Sustainable Food Laboratory

Last update – Lake Victoria Project.

The Lake Victoria Project is one of the emblematic initiatives of the Responsible Fishing Alliance. Started in 2006, the project aims to help restoring hope around Lake Victoria (Uganda, Tanzania, and then Kenya). Taking into account the existing efforts, the vision of the Lake Victoria Project is to have, in a maximum of 10 years, fishermen and women community based organizations proud of their status, and capable of initiating and conducting viable economic activities, using the available natural resources in a sustainable manner, for the improvement of their living conditions. To achieve this, several members of the RFA have been involved into the project: Katosi Women Development -Uganda- and Emedo –Tanzania- (supportive NGOs to local communities), Carrefour Group (retail sector), WADAF (financial coordination of the project), and soon Elior Group (Catering & Food Service sector) and Gelazur (fish trade). For more details, please have a look at the Lake Victoria Project Summary.

July 28, 2008-Elior reinforces its commitments into Responsible Fishing

Elior group, #3 European Catering/Food Service company reinforces its commitments into Responsible Fishing.

Key member of the Responsible Fishing Alliance (RFA), Elior has recently taken the following measures:
- Cooperation with French research institutes (Ifremer, Inra);
- Removal of endangered species in its restaurants including Sharks, Orange Roughy, Grenadier;
- Elaboration of a seafood guide to help restaurants' managers achieving responsible fish buying.

Press article: French, English

July 8, 2008 - RFA Added Two New Members

Emedo (Environmental Management and Economic Development Organization) is an NGO that works in the fields of economic development and environment management near Lake Victoria (Mwanza city, Tanzania. Its objective is to enable rural communities to achieve their sustainable economic development by strengthening their participation and representation into the local economic network as well as by getting an environmental education. The organization is helping rural populations –men, women, young people- find their place in the society, get better training, organize themselves in networks, get heard from other stakeholders, and find alternative economic activities.

Gelazur is a family fish trade company established in the South of France (Nice) in1960. Gelazur is much specialized in frozen seafood products and offer a very wide range of products including fish fillets, crustaceans, cephalopods, andmolluscs. The company imports seafood products from all over the world from selected processors: Asia, Africa, , etc. Their main customers are:supermarket chains, wholesalers, catering and home service companies, fish processors, freezing centers. Gelazur is pretty much interested in strengthening its business with artisanal/small-scale fishers. 

RFA Hosted a workshop at the 2008 Seafood Choices Alliance Summit in Barcelona: Small Scale and Artisanal Fishing: Key actors of the responsible management of fisheries" Moderated by Bruno Correard, Coordinator of the RFA.

Abstract: Through living examples worldwide, the RFA intends to illustrate the idea that artisanal/small scale fishers can be positive contributors to a responsible management of the fish chain -from the fishery, to the consumer- as they consider, by nature, all aspects of the sustainability: environmental, but also economic and social issues. Iceland – Artisanal fishers and responsible management of the fishery: example of the KRAV certification. Arthur Bogason, WFF & NASBO organization. Chile & Québec – Fish products from traditional fishing: interesting alternatives for European fish market. Pedro Avendano & François Poulin, WFF. Lake Victoria (Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya) – Nile perch fishery: social and economic responsibility of Northern countries. Margaret Nakato, WFF & Katosi Woman.

The European Commission publicly confirmed at the Seafood Choices Alliance Summit in Barcelona (January 28, 2008) that the European Ecolabel on Responsible Fishing is a priority for the Fishery Department. Final decisions shall be taken in 2009. The RFA has been cooperating on this subject as a member of the European Commission's expert group since 2006. See public declaration by Mr Rambaud's, Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, European Commission.

Fight against IUU Fishing. The RFA was asked by the European Parliament to comment the European Commission's proposal on a "new strategy for the community to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing". Fish Commission, European Parliament, February 27, 2008. EC's proposal in English (EN), French (FR), and Spanish (ES). See pictures and a ppt of the presentation here.