Seafish South West launched to maximise seafood value - 26/02/2008

News release

26 February 2008

Seafish South West launched to maximise seafood value

Seafish South West, a one-year pilot project, has been launched to extend the scope of the work of Seafood Cornwall across the wider South West region.

Funded by Seafish, South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), Defra and the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG), the project aims to engage fishermen, merchants, processors and selling agents with the aim of ensuring that all sectors of the South West Fish Industry maximise the quality and value of all fish and shellfish landed. Seafish South West will seek to achieve this through marketing, working with crews and merchants to improve quality, study tours and assisting with development of new products.

Jon Harman, Development Director at Seafish said: “The South West lands the most fish by value in England and seafood from this area is renowned for its diversity and quality. This new organisation will cover from the Bristol Channel through to Landsend and up to Poole. It will work with fishermen and merchants to optimise the quality and marketing opportunities for seafood from the region by building on responsible fishing activities and sustainable initiatives.”

A dedicated newsletter and website have been established to support the project. The website www.seafishsouthwest.org.uk will have up-to-date news and information and a monthly newsletter will maintain the profile of the project.

Jim Portus, Chief Executive of the South Western Fish Producer Organisation Ltd welcomed the project saying: "This is an exciting initiative that will deliver to the rest of the region the wonderful things that the Seafood Cornwall project has achieved, including positively influencing fish producers, buyers and processors in Cornwall.

“We have watched with admiration the achievements delivered in the ports and boats of Looe and Newlyn. Fishers and merchants are already eagerly receiving advice on improving quality and productivity from the myriad species marketed in Brixham, Plymouth and Bideford.

“At the same time, other innovations in the catching sector are helping to reduce marine environmental impacts. The industry is taking itself through dramatic changes, with sustainability, traceability and profitability being the key objectives that Seafish South West will help deliver in the months ahead."

Ends

For more information contact:

Nathan de Rozarieux, nathan@seafoodcornwall.org.uk or on
01736 874304

Notes to editors:
• The Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) was established by the Government in 1981 and is a Non Departmental Public Body.  Seafish works with all sectors of the UK seafood industry – fishermen, seafood farmers, processors, distributors, wholesalers, importers, exporters, fish friers, caterers and retailers – delivering the expert knowledge, skills and support to help the UK seafood industry secure a sustainable and profitable future.

• Seafish South West is part-financed by the European Union through the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG), the structural fund for fisheries. FIFG aims to maintain a dynamic and competitive fishing industry and revitalise areas dependent on fishing. It is administered in the UK by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

• South West Food and Drink is supported by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA).  The Regional Economic Strategy has identified food and drink as a key sector in which to raise business productivity in order to benefit the economy of the region.  The Gross Value Added (GVA) being the return on the investment made by the Regional Development Agency (RDA) in the Food & Drink sector has been raised by 18% since the RDA investment in SWFD began in 2003.   For further information visit www.southwestfoodanddrink.com

• The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential. It works in partnership with public and private sector organisations and takes a long term view. Since 2002, the RDA has helped to:
Create or safeguard 30442 jobs
Create 69811 learning opportunities
Attract £494m of private sector investment
Support 1437 business start-ups
Reclaim 623 hectares of brownfield land
Find out more at www.southwestrda.org.uk