A sustainable European fishing sector will not be achieved solely by controlling capture rates – balancing effort and exploitation – it also requires that producers, support infrastructure and communities are economically viable,

develop and have the means to adapt to changing markets. This fragile socioeconomic aspect is only sustainable if fishing is a commercially viable activity.

Catch volumes are, and are expected to remain, restricted and production costs high and rising (fuel costs unbearably so). Achieving a fair, sustainable, price for fish from Europe’s seas to counterbalance these facts is essential -value enhancement the key. EAFPA wish to explore the dynamics of this and initiate actions that can be taken to maximise the value of fresh fish within the wider marketplace.

To bring together ideas, stimulate positive initiatives and concerted action an international symposium is to be held in Cork onSeptember 3 to which key industry figures involved in the primary marketing process will be invited.

Speaker topics are expected to promote, perhaps even provoke, interaction and debate with discussion groups continuing over a working buffet lunch followed by positive examples of cooperative actions achieved, in development or formative.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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