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Commercial Fishing

CATCH WELFARE PLATFORM TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON FISH WELFARE AND SUSTAINABILITY

CATCH WELFARE PLATFORM

Catch Welfare Platform to host second annual conference on fish welfare and sustainability, online on November 14-15, 2024, building on the success of last year’s inaugural event in Bergen, Norway. This global initiative, driven by industry and science, is dedicated to enhancing fish welfare in wild-capture fisheries, exploring solutions to minimise stress and injury during capture and processing.

Launched in 2023, the Catch Welfare Platform was founded by Wageningen University & Research, the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, Nofima, and Michelle Boonstra to bring together stakeholders from the fishing and seafood industries, researchers, and technology companies. Its goal is to foster innovation in welfare practices that support both sustainability and economic viability in fisheries.

Major retail partners, including the UK’s Marks & Spencer and the Netherlands’ Albert Heijn, have joined fisheries organizations worldwide in aligning with the platform’s objectives. The Catch Welfare Platform aims to advance practices that benefit welfare, sustainability, product quality, and the shelf life of wild-caught fish.

A key priority of the Platform is amplifying the fishing industry’s voice in the welfare conversation. Through knowledge-sharing and realistic expectation-setting, the platform encourages practical, profitable solutions that support fish welfare.

Michelle Boonstra, Project Manager of the Catch Welfare Platform, expressed enthusiasm for the conference’s diverse agenda. “We believe the conference will provide invaluable insights into the future of fish welfare,” Boonstra said. Topics will include Norway lobster (Nephrops) research and methods in tuna fisheries like pole-and-line and purse seining.

Highlights of the conference include a presentation from Mike Breen on the WelTuna project, an initiative aiming to improve the welfare of Atlantic bluefin tuna during rod-and-line fishing in Norway. “We’re studying tuna stress responses during capture to see how the fight affects meat quality,” Breen explained. His team employs cameras and monitoring tools to study tuna from strike to landing, enhancing welfare and sustainability. The WelTuna project involves commercial and recreational fishers in refining handling techniques to reduce stress and improve both fish quality and fishery sustainability.

Another notable speaker is Themistoklis Altintzoglou, a consumer researcher from Nofima with over 15 years of experience. Altintzoglou will discuss how consumer attitudes toward fish welfare influence purchasing decisions. “I’ll present how consumers view catch welfare and respond to specific welfare information,” he noted. His research addresses topics like reducing food waste and improving product quality, underscoring consumer perception’s role in sustainable fishing.

The Catch Welfare Platform Online Conference promises to be a pivotal event for anyone interested in consumer behaviour, sustainability, and fish welfare. With a strong line-up of speakers and diverse topics, the event offers essential insights into the future of sustainable fishing practices.

Registration Information

Participants interested in attending the Catch Welfare Platform Online Conference on November 14-15, 2024, should register in advance at catchwelfareplatform.com, where the full programme is also available.

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