The overall objective of the Third Forum Workshop was to understand the role of fisheries stakeholders and how policies and private initiatives can leverage consumer influence and their buying power. The focus was on understanding the role of policies and practices (e.g. labelling, information campaigns, etc.) that can harness the power of consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.
Welcoming remarks were formulated by Carl-Christian Schmidt (NMTT) and Dave Reid (ICES). Participants were introduced to the history of NMTT and ICES and on the outcomes of the previous two Forums. It was highlighted that working together as a team by joining forces on the Forum series had helped broaden the scope of the Forum initiative and ensured that the latest science was readily available. In their opening remarks it was also underscored that while climate change is a long-term phenomenon, identifying possible areas for action was needed now. This also includes actions on the consumer side, an often-forgotten part of the equation to ensure that climate change is addressed.