Seafish Wales Advisory Committee (SWAC)
The core membership of SWAC is representative of the Welsh industry, from fishing and aquaculture, distribution and processing, through to retail and foodservice. Welsh Government representatives, Natural Resources Wales and scientists also attend meetings to provide updates and information as required. SWAC therefore provides a useful platform for liaison between different Welsh seafood sectors and these other bodies.
With the support of Seafish, SWAC have developed a 'Wales Seafood Strategy' which outlines the Committee's for sustainable growth. The Strategy can be viewed in Welsh and English.
The agendas and minutes of all previous meetings are published and available to download on the right, once ratified by the Committee.
SWAC strategy, projects and reports
Seafish undertakes projects on behalf of the Welsh seafood industry, as directed by the Seafish Wales Advisory Committee (SWAC). Further information can be found below.
Wales Seafood Strategy
The Wales Seafood Strategy was developed by SWAC in close collaboration with Seafish and Welsh Government. The Strategy outlines the seafood industry's vision for a thriving, vibrant, safe, and sustainable seafood industry for Wales, with targets for 30% sustainable growth by 2025.
The Strategy presents six High Level Objectives that will contribute to achieving the overarching vision and targets:
- Maximise the economic and environmental performance of existing fisheries,
- Expand sustainable aquaculture production,
- Explore opportunities for new sustainable fisheries,
- Add value to fisheries and aquaculture products,
- Improve fishing safety and attractiveness of seafood industry as a career option
The Strategy identifies that the following key actions are required to deliver the above High Level Objectives:
- Establish a robust evidence-base for sustainable growth,
- Ensure regulatory frameworks and their interpretation are evidence based and fit-for-purpose,
- Facilitate sustainable investment and growth through improved access to capital, business support, and training,
- Promote the quality, provenance and sustainability of Welsh seafood products to enhance reputation and improve access to markets.
Current SWAC Projects
Improving fishing safety in Wales
Seafish are working closely with the Welsh Fishing Safety Committee (WFSC), Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to improve the safety of Welsh fishing vessels and fishermen whilst working at sea. Two projects are currently underway:
'WFSC Essential Safety Equipment' project
With the support of Seafish, the Welsh Fishing Safety Committee (WFSC)is offering owners of active, commercial Welsh-licensed Fishing Vessels grant-aided Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) with integrated Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) at a heavily discounted rate. Further information is available here.
'Wales Fishing Safety Awareness' project
This two year industry-led, insight-driven programme of communication and engagement activity is designed to increase commercial fishermen's awareness of key health and safety issues, and improve the safety culture of the Welsh fishing fleet. The project will be led by Jane Devereux, Seafish's newly appointed Wales Fishing Safety Project Officer. For further information please email Jane.Devereux@seafish.co.uk or phone 07876 035750.
Wales Marketing Seafood Through Education (MaSTE) pilot project
This pilot project aims to increase awareness and inspire use of seafood amongst our chefs of the future. Seafish will sponsor seafood masterclasses and competitions for Level 1, 2 and 3 catering and hospitality students at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai. If the pilot is successful we will look to roll out the project with other college clusters in Wales. For further information please email Holly.Whiteley@seafish.co.uk or phone 01248 812038.
Wales Seafood Industry Dashboard
Seafish have developed an online Wales Seafood Industry Dashboard to improve accessibility to key information about the Welsh seafood industry and present a high level summary of the Welsh seafood industry's progress against the targets of the Wales Seafood Strategy. The Wales Seafood Strategy identifies the Seafish Wales Advisory Committee's (SWAC) vision for a thriving, vibrant, safe, and sustainable seafood industry in Wales and sets out targets for 30% sustainable growth in seafood production and economic value by 2025, as well as targets for increasing employment and improving fishing safety.
SWAC reports and outputs
- Quay Issues article: Tracing fish from sea to plate (2017)
- 2016 Welsh skates and rays fishing fleet report
- Wales Seafood Industry Dashboard (2017)
- Quay Issues article: Collaborating to develop a management strategy (2016)
- Wales Seafood Strategy 2015 to 2025 (2016)
- Understanding Welsh Seafood Supply Chain project report (2016)
- 2015 Welsh sea bass fishing fleet report(2014)
- A social and economic impact assessment of cockle mortality in the Burry Inlet cockle fishery, South Wales UK (2015)
- Quick Guide to food standards at public events: Commercial fishermen (2014)
- Welsh Waters Scallop Strategy - Summary of Scallop Research (2013)
Videos
Other Seafish-supported publications relevant to the Welsh seafood industry
- Effects of electrofishing for Ensis spp. on benthic macrofauna,epifauna and fish species. (Prepared for the South and West Wales Fishing Communities Ltd as part of Electrofishing for Razorfish (Ensis spp.) Project (FIFG 57437))
- UK Shellfish Production and Several, Regulating and Hybrid Orders: The Contribution and Value of Orders in Relation to the Sector's Past Development and Future Growth
- Aquaculture in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: An Analysis of the Economic Contribution and Value of the Major Sub-Sectors and the Most Important Farmed Species
Further info
Want to get involved?
If you are interested in representing your sector on the Advisory Committee please contact Dr Holly Whiteley below.
SWAC minutes:
Contacts
Dr Holly Whiteley
Regional Manager - North Wales
T: +44 (0) 1248 812 038
M: +44 (0) 7984 561 918
holly.whiteley@seafish.co.uk
Dr Emma Wootton
Regional Manager - South Wales