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.

The Strategy can be viewed here in Welsh and English.

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.