April 2, 2025

OPPPB: Every Fish Counts in the Fight Against Waste

In fishing, no two days at sea are ever the same. Catches fluctuate based on weather conditions and the natural availability of marine species. But one challenge remains constant: not all fish caught make it to our plates.

At the ASOCIACIÓN ORGANIZACIÓN DE PRODUCTORES PESQUEROS PEIX BLAU DE CATALUNYA (OPPPB), we’ve seen firsthand how lesser-known species—such as chub mackerel (alacha) and boga—are often discarded or devalued due to lower consumer demand. This results in the waste of perfectly edible and nutritious fish, despite the significant effort and resources invested in catching them.

As a proud partner of the BREADCRUMB project, OPPPB is working to turn the tide on fish waste. Our role focuses on providing critical data—including the quantities and prices of fresh fish, as well as information on fresh fish sold under special sale conditions or discounts. These insights are key to understanding the dynamics of fish valuation, and how market preferences and standards contribute to food loss.

One of the project’s long-term goals is to develop a comprehensive inventory of food marketing standards, both public and private, and assess their relevance to food waste. By the end of the BREADCRUMB project, this inventory will serve as a powerful tool to help stakeholders across the food supply chain understand how current standards affect food loss—and more importantly, how to improve market access for suboptimal, but safe and edible, food.

Through our contribution, OPPPB is helping to identify barriers that prevent undervalued species from reaching consumers, support a more sustainable and circular blue economy, and drive change toward better recognition of all marine resources.

Because every fish counts, and every step toward sustainability makes a difference. Together, we’re creating a future where no catch is left behind.

Learn more about our partner: https://opeixblau.com/