EU : increasing demand of fishery products “Tackling the challenges posed by declining fish catches and the changing needs of consumers is crucial to ensuring the sustainability of fisheries and the competitiveness of the European fishing industry”, Commissioner Sandra Kalniete, told the 9th North Atlantic Fisheries Ministers Conference (NAFMC) in Stykkishhólmur, Iceland. There was a move away from fresh fish as well as from traditional smoked and salted fish products in favour of ready-made meals as fish was increasingly becoming part of the convenience food products particularly popular among the younger generations. This presented a number of challenges which had to be tackled in co-operation with the European Union’s international partners, in particular those from the north Atlantic, Mrs Kalniete said. Taking part in this Conference, held from 3 to 5 June, along with the EU representatives are fisheries ministers from Canada, Greenland, Faeroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation. Participants are examining ways and means to increase the value of fisheries products and the interaction between new and traditional products. Next year’s NAFMC meeting will be held in the Faeroe Islands.