Innovation along the value chain is essential for maximizing the potential of fisheries and aquaculture to enhance food security, drive economic growth, and promote environmental sustainability. At the processing stage, innovations can help preserve quality while adding value by making products more convenient for consumers, reducing post-harvest losses, or utilizing otherwise discarded by-products.
Effective fisheries management, which is crucial for maintaining healthy fish stocks, relies on decisions about species selection, fishing locations, seasons, and catch limits. These decisions must balance social and economic benefits with the preservation of marine ecosystems. Reliable, up-to-date data is essential for making informed choices, but obstacles such as a lack of data standardization, underreporting, and data gaps often hinder this process.