First call opens for proposals to improve supply chain efficiency and innovation in under-utilised species and seafood integrity

Seafish, the industry authority on seafood, has launched a new funding initiative to support projects that deliver strategic value to the seafood industry. The Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) is open to organisations in the UK working on innovative, supply-chain and quality orientated projects that improve the seafood on offer to consumers in the UK and elsewhere.

The SIF will run in parallel with the recently published Seafish 2015-2018 Corporate Plan providing flexible investment for research and development in areas that support Seafish’s objectives to promote consumption and enhance reputation and inform decision-making in the seafood industry.

A total of £250,000 will be available annually for the next three years to support projects up to a maximum of £75,000. The first call for proposals, which is open for application from 1st – 31st July 2015, is looking for projects that will:

• improve supply-chain efficiency and reduce waste
• improve the uptake of currently underutilised species
• identify innovative solutions for maintaining the integrity of seafood products

Applicants are invited to submit an initial short proposal before the 31st July deadline with all submissions reviewed and the preferred proposers invited to submit a more detailed bid. Proposals will be assessed on their value for money and return on investment as well as the relevance to current Seafish work, technical merit and success metrics.

Other innovative projects that support the work outlined by Seafish over the next three years will also be considered and further tranches for specific proposals will be announced across the year.

Phil MacMullen, Head of Strategic Investment at Seafish, said: "The Seafish mission is to support a profitable, sustainable and socially responsible seafood industry and we are continuously looking for ways to achieve this goal with the resources we have.

"The Strategic Investment Fund aims to provide us with a flexible, ‘light touch’ means of commissioning research and development, helping us to deliver the commitments we have set out over the next three years.”

Further details on calls for proposals and the application and evaluation processes are available on the Seafish websiteor by contacting Phil MacMullen at phil.macmullen@seafish.co.uk.