Transcript Pandemic planning at UCLH

A consumer view on
strategy for a sustainable
aquaculture and the CFP
Dr John Godfrey
For BEUC
(ACFA WG2 - 3 June 2010)
“Building a sustainable future for
aquaculture” COM(2009) 162 final
• These Commission proposals to EP and Council
herald a much improved strategy for aquaculture
• This will benefit consumers a lot. However:
• Aquaculture has grown during the time stocks of
wild fish have decreased, due to overfishing
• If fish stocks recover, with a better CFP
– increased catches will create a market
problem for farmed fish, though it will
benefit consumers
Fish consumption and public health
The Commission proposals do not take full
account of the potential benefits of fish
consumption for the health of consumers
– DG Health and Consumer Policy might well
support this positive view. - So far their main
interest has been in avoiding food risks from
fish. While important, that is a less significant
human health issue
Aquaculture and market issues
• Probably most consumers do not distinguish
farmed from wild caught fish
– But it is essential that those who do wish to choose
between them have the information on origin that they
need
• As mentioned by the Commission, there is in
general greater consumer demand for
carnivorous fish but, to reduce risks to wild fish
caught as feed, acceptable vegetable feeding
alternatives need research and development
Aquaculture and aid
European public financial aid for aquaculture
is needed for research and development,
but should not be needed more generally.
However it may become essential if climate
change produces serious problems for
wild and farmed fish. Has DG Climate
Action considered this issue?
A possible future for trade
International agreement on climate change may
depend on progress towards a convergence in
living standards between nations.
One consequence of this would be greater
demand for fish in what are at present poorer
countries. Already people in China, with rapid
economic growth, and to a lesser extent in India,
are eating more animal protein.
So, in Europe, the price of imported fish in relation
to other foods will probably increase.