The Common Language Group

The Common Language Group (CLG) provides a safe meeting space to discuss the key issues facing a responsible seafood supply chain. The topics covered include fisheries management, legal fishing, fishing methods and how to trace and track seafood along the supply chain. It also covers how seafood is bought and eaten in and out of the home. It is an opportunity to share new ideas or case studies from around the world.

The group is led by our industry and we take responsibility for running the CLG. The Group has met three times a year since 2007. The CLG brings together people who represent the retail, processing, food service and restaurant industry. Other people who attend are not-for-profit voluntary groups, consumer groups, governments, scientists and producer organisations.

CLG meetings and bite-size meetings

There are generally three meetings a year. The presentations and minutes from the most recent meetings are below. Presentations and minutes from previous meetings are available from Karen Green.

Due to Covid-19 we are running shorter online bite-size CLG meetings at the moment.

Next meeting

The next meeting is on Tuesday 15 February 2022 from 2pm to 3.30pm. Retailers’ marine climate change commitments.

Previous two bite-size meetings

Fish stock status in the Northeast Atlantic (16 November 2021). This meeting looked at the latest advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) on the key commercial species for the UK supply chain. It looked ahead to the negotiations for 2022 and provided an update on a key initiative helping to support the pelagic sector. See the presentations:

Fish stock status in the Northeast Atlantic (demersal, crustacean, benthic). Ewen Bell, Cefas.
Pelagic stock status in the Northeast Atlantic. Steve Mackinson, Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association.
Progress of the North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA). Tom Pickerell, NAPA.

Add locally caught fish to your staycation menu (13 July 2021). As we embrace ‘staycations’ this could be the ideal opportunity to promote locally-sourced seafood, both in and out of the home. This meeting explored how the industry is championing fish and shellfish from UK waters; how fish lists can help consumers make the right sourcing choices; and how the seafood supply chain is supporting fishery management improvements on the water. See the presentations:

Championing UK fish – passionate about fish. Sue Lucas, The Fish Shop independent fishmonger.
New Good Fish Guide website. Charlotte Coombes, Marine Conservation Society.
Update on Project UK. Jo Pollett, Marine Stewardship Council.

CLG bite-size meeting notes

Notes and minutes from recent CLG bite-size meetings can be viewed by following the links below.

CLG monthly newsletters

We send monthly emails with a round up of stories, research and projects in the seafood industry. Subscribe to receive our monthly update and meeting details.

You can view previous email updates by following the links below.

Terms of Reference and archive

We have archived presentations from previous CLG bite-size meetings. These are available from Karen Green.

Presentations from our face-to-face CLG meetings are available from Karen Green

View The Common Language Group Terms of Reference (March 2019)

Contacts

For further information, please contact: Karen Green