Post-Harvest to Consumer Driver Review of the Aquatic Supply Chain

Citation

Young J, Goulding I & Stirrat RL (2011) Post-Harvest to Consumer Driver Review of the Aquatic Supply Chain. Foresight Project on Global Food and Farming Futures. London: The Government Office for Science. http://www.bis.gov.uk/Foresight

Abstract
This paper provides an overview of the key current features of the international markets for aquatic food and appraises how the future drivers of the post-harvest/consumption aspects of the value chain will interact. This encompasses product from both wild capture fisheries and aquaculture. Here, ‘post-harvest’ covers all those activities involved in delivering aquatic products from the water to the plate, in particular those concerned with their processing and trading. The system is highly diverse, and a wide range of aquatic species and products, changing patterns of demand and supply, in a spectrum of cultural, economic and political contexts give rise to a variety of post-harvest configurations and future directions. The only constant across the sector is product perishability, at higher rates than for most terrestrial foods, and a critical element to be managed if values are to be delivered without loss and if the potential for adding value can be realised.

Keywords
; Fishery management, International; Fish trade Management