The consumption of seafood is a pillar of the global food economy, especially in Italy, where fish has always been a staple in the everyday diets of millions of families.
The number of species at risk of extinction is constantly increasing, and protecting marine ecosystems has become a priority need.
This is how Hello Fish! was born, an initiative to encourage the consumption of farmed or sustainably harvested seafood: these products are good for the economy, the environment, and especially for those who choose them.
Thanks to an ambitious, comprehensive nationwide programme, Hello Fish! aims to:
- identify and give visibility to the most virtuous companies in the aquaculture * and small-scale, artisanal fishing sectors
- improving commercial relations between sector operators (wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, etc.) and improving their transparency
- ensuring that consumers (both adults and children) are increasingly aware of the importance – now more than ever – of the responsible consumption of seafood, and of purchasing fresh, controlled, and high-quality fish and shellfish
The project is the result of a collaborative effort between the General Directorate for Maritime Fishing and Aquaculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry Policies and the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce, and will run for the entire 7 years of the EMFF 2014-2020through a national quality system for aquaculture (recognized by the European Union on the basis of Community Regulation n. 1305/2013) and in compliance with a code of ethics based on environmental and social sustainability.