Catch Welfare Platform Launches Innovation Awards for 2025 Conference
The Catch Welfare Platform is inviting new entries for two prize competitions aimed at driving practical improvements in the treatment of wild-caught fish. Submissions for the 2025 Catch Welfare Innovation Award and the Catch Welfare Idea Challenge are now open via the website, with the winners set to be announced at the CWP Conference in November.
Catch Welfare Innovation Award
The Catch Welfare Innovation Award is open to entries that can demonstrate measurable impact on fish welfare over the past three years. Projects will be judged on originality, welfare outcomes, and benefits to the fishing community. According to CWP, eligible submissions may include gear modifications, onboard handling systems, remote monitoring tools, or new protocols that improve outcomes for fish caught and discarded at sea.
The winning project will receive professional recognition, global media coverage, a keynote speaking slot at the 2025 CWP conference, and a handmade award trophy. The submission deadline for the Innovation Award is 26 September 2025, with the winner announced on 17 October.
Catch Welfare Idea Challenge
A second competition, the Catch Welfare Idea Challenge, is targeted at earlier-stage concepts that address persistent welfare issues in wild-capture fisheries. The top three entries will be invited to pitch their proposals live during the conference, where audience members will vote for the winner. First prize includes €4,000 in seed funding and networking support to help develop and scale the idea.
Applications for the Idea Challenge must be submitted by 26 September 2025. The three finalists will be announced on 17 October.
Practical Innovators Wanted
Michelle Boonstra, Project Manager at CWP, said the new competitions were designed to attract practical thinkers from across science, technology, and the fishing sector. “We want to recognise those driving genuine improvements in how wild-caught fish are treated. Whether it’s gear modifications, data tools, or behavioural research, the award is about highlighting what works and what’s next,” she said.
Boonstra said the Catch Welfare Innovation Award would focus on field-tested technologies or practices that have demonstrably improved fish welfare. In contrast, the Idea Challenge would seek novel proposals with strong potential to solve unresolved welfare problems, particularly in mixed fisheries and small-scale fleets.
“While last year’s online conference enabled broad participation, returning to an in-person format will allow for deeper technical discussion and hands-on engagement with submitted ideas,” Boonstra said.
Catch Welfare Platform Conference 2025
This year’s conference will be held from 19 to 21 November 2025 on Forteiland, a repurposed fort island within the working port of IJmuiden in the Netherlands. Full competition details and application forms are available via the Catch Welfare Platform website.
To find out more about the Conference, visit the conference webpage by clicking here.
