Session 1 Setting the Scene
The Workshop started with an update on the latest climate change science as it relates to fisheries and ocean issues.
The presentation by Dave Reid (ICES) gave an overview of the climate change impacts on fisheries including spatial distribution (including migration), productivity, growth and phenology dimensions. The impact of fisheries on climate change was also addressed in relation to the “Biological Carbon Pump”, seabed carbon storage degradation and emissions from the use of fuel by fishing vessels. In his presentation Dave Reid highlighted that the present stock assessments of ICES are statistically stationary and do not directly take climate change variations into account. This may compromise our ability to model stock dynamics accurately. There is a need to find ways to help change management approaches to better incorporate known linkages with the impacts of climate change. This will necessarily involve more research and more data.
Elinor Hallstrom (DTU) talked about the role of seafood in the diet. She started her presentation by highlighting that at least half of the world’s population lives on an “unbalanced” diet, characterized by either inadequate or excessive food intake. In the Nordic countries, food consumption contributes approximately 2 tonnes of CO2 equivalents per person annually - three times more than suggested climate goals. Thus, food choices can play a major role in addressing climate change. Seafood consumption accounts for an estimated 3–12% of the total climate impact of Nordic diets. However, there is a considerable variation in climate impact between seafood species, with small pelagic fish having the lowest impact and crustaceans the highest. Currently, seafood consumption in most Nordic countries is below recommended levels from a health perspective, while red meat consumption exceeds maximum recommended intake. Research suggests that replacing red meat by seafood could substantially reduce dietary climate impact. The potential for combined health and climate benefits suggests that a “Blue Dietary Transition”, based on sustainably sourced seafood, may be a worthwhile effort.
Christian Poll (the Danish Consumer Ombudsman Institution) provided an overview of the work of the Danish Ombudsman Institution as it relates to environmental and climate claims. The Institution has been an independent state authority for 50 years and has recently received a budget increase for a strengthened enforcement on green claims. Environmental marketing is a prioritised area of work in the Institution focussing on both information and enforcement. An updated recommendation guide on green marketing was issued during the autumn 2024. Christian Poll underscored that claims must be correct, precise, relevant and balanced. Furthermore, companies making the claims must be able to “substantiate” it and documentation must generally be supported by studies or statements from independent recognised professional bodies. The Consumer Ombudsman prioritises his cases independently and cooperates with other authorities within specific legal areas. He gave a few examples of how the Institution had pursued cases of misleading claims and the actions taken, including warnings and fines. The Institution can issue advance notices on companies’ planned marketing as to whether the Institution finds the marketing to be legal. Key messages were to omit the use of general claims, like “environmentally friendly” and “sustainable” and instead use specific claims on outstanding actions and results that the company has carried out and obtained. Furthermore, climate compensation is a difficult area that is about to become more or less illegal in marketing by autumn 2026 due to new EU legislation.
