On June 12, 2025, as part of the United Nations Ocean Decade Conference, the virtual side event “Can We Still Eat Seafood? Adopting Responsible Consumption and Production of Seafood and Aquaculture Products to Protect Marine Biodiversity” brought together experts, innovators, and stakeholders from across the seafood value chain. Co-organized by two Horizon Europe-funded projects, Mr.Goodfish3.0 and VeriFish, both part of the EU Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030”, the event explored the essential role of informed seafood choices in safeguarding marine biodiversity and supporting resilient coastal livelihoods.
Navigating a Complex Value Chain
With marine ecosystems under increasing pressure and public interest in sustainable diets rising, the webinar emphasized a fundamental challenge: how can consumers make responsible seafood choices if they don’t have access to trustworthy information?
Speakers and panelists addressed the urgent need for transparent, traceable, and accessible data throughout the seafood value chain. They also acknowledged the intricacies of seafood labeling, especially post-harvest for wild catch, where gaps often obscure origin, handling, and sustainability details.
The contribution to our discussion, moderated by Clara Boissenin (European Project Manager at Ecsite – The European Network of Science Centres & Museums), came from:
- Sara Pittonet Gaiarin, Senior Manager at Trust-IT Services
- Hélène Buisson, Project Officer in charge of the Mr.Goodfish Mission at Nausicaa Centre National de la Mer
- Alistair Lane, Executive Director at the European Aquaculture Society
- Siân Astley, Secretary General at EuroFIR AISBL
- Michelle Boonstra, Project Manager and Co-founder at Catch Welfare Platform
Key Issues Discussed
The discussion highlighted several pressing topics. A central concern was the lack of standardized, reliable information available to consumers who wish to make sustainable seafood choices. This issue is closely linked to ongoing challenges in seafood traceability and labeling, particularly in the post-harvest stages, which often obscure key details about origin and sustainability.
Participants also emphasized the vital role of responsible aquaculture in complementing wild fisheries, especially as demand for seafood continues to grow. In this context, the potential for integrating invasive species into sustainable seafood strategies was explored as both an environmental and economic opportunity.The sector is also grappling with significant economic pressures from rising operational costs to the persistent public perception of seafood as an expensive protein source.
At the same time, there is growing recognition of the need to incorporate animal welfare considerations into aquaculture and fisheries practices, ensuring that sustainability extends beyond environmental impacts.
Another challenge discussed was the limited public familiarity with underutilized and alternative seafood species, which presents both a barrier and an opportunity for more sustainable consumption patterns. Underpinning all of these issues is the transformative power of consumer behavior, if properly informed and supported, it can become a key driver of change across the entire seafood system.
Our Voluntary Commitment
The event concluded with the announcement of the voluntary commitment for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) by Daniel Hayes, Marine Research Director at the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute and coordinator of Mr.Goodfish3.0, on behalf of both projects.
His closing remarks focused on the joint effort and dynamics established by the projects, highlighting the way their collaboration contributes to more responsible consumption and production of seafood in Europe:
- Improve transparency and traceability
Develop and harmonize verifiable data systems across the seafood value chain, including post-harvest. - Empower consumers
Use digital tools and education to increase awareness of sustainable and lesser-known seafood species. - Promote co-creation
Engage fishers, aquaculturists, scientists, and consumers in the design of tools, policies, and campaigns. - Support responsible aquaculture
Encourage innovations in animal welfare, feed alternatives, and circular systems to reduce environmental impacts. - Encourage local and seasonal consumption
Provide science-based recommendations tailored to regional ecosystems and cultural habits.
- Enhance ocean literacy and youth engagement
Utilize schools, social media, and public campaigns to cultivate a new generation of informed seafood consumers.
A Call to Collective Action
The event underscored that protecting the ocean doesn’t mean giving up seafood, it means making better choices, based on solid information, collaborative innovation, and shared responsibility. Through initiatives like Mr.Goodfish 3.0 and VeriFish, new tools and knowledge are being developed to help consumers, producers, and policymakers act in the interest of both people and the planet.
As trying to answer our initial question, Can we still eat seafood?, we can indeed. But, as deeply remarked from our discussion: Informed choices today shape the ocean of tomorrow.
