The PrimeFish project bridges gaps between seafood industry and science in its First Annual Meeting
PrimeFish held its First Annual Meeting in Parma from 12th to 14th April. Scientists and industry representatives got to know the latest outcomes from this H2020 project. Latest findings on economic performance, supply chain relations and seafood market trends, as well as a preliminary sketch of the PrimeDSS (Decission Support System) were presented during the gathering. A consortium of 14 research centers of the European Economic Area together with 2 centers based in Canada and Viet Nam boosted this initiative with the support of the prestigious European research programme Horizon 2020.
The European project PrimeFish is developing a web application that will improve the competitiveness of fisheries and aquaculture companies. A mockup of PrimeDSS (PrimeFish Decision Support Tool) was introduced to the attendants, explaining how the tool will meet their needs and the challenges they are facing. For example, this web-based tool will include a “Product Success Check” module allowing companies to analyse which factors may influence the success or failure of a new product.
The tool will support companies in their decision-making process helping them to enhance their competitiveness in local, European and international markets. After a discussion session among participants, the meeting ended with a speed-dating session between project and industry members with the aim of enhancing dialogue between both sides and improving the final outcome of PrimeFish. Precisely, accuracy of data and the diversity of seafood consumption habits among nationalities were often mentioned as some of their concerns.
European sectors of fishing and aquaculture were represented with a dozen of participants from companies, associations and governments. Among them, Mike Park, CEO of the Scottish White Fish Producers’ Association (SWFPA); Aurora de Blas, Deputy Director General of Fisheries Economics from Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Javier Ojeda, general manager of APROMAR and member of the Spanish Economic and Social Council, Marco Gilmozzi, CEO of Cosa Acquacoltura and vicepresident of FEAP, and Yannis Pelekanakis, general manager of the Federation of Greek Mariculture.
The activity of the project has focused on the analysis of the competitiveness of the fisheries sector (mainly cod and pelagic fishes as herring) and aquaculture (trout, salmon, sea bream, sea bass and pangasius), the relations in the value chains of these species, the major consumer and market trends, and on enabling stakeholders interaction with the European seafood actors.
During this first year, PrimeFish has held 20 meetings with representatives of companies from Spain, Italy, Greece, Denmark, Germany, Norway, United Kingdom, Iceland, Canada and Vietnam. These interactions have served to identify the main concerns of the fishing and aquaculture industry and look for solutions, for instance, to variability on prices, adaptation of products to the market needs or variable costs of seafood production.
Next week, the PrimeFish project will participate in the Seafood Expo Global in Brussels on 26th and 27th April in the Xunta de Galicia booth (#7-1617 and #7-1517). You can contact our team at primefish@cetmar.org.
