Minister to open awards day seminar

FERGUS Ewing, Scotland’s Rural Economy minister, is to open the aquaculture seminar in Edinburgh later this month, to be held before the 2019 Aquaculture Awards. He will also be present at the awards ceremony, at Dynamic Earth in the Scottish capital.

The awards organisers, the Fish Site, welcomed global entrants for the first time, and the shortlist reflects the strong international participation.

The seminar, titled Aquaculture’s Global Outlook: Embracing Internationality, will consider the future of the aquaculture industry in a worldwide context.

Among the speakers is Nordea senior seafood analyst Kolbjørn Giskeødegård, who will look at possible scenarios of how the salmon sector is likely to develop.

Also addressing delegates will be Melanie Siggs, director of strategic engagement at the Global Aquaculture Alliance. She will discuss how aquaculture output can be increased by 44 million tonnes by 2030 – the target set by the FAO to meet the nutritional demands of the world’s increasing population.

Professor David Little, from Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture, is set to speak on international opportunities for the British aquaculture sector, which has had a rich history of international collaboration since colonial times.

But with the UK’s involvement in European Framework research opportunities possibly coming to an end, Little will ask ‘how international collaboration can lead to win-wins’.

Clifford Spencer, chairman of Aquaculture without Frontiers, will make the case for the huge aquaculture potential offered by Africa and the hurdles that need to be overcome to realise this scope for growth.

Aquaculture currently accounts for only 18 per cent of the continent’s total fish production – with small-scale farmers and semi-subsistence producers dominating the sector.

However, he will explain how production is projected to expand by more than 60 per cent in the next decade.

Other speakers include Marks & Spencer aquaculture manager Patrick Blow, who aims to shed light on the best practice measures required by the retailer.

And seafood journalist and co-owner of Offshore Mussels Nicki Holmyard will provide a whistle-stop tour of some of the 100 plus aquatic species being farmed around the world.

The seminar is taking place in the Biosphere Room, Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, on May 29 from 1pm. The awards ceremony will follow in the evening.

Picture: Rural Economy minister Fergus Ewing will be at the aquaculture seminar and awards on May 29