ACRUNET is a transnational network of brown crab fishermen, their representative organizations, national development agencies and scientific bodies.

The aim of the project is to ensure and sustain the economic viability of the European brown crab industry that will be realized with the following six objectives:

1.    Form a transnational industry network to identify and address factors to improve brown crab competitiveness through co-operation, communication and innovation.
2.    Build an industry-science interface with an agreed policy to assess and monitor brown crab stocks that fits management and policy at national, regional and EU level.
3.    Develop and encourage the widespread adoption of an accredited European brown crab standard to deliver a responsibly caught and quality product to the market place.
4.    Increase the economic viability of the entire brown crab sector through the analysis of the brown crab production chain and improve competitive advantage through the identification of key cost points.
5.    Enhance competitiveness through the introduction of innovative practices and products supported by production chain analysis.
6.    Increase the market presence and visibility of brown crab through focused European marketing and consumer

To achieve this objectives, a work plan with nine activities have been designed:

Activity No 1: Project preparation
Activity No 2: Network development and transnational cooperation to develop a platform for knowledge transfer enabling collective problem solving for sectorial challenges.
Activity No 3: Development of an effective industry–science interface for brown crab to provide the common tools to assess and monitor the fishery allowing stakeholders to participate meaningfully in transnational management of a shared resource.
Activity No 4: Developing an ISO 65 accredited European quality standard for brown crab to allow the delivery of superior products by implementing a responsible caught from a sustainable stock.
Activity No 5: Characterization analysis and modeling of the European brown crab industry to enhance competitiveness and economic viability through knowledge transfer between member states, with particular focus on the route to market, and to identify strategic opportunities that will confer competitive advantage and improve economic viability.
Activity No 6: The introduction of innovative technologies and practices to the brown crab industry to discover opportunities in brown crab, transport, storage, packaging and waste management for gaining market advantage.
Activity No 7: Focused European consumer education and marketing of brown crab industry to increase the consumption of brown crab by maintaining established consumers and attract new ones through education and promotion.
Activity No 8: Communication and dissemination that will provide the available channels of communication for the partners and stimulate the promotion of dialogue both internally and with the wider stakeholder community.
Activity No 9: Project Management

The partnership is constituted by 15 partners across five countries (Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Spain and Portugal), which comprise the Atlantic Area member states. The partners reflect industrial groups, national state agencies and research organizations, being representative of the whole brown crab distribution chain across the Atlantic Area. UK, Ireland and France dominate the brown crab catching sector, whereas France, Spain and Portugal are key players in the brown crab consumption and distribution chain across Europe.