Fish+ (animals, plants and algae from aquatic environments) are often overlooked in food policy discussions in the UK. In Scotland, the Good Food Nation Act, which seeks to build better food systems for people and planet, gives us an important opportunity to ensure fish+ is part of policy development and implementation.
Yet, we recognise that this sector is complex, with a wide range of perspectives and lived experiences. This is why Seafood Scotland and Nourish Scotland have partnered to launch the Fish+ in a Good Food Nation Panel – a year-long, consensus-building initiative designed to explore how aquatic foods can support people and the environment.
The panel will be made up of two independent academic co-chairs and 15 panellists representing a variety of perspectives including:
- Diverse producers in terms of scale, geographic region, fishing, harvesting, catching or cultivation methods, and products.
- Producer representatives
- Animal welfare representatives
- Environmental and conservation advocates
- People working in nutrition and / or public health
- Retailers and / or food service providers
- Processors
- Social justice advocacy, including workers’ rights.
- Interested members of the public
The panel will explore three key questions:
How can we reconnect people in Scotland with fish+, making it a valued, proud and vibrant part of our lives?
In a Wellbeing Economy that respects people and the environment, what would fish+ look, feel and taste like?
What policies, practices and systemic changes are needed to enable long-term transformation in the fish+ sector?
Panellists will meet regularly throughout the year to hear from expert witnesses, reflect on evidence, and discuss potential pathways forward. Their insights will form the basis of a co-developed consensus report, with recommendations aimed at guiding policy decisions. Our intention is to work closely with the Good Food Nation policy team and the Marine Directorate to ensure these recommendations inform policy processes.
A researcher will accompany this initiative. They will help us measure the extent to which panellists’ perspectives have (or not) shifted throughout the process as well as identify areas of common ground.
Our goal is to build meaningful dialogue and consensus across a diverse range of perspectives. To do this well, participants need time and space to get to know one another, explore disagreement, and find common ground. This is why we have chosen to keep the panel size limited to 15 participants. A smaller panel size helps ensure that everyone has the chance to actively participate and that conversations are respectful, productive, and inclusive.
That said, this process is not closed. Panellists will be encouraged to share learning with their networks. At the end of the year, we will run five in-person events across Scotland to share the panel’s findings and gather feedback from wider communities. These events will be participatory, and your reflections will be included in a final dissemination report.
We are also conducting research alongside the work of the panel to better understand the diversity of perspectives of Fish+ in Scotland. Anyone in Scotland will be able to participate, to find out more email contact@fishplus.scot
If you would like to be considered for the panel—or if you know someone who should—we encourage you to apply via our website. There, you’ll find full details about the project, the application process, and selection criteria.
Together, we can shape a better future for Fish+ in Scotland’s food system.