs.A co-ordinated 24-month Communication, Dissemination, Outreach and Education strategy under WP3 has been designed, built around specific communication and exploitation campaigns for raising awareness of the project, measurable results, overall scientific benefits and impacts, and measures for reaching 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, and organising events, such as the VeriFish conference. Regular monitoring through analytics tools, Google Analytics, will enable adjustments to optimise communication strategies. This comprehensive plan will ensure that all stakeholders can be informed and potentially engaged throughout the project lifecycle, maximising impact of project activities and outputs. This is the first version of the Communication plan (D3.1), which will be updated as needed during the project. Results arising from this Communication, Dissemination, Outreach and Education strategy will be reported in D3.6 Communication, stakeholder engagement final report (M24).
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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.
Uploaded on August 02, 2024
2724
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.
