Fish+ Atlas

We are currently developing the Fish+ Atlas, a publication depicting the current role of aquatic foods in Scottish Food Systems.

The aim of the publication is to support those working in food systems and policy (or with a general interest in food!) to better understand what the challenges and opportunities are for aquatic foods in transitioning to more socially and environmentally just food systems.

This publication will include information on:

• what is fished, farmed, and caught where and by whom
• challenges and opportunities for people working across the supply chain
• the relationship between production and ecosystems
• where fish+  is currently on the public plate
• fish+ consumption patterns
• fish+ processing and distribution

We will also include visions on what fish+ in a Good Food Nation means for different communities in Scotland.

The content and dissemination of this publication is being led by a Steering Group from varying backgrounds & experiences including young people, aquaculture, fishing, local authority catering, health, nutrition, animal welfare, environmental conservation and community restoration.

To compliment this expertise, we are hosting a range of public webinars. You can watch the first one on Histories of Aquatics Foods in Scotland. You can also sign up to the Nourish Newsletter to find out about upcoming ones.

In early 2027 we will host a range of events to showcase the publication and make it publicly available online.

If you want to know more about the project or have any information that you think would be helpful to the content of the Atlas please contact Diana or Olivia at  diana@nourishscotland.org.uk | olivia@nourishscotland.org.uk

Fish+ in a Good Food Nation Conference (2024)

With our changing climate, biodiversity crises and diet-related illness, questions around what we eat and the impacts this has have become a frequent topic of conversation. Making changes to the ways in which we do food is increasingly seen as something that can help address social, environmental, and economic challenges. However, the role of aquatic foods is often left out of these alternative futures.

In the UK an estimated 70% of the seafood we produced is exported and 65-81% of the seafood we eat is imported. The amount of seafood consumed does not meet recommended dietary guidelines. Interestingly, research has shown that some types of seafood are high in micronutrients and can be produced with lower environmental impacts than some food on land.

In Scotland, the Good Food Nation Act provides a unique opportunity to structurally support food systems transformation so that:

People from every walk of life take pride and pleasure in, and benefit from, the food they produce, buy, cook, serve, and eat each day. [ Scottish Government’s Good Food Nation vision]

To ensure aquatic foods are part of our process to become a Good Food Nation, Nourish Scotland and Seafood Scotland came together to hold “Fish+ in a Good Food Nation” conference. This event brought together over 60 fishers, producer organisations public procurement representatives, businesses, environmental NGOs and community councils.

The conference was a space for participants to:

• share perspectives on the role of aquatic foods in Scotland and how this has changed through time.
• share their hopes and fears for the future of their industry.
• discuss what are some positive and possible next steps that can be taken to embed fish+ in a Good Food Nation.

The positive and possible steps centred around five key issues identified by participants:

1. How do we get more Scottish fish+ on the public plate?
2. How do we build concensus around fish+ data and sustainability?
3. How can people working in the fish+ sector thrive?
4. How do we navigate the spatial squeeze collectively?
5. How does Scotland fall in love with fish+ again?

To learn more about how participants thought these issues could be addressed read the Fish+ in a Good Food Nation report

The day was full of lively conversations and honest discussions, reflecting the passion people have for the work they do. Coming together gave us an opportunity to imagine different futures where the fish+ sector can thrive.