EUMOFA Use Case – ANFACO-CECOPESCA

This use case provides some relevant applications of EUMOFA data. It aims to highlight the added value derived from the use of figures available in the EUMOFA database for analysing market dynamics, making business decisions, and developing policies.

• Category: ANFACO-CECOPESCA
• Website of the organisation: https://anfaco.es/

Driving Competitiveness and Growth in Spain’s Seafood Sector with strategic EUMOFA data utilization

Anfaco-Cecopesca (National Association of Fish and Seafood and Canning Manufacturers-National Technical Centre for the Preservation of Fish Products) is a private, non-profit Spanish business and research association. It has more than 250 member companies and is located on the campus of Vigo University in Galicia.

Anfaco is the second oldest business association in Spain. It was founded in 1904 as the Unión de Fabricantes de Conservas de la Ría de Vigo. At the beginning of its history, the association worked with businesses involved in the industrial preservation of fish—canned, frozen and smoked. Today, the organisation works with companies across the entire value chain of the Spanish seafood industry and beyond. Anfaco represents the industry across various legislative and interest-based forums in Spain and in the EU. Its extensive technical centre develops R&D projects with national and European clients. The association further provides consultancy services to members, runs training programmes for businesses, and works to promote and improve the overall competitiveness of the seafood sector in Spain.

EUMOFA reports are key to define and defend Anfaco’s position

Anfaco makes use of EUMOFA data and analysis across all categories, from first sales, to landing and consumption. The association particularly appreciates the official nature of EUMOFA reports, because the data is trustworthy and legitimate. Anfaco most often uses the annual EU Fish Market report, along with species price structure analyses and the Monthly Highlights. The association passes these reports along to its member companies so that they can remain up-to-date with developments in the sector.

Anfaco uses EUMOFA reports to lend legitimacy to its positions when defending its members’interest. The association uses EUMOFA data, as well as graphs and analyses from EUMOFA reports, in its presentations at global conferences and its meetings with national and international government representatives. For example, in May 2024, the Secretary General of the association, spoke at the 18th INFOFISH World Tuna Trade Conference and Exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand^[1]. Anfaco’s presentation discussed the canned fish market in the European Union, analysing market trends, data on import-export, consumption and examining the threat to the canned tuna industry posed by ongoing negotiations for an EU-Thailand Free Trade Agreement. EUMOFA data were used for the presentation.

On the R&D side of the association, ANFACO representatives often use EUMOFA data in the development of abstracts, in order to justify the need for particular research projects to be conducted. ANFACO in collaboration with other partners has also leveraged EUMOFA data in various projects, including the GAIN Horizon 2020 project^[2-3], where EUMOFA’s structured pricing information was integrated into a mobile app alongside data from FAO and GlobeFish. This approach aimed to improve transparency and reduce market disparities by making reliable pricing information easily accessible, thus empowering stakeholders with insights for informed decision-making across the seafood supply chain.

Anfaco regularly uses EUMOFA reports and, to a lesser extent, the available raw data. With the upcoming website update promising a more user-friendly experience, the association expects to make greater use of the raw data in the future.