FISH SCALE

Title: Food Information and Safeguard of Habitat a Sustainable Consumption Approach in Local Environment

Summary: The commercial fish market is heavily reliant on certain fish species. As a consequence, certain edible species have a low commercial value due to poor demand. According to the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, out of 719 edible fish species only 10% are currently commercialised. This is mainly due to modern food habits. Non-commercial species are classified as “by-catch” and usually discarded by industrial fisheries. Annually up to one fourth of the fish harvested - about 27 millions tonnes is discarded dead into the sea. This practice results in a huge waste of marine resources. It also alters marine biodiversity and reduces the numbers of adult reproductive fish.

The FISH SCALE project aims to address the problem of over-exploitation of marine resources and fishing discards by promoting a more sustainable use of the sea and by improving the protection of marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean. The project will seek to change the attitudes of consumers by increasing their awareness of the importance of by-catch and discard species.

The project aims to establish a virtuous cycle by stimulating greater demand for less recognised fish species, thereby increasing their commercial value, leading in turn to a reduction in fish discards and hence, better preservation of marine biodiversity. The project will develop integrated communication and demonstration actions involving the whole supply chain of the fishing sector, together with the final consumers, so that they can become pro-active and discover mutual benefits in using currently discarded fish species.

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