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The Common Language Group

A group to bring together people who want to know more about the environmental, legal and production issues facing the UK seafood supply chain.



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. We are running a mix of in person meetings and shorter online bite-size CLG sessions at the moment.

Presentations and minutes from previous meetings are available upon request by emailing IssuesGroups@seafish.co.uk.

Next meetings

  • Thursday 10th July, in-person 
  • Thursday 11th September, AM online
  • Wednesday 10th December, PM online

Topics are to be decided. To keep updated, subscribe to our newsletter: 

Previous meetings

Presentations and minutes from previous meetings are available upon request by emailing IssuesGroups@seafish.co.uk.

Joint CLG and FMIG meeting  (05 December 2024). This online bite-size meeting looked at the latest ICES advice on NE Atlantic stock status and potential challenges and opportunities for the supply chain. The meeting also took a closer look at pelagic fish stocks given from an industry perspective.

The following was presented:

  • State of demersal stocks 2024. Dr Ewen Bell,Cefas
  • ICES catch advice for pelagic stocks 2025. Steve Mackinson Scottish Pelagic Fisherman's Association
  • Status of the Northeast Atlantic Fisheries. Morten Jensen, Nordic Group, with support from the Norwegian Seafood Council

Geopolitical events and seafood trade (18 July 2024). The morning session focussed on the impact of geopolitical events on seafood trade resilience and what impact they have had on UK and global seafood trade. The afternoon looked at initiatives and opportunities to build resilience in UK supply chains, and the role that certification, sourcing codes and Fishery Improvement Projects play in providing assured benefits along the entire supply chain.

The following was presented:

Geopolitical events and seafood trade

  • My perspective on current food trade challenges and opportunities. Ian Wright, UK Food and Drink Export Council.
  • Seafood trade and implications from geopolitical events, including Russia, Ukraine, Red Sea, and China. Andrew Kyuk, Provision Trade Federation.
  • What Brexit and Covid did to global trade and have we recovered - lessons for future global disruption. Kevin Shakespeare, Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade
  • How to build resilience during periods of trade turmoil. Dan Aherne, New England Seafoods
  • Being resilient in challenging times in food supply chains. Prof Louise Manning, University of Lincoln

Building resilience

  • What does a more resilient fishery look like. Bryce Stewart, Marine Biological Association and the University of Plymouth.
  • What happens when a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) ends. Next chapter for UK Nephrops FIP. Claire Pescod, Macduff Shellfish and Fiona Birch, Seafish
  • Seafood supply train traceability. Lief Hendrikz, Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability
  • The WWF Basket for Nature – aims, ambitions and progress. Clarus Chu, WWF

Notes and minutes from recent CLG bite-size and in person meetings are available upon request by emailing issuesgroups@seafish.co.uk.

  • How the seafood industry must back up sustainability claims. 26 March 2024
  • Fish stock status in the North East Atlantic. 5 December 2023
  • In person. Digitilisation of seafood supply chains. 27 June 2023
  • Seafood winners and losers in a warming world: what the science is telling us so far. 26 September 2023
  • The role of Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs). 29 March 2023

CLG newsletters

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

Terms of Reference and archive

Contacts

For further information, please contact: IssuesGroups@seafish.co.uk.

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