Key Achievements of the VeriFish Project in 2024

A Journey of Collaboration and Progress

Since its launch in May 2024, the VeriFish project has embarked on an inspiring journey to redefine how we communicate and understand sustainable seafood practices. Starting with the Kick-Off Meeting in Brussels, where partners gathered to align on the project’s vision and goals, we have built a strong foundation for a transformative two-year mission.

The Kick-Off Meeting: Laying the Groundwork
In May, representatives from all project partners convened in Brussels to set the stage for VeriFish. The meeting served as a crucial milestone to establish the roadmap for developing the sustainability indicator framework, communication strategies, and the various media products envisioned. This initial collaboration fueled the momentum that carried us through 2024.

VeriFish members during the Kick of Meeting (Brussels, 2024)

Progressing Through Key Meetings
As the year unfolded, the consortium held pivotal meetings, including the technical workshop in Tromsø hosted by Nofima in September, where the focus was on refining the indicator framework. The collaboration brought together experts in aquaculture, fisheries, and data science to ensure the framework addressed environmental, social, and nutritional dimensions. These discussions also laid the groundwork for innovative tools like the VeriFish mobile app and media products.

VeriFish members after a hard work session in Nofima
(Tromsø, September 2024)

Building the Indicator Framework
A cornerstone of the project, the sustainability indicator framework was drafted this year. By integrating environmental, social, and nutritional dimensions, the framework empowers stakeholders—ranging from producers and retailers to policymakers and consumers—to make informed and responsible seafood choices.

Engaging Media Products
In 2024, we launched the first VeriFish video trailer, a visually compelling introduction to the project’s mission. This marked the beginning of our journey to create impactful media products aimed at increasing awareness and promoting responsible consumption.

Establishing the Community of Practice
Recognizing the importance of collaboration, VeriFish successfully established a Community of Practice. This growing network brings together producers, retailers, policymakers, and consumers to share knowledge, refine tools, and ensure the project’s relevance and impact.

Expanding Our Digital Presence
Our website now features the Interactive Aquafood Insights section, designed to educate and engage users with tools like polls, questionnaires, and accessible resources. This digital platform provides an entry point for stakeholders and consumers to explore sustainable seafood practices.

Collaborations and Industry Engagement
VeriFish has been active in global discussions on sustainable seafood, participating in major events such as:

  • The METROFOOD-EPI Open Event in Rome, where we showcased the potential of our indicators to align with sustainable food practices.
  • The Catch Welfare Platform Conference, where we collaborated with Nofima to present welfare communication indicators, advancing the dialogue on seafood sustainability.
  • Engagements at Conxemar Congress and AQUA2024, connecting with global experts and gathering valuable feedback for our tools.

Looking Ahead to 2025
As we prepare for 2025, VeriFish is poised for even greater achievements. Plans include:


📲 Launching the prototype VeriFish mobile app.
📘 Rolling out multilingual factsheets and engaging media products like children’s recipe books and educational games.
🌍 Expanding the indicator framework to a broader audience, hosting consultations, and enhancing community engagement through our CoP.

From the Kick-Off Meeting to the achievements of 2024, the VeriFish journey has been one of collaboration, innovation, and progress. We are deeply grateful to our partners, stakeholders, and supporters for their contributions and look forward to continuing this transformative work together in 2025.

Together, we are shaping a more transparent and sustainable future for seafood practices.

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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.