SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies) has published its first Evidence Review Report titled Food from the Oceans, which examines the question of how the ocean can help satisfy the global demand for food.
As an integral part of the Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM), SAPEA was asked to produce this Evidence Review Report to underpin the Scientific Opinion of the High Level Group (HLG), in response to a request from Commissioner Vella (DG MARE). The request asked for advice on the question: “How can more food and biomass be obtained from the oceans in a way that does not deprive future generations of their benefits?”
The Evidence Review Report warns that in our extraction of food from the oceans, ‘business as usual’ is not sustainable from social, economic and environmental viewpoints. The report suggests a number of options, which inform the recommendations of the HLG Scientific Opinion. It states that the only way to obtain significantly more food and biomass sustainably from the ocean is to harvest seafood that on average is from a lower trophic level (lower in the food chain) than we currently harvest.
To produce Food from the Oceans, SAPEA worked with academies across Europe and the European Academy Networks to bring together experts in a range of disciplines. The experts formed working groups which were chaired by Professor Poul Holm (Trinity College Dublin) and Professor Dag Aksnes (University of Bergen). Academia Europaea led on this topic.
Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said:
“This substantive opinion and comprehensive evidence review shows that the Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism is going from strength to strength. I am confident that the value of this opinion will be recognised not just by European policy makers, but also by national governments and all those who care about the future of our oceans.”
Professor Günter Stock, 2017 Chair of the SAPEA board said:
“Interdisciplinarity and world class expertise from across Europe are SAPEA’s core strengths, and this report has successfully incorporated these under the leadership of Academia Europaea. I look forward to SAPEA’s future collaborations with the SAM High Level Group, ensuring that scientific advice is informed by expertise from academies across Europe.”
Professor Sierd Cloetingh, President of Academia Europaea said:
“In Food from the Oceans, we believe we have established an attractive model for future SAPEA projects. I would like to thank the academies across Europe and their experts who have contributed their valuable knowledge to this report. I express my gratitude to everyone involved in making Food from the Oceans a success, ensuring that the Evidence Review Report was delivered on time and to an excellent standard.”
Download the SAPEA Food from the Oceans Evidence Review Report.
Download the SAM High Level Group Opinion.
Download the expert workshop report from 14 September 2017
Notes to editors:
Interviews: Professor Poul Holm and Professor Dag Aksnes are available for interview. For further information about SAPEA’s report, or to request an interview, please contact Toby Wardman: toby.wardman@sapea.info / +3222138181
Working Group Members: SAPEA selected working group members across a range of disciplines to contribute to the Food from the Oceans Evidence Review Report. A full list of Working Group members is available here.
SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies): Spanning the disciplines of engineering, humanities, medicine, natural sciences and social sciences, SAPEA brings together knowledge and expertise from over 100 academies, young academies and learned societies in more than 40 countries across Europe.
SAPEA is part of the European Commission Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM), which provides independent, interdisciplinary and evidence-based scientific advice on policy issues to the European Commission. SAPEA works closely with the SAM High Level Group of Scientific Advisors.
For further information visit www.sapea.info or follow SAPEA on Twitter: @SAPEAnews
Contact: Toby Wardman: toby.wardman@0s9f5tvlc.preview.infomaniak.website/ +3222138181
Further information
Find out more about the Scientific Advice Mechanism and the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors’ work on this topic.
Twitter: #SAMGroup_EU
