Madeiran products

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The Cephs and Chefs team from the University of Aveiro participated in two events of valorization of Madeiran products. The events took place at the Terreiro Concept restaurant, at Madeira island. The project “Legado” promoted, on October 16th, the “Legado do Peixe” dinner that included 7 gastronomic moments with traditional Madeiran products such as flying squid, ray, conger, moray, herring, nun, skipjack, mackerel and even Madeira jackfruit and seaweed, in addition to wine degustation and comments by the specialist Nuno Nobre and the chef Carlos Gonçalves. On Saturday, October 17th, World Food Day, an Open Gastronomic Day was carried out to celebrate Madeira’s biodiversity in all its ecosystems: farm, rivers, forest and sea. The event included lectures, debates, workshops and tasting products from the 4 ecosystems. More information on the website: https://terreiroconcept.com/eventos/

Exploring sustainability across the octopus value chain in Galicia, Asturias and the Algarve

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Octopus is increasingly a global commodity, with landings and trade increasing worldwide. The octopus fishery is of extremely economic and social importance in Galicia (Spain) and the Algarve (Portugal), with a vast artisanal fleet using pots and traps dedicated exclusively to catching this species in both locations. The Cephs and Chefs teams from USC and UAVR are carrying out studies to better understand the value chain of the common octopus Octopus vulgaris in Galicia and Asturias (Spain), and the Algarve (Portugal). We held a one-day workshop in Santiago de Compostela (Galicia) on March 7th 2020 with key fisheries stakeholders including representatives from the professional and recreational fishing sectors, the wholesale and retail sectors, and the scientific, administrative and community sectors to discuss sustainable use of the octopus resource. In September, we carried out semi-structured interviews in the Algarve with similar key fisheries stakeholders to discuss the same topics.. The results will identify market drivers and barriers for the achievement of environmental, social and economic sustainability of activities carried out by people involved throughout the octopus value chain from fishers

Workshop in Santiago de Compostela

Interviews in the Algarve

Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on octopus fisheries in the Algarve

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The coronavirus outbreak is impacting the global economy, including the fishing sector. The Cephs and Chefs team from UAVR is evaluating the economic, social and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the octopus fishing activity and seafood value chain in Portugal, as well as the adaptation measures implemented by the industry to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Semi-structured interviews with representatives of fishing organizations (POs, associations, fishers, etc.) were carried out in the Algarve, Portugal in March.

 

Smoked octopus: have you tried it?

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Smoked octopus is an innovative product developed in the frame of the Cephs and Chefs InterReg project of the Atlantic Area, which focused on the development of new cephalopod products as a response to current consumer requests for new products, and diversification of presentations of this species.

The Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) developed the formulation and the technology, validating and characterizing the product at the sensory and nutritional level. Sensory tests carried out, with panels of trained experts from the institute itself and tests with consumers, showed excellent results and a great acceptability of the product, which allowed to arrive at the perfect formula for the transformation of this species.

This product has clear nutritional advantages, as the octopus is an excellent source of proteins of high biological value, rich in vitamin A and C, as well as minerals – sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P). On the other hand, it has a low concentration of fats, but it is rich in omega 3, which provides benefits for the cardiovascular system.

Another advantage is the smoking production process and the use of liquid smoke. This method of smoking involves a technology that is easy to apply, has low investment costs and is a fast process, producing smoked products with high added value in just a few hours. In this process, the application of liquid smoke does not entails a direct exposure of the product to hot smoke, which allows a better control of the constituents of the smoke and has added benefits, since liquid smoke is controlled by EU regulations and therefore its application safer to health than the traditional smoking process.

This product can be commercialized in various presentations, like refrigerated and canned, and can be an ingredient for different types of cooking (e.g. Asian, Italian, etc.). The smoked octopus can even be a new kind of product, ready to eat, being commercialized as a snack to be added, for example, to salads.

The smoked octopus is in the finishing stages of development and could be tested as soon as the industry desires, following optimization at industrial scale of the production process, as well as defining the most appropriate methods of conservation.

 

Food of the Edge 2019

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The Cephs and Chefs team from GMIT and ARVI participated in the Food of the Edge 2019. Food on the Edge is a two-day symposium that takes place annually in Galway city, Ireland. It is for chefs & food enthusiasts all around the world who want to create a better global network. Food on the Edge 2019 took place in Galway the 21st and 22nd October 2019. During this festival the Cephs and Chefs project was presented to the attendees.

Cephs&Chefs call for tenders

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The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as a project partner of the “Octopus, Squid, Cuttlefish, Sustainable Fisheries and Chefs” (CephsandChefs) Project funded by the Interreg EU Program, announces this call for tenders to produce 3 pre-assessment analysis within the framework of the aforementioned project. The call for tenders will be open until 30th August 2019 (see details in the document attached) and is addressed to all MSC accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies as well as independent consultants with strong experience in the MSC assessment process. MSC invites all interested entities and experts to submit a proposal following the requirements established in the tender specification document attached.

Docs: Cephs&Chefs_PAs Call for Tenders (PDF format)

INTERREG Cephs and Chefs participates in the 4th edition of the Sea Fair, in Sines

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On the 12th to 14th of July, the UAVR team was present at 4th edition of the Feira do Mar in Sines, as part of the INTERREG Cephs and Chefs project. The participation in this event included a stand in the exhibition with information about the project, a presentation to the general public and stakeholders about the Cephs and Chefs project and the educational activity “Polvos: os troca-tintas!”, oriented towards children, which contributes to increase ocean literacy. Feira do Mar is organized by Sines Tecnopolo and the City Council of Sines and intends to gather different stakeholders and activities related with the sea, from areas of technology, science, gastronomy, fisheries and tourist animation (among others).

INTERREG Cephs and Chefs participates in the Children’s Day in Lourinhã

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As part of the INTERREG Cephs and Chefs project, the University of Aveiro established a protocol with the City Council of Lourinhã, in order to collaborate in several events related to the Octopus Gastronomic Fortnight of Lourinhã. On the 2nd of June, Sílvia Monteiro and Fábio Matos (UAVR team) were present at the Children’s Day event organized by the City Council of Lourinhã with the educational activity “Polvos: os troca-tintas!”, which contributes to increase ocean literacy. This educational action consisted of different octopus-related activities, including a didactic quiz with curiosities about the biology, sustainability and fishing of this species, puzzles and paintings related to common octopus.

Participation in the Seafood Expo Global 2019

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The project INTERREG Cephs and Chefs was present at the Seafood Expo Global 2019, held in Brussels from the 7 to the 9th of May 2019. The Seafood Expo Global is the world’s largest trade fair in the fisheries sector, being, therefore, of high relevance for the Cephs and Chefs project. Cristina Pita (UAVR team) was invited by Xunta de Galicia to present the project Cephs and Chefs. Additionally, Cristina Pita was able to network with worldwide seafood industry stakeholders and prospect about their interest in new cephalopod products and markets.

 

Participation in the Seafood Expo North America 2019

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The project INTERREG Cephs and Chefs was present at the Seafood Expo North America 2019, that was held in Boston (USA) from the 17 to the 19th of March 2019. This event is North America’s largest seafood trade exposition, being, therefore, of high relevance for the Cephs and Chefs project. Cristina Pita (UAVR team) participated in the Octopus Sustainable Roundtable Meeting oriented towards seafood industry stakeholders, where she presented the Portuguese and Spanish octopus case studies included in the Cephs and Chefs project, in the fishery improvement efforts panel. Additionally, Cristina Pita was able to prospect about the interest of worldwide seafood industry stakeholders in cephalopod products enrolled in Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs).