A new forum to facilitate engagement, discussion and initiatives to support the UK fleet, including aquaculture service vessels, in the transition to net zero, has been established, chaired by NFFO deputy chief executive Mike Cohen.
The Vessels of the Future Forum brings together representatives from the fishing and aquaculture industry, boat builders and surveyors, ports and harbours, engine manufacturers, research community and governments.
An initial meeting of the Forum was held in December, giving member the opportunity to discuss and agree on working principles. Work themes include, but are not limited to, development of cross-sector pre-competitive and collaborative research, data gathering and knowledge sharing that drives the deployment of innovative technologies, developing an aligned evidence-based policy and enabling regulatory framework, building carbon literacy awareness across the seafood sector, including understanding on policy drivers and clean technology readiness, and development of shore-side ports and harbours infrastructure in parallel with vessel fuel transition.
Seafish will provide the secretariat for the Forum and support the delivery of its agreed workplan.
‘The seafood sector needs practical resources to support its response to climate change. Engagement with industry in 2022 confirmed a need for pre-competitive collaboration across the supply chain and wider maritime sector, to support decarbonisation across our fishing and aquaculture vessels. We have now convened the Vessels of the Future Forum with a focus on supporting the fleet’s transition to net zero,’ said Seafish Head of Responsible Sourcing Dr Stuart McLanaghan.
‘I’m thrilled that Mike Cohen is on board as Chair of the Forum. Mike is widely known and respected throughout industry, and he brings valuable knowledge and insight, with his legal and science background complementing his industry experience.’
Mike Cohen commented that the reality of climate change is the biggest challenge of our age.
‘Every industry needs to respond to it and fishing is no exception. Thankfully we can already be proud of our contribution. Fishing and aquaculture put healthy food on people’s plates with one of the lowest carbon footprints of any form of protein. We can do more, though. Ours has always been an adaptable industry and this Forum seeks to harness that ingenuity, to make fishing’s contribution to the aspiration of a net zero economy even greater,’ he said.
‘This isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the commercially sensible thing to do. Lower carbon means less fuel and fuel prices are already close to crippling levels for many fishing businesses. Vessels of the Future brings together experts from many fields, with the aim of fostering collaboration and innovation in order to develop solutions and technologies that will ensure that fishing remains sustainable in every sense.’
‘The UK Boat Builders & Boat Repairers Association (UKBBA) are delighted to be involved with the Seafish Vessels of the Future Forum,’ said UKBBA chairman Matthew Watt.
‘The association feels it is imperative that we find a way to design, build and operate emission free fishing vessels. We look forward to contributing to the Forum and helping each other find a path forward.’
