Record attendance, and a glimpse into the future of seafood

The 24th Conxemar International Frozen Seafood Products Exhibition, held from 3 to 5 October in Vigo, Spain, marked a historic edition of the renowned event. The show, which celebrates the global seafood industry, set new records in terms of exhibitor and visitor numbers and also provided a platform for far-reaching discussions on topics crucial to the sector’s future.

This year the fair gathered suppliers from 45 countries and hosted close to 800 exhibitors—a 13 increase compared to the previous year. e increase in area was achieved by optimising the available space, resulting in an additional 1,300 square meters.

Over the course of the three days a notable increase in the number of visitors was also recorded, surpassing the 2022 edition by 3. Apart from Spain, the primary countries represented by visitors were Portugal, Italy, France, Argentina, and Morocco. e event attracted both institutions and suppliers from dozens of countries including newcomers such as Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, Mauritania, Türkiye, Greece, and the Netherlands made their debuts with country pavilions.

Vast Italian pavilion highlights the importance of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture

e fair featured not only national pavilions but also regional ones, such as the Galician pavilion, representing the autonomous community hosting the event, as well as Asturias, among others. Spain, among other EU countries, was also present with a national pavilion.

e Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food had a 100 square metre booth dedicated to the promotion of Spanish seafood. e campaign featured at the stand, named “An In nite Country for Seafood and Recipes,” emphasised the diversity and culinary richness of Spain. Similarly, Italy, for the second consecutive year, presented a national pavilion encompassing 555 square meters of space, hosting 26 companies from 12 regions, all specialising in the shing and aquaculture sectors. e pavilion organised activities, such as show-cooking sessions and roundtable discussions, spanning the three days of the fair. ese activities explored the latest trends in the consumption of frozen and processed sh products, as well as the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability and food security within modern sheries and aquaculture. e pavilion’s event series commenced with a session titled “ e ght against the blue crab: Protection of mussel farming and marketing opportunities” to draw attention to the blue crab, an invasive species spreading through the Mediterranean. e Conxemar exhibition will return to Vigo from 1 to 3 October 2024. e challenge for the forthcoming years lies in maintaining the high standards of service while addressing the constraints posed by limited space, an issue already acknowledged by Eloy García Alvariza, President of Conxemar. e 2024 edition marks the 25th anniversary of this event, which over the years has solidi ed its reputation as a pivotal gathering for the seafood industry.

Conxemar FAO conference highlights the importance of judicious exploitation of marine resources

e 11th International Congress Conxemar FAO, a conference jointly organised by Conxemar and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), was held a day prior to the trade fair. is year the congress focused on the topic “Blue Transformation,” and was attended by several VIPs including Mr Abel Caballero, Mayor of Vigo; Eloy García Alvariza, President of Conxemar; Mr Alfonso Villares, Conselleiro do Mar; and Ms Carola González, Deputy Director General of Aquaculture, Fisheries Marketing and

Structural Actions from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ms González emphasised the need for a nancial instrument, such as the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, to drive the blue transformation and the shift towards sustainability in the seafood sector. A transition in accordance with the objectives of the EU Green Deal and the adjustments for addressing the impacts of climate change. Her remarks underscored the importance of preserving and sustainably exploiting resources, a responsibility that the ministry is administrating in collaboration with researchers, considering the local socio-cultural context. Special emphasis was given to aquaculture, a sector which introduces fresh challenges and opportunities, particularly in the cultivation of mussels and algae. ese marine organisms potentially o er e ective solutions to combat the consequences of climate change and can make a signi cant contribution to socioeconomic progress while preserving the local environment.

FAO’s Blue Transformation has multiple objectives

e conference discussions, initiated by Vera Agostini, FAO Deputy Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resources Division, provided an overview of the global status of sheries and aquaculture.

demand while ensuring equitable distribution of aquatic resources. 2. Implementing sheries management that guarantees healthy sh populations, and 3. Establishing value chains that enhance aquatic food system viability by reducing waste while improving transparency and traceability. e vision of the Blue Transformation roadmap is to expand seafood systems, making signi cant contributions to better production, improved nutrition, healthier environments, and enhanced lives, particularly for communities reliant on sheries and aquaculture.

Following the opening remarks, the event featured ve roundtable discussions involving twenty distinguished speakers. ese discussions covered a broad spectrum of issues within the seafood industry. In the rst discussion, experts examined the signi cance of brand integrity. e emphasis was on adapting to evolving consumer trends, leveraging digital marketing channels, and optimizing product presentation to meet changing consumer preferences. e second roundtable focused on the future of shing and its management models. e participants strongly encouraged collaboration between public and private sectors, ecosystem-based sheries management, and dialogue between research and industry. In the third session, the spotlight was on social responsibility within the seafood value chain. e emphasis was on standardizing working conditions, government roles in

DanFish International, 7-9 October, Aalborg

establishing international standards, and the value of data in the supply chain. e interplay of environmental sustainability and human rights was central. e fourth discussion explored strategies for the Blue Transformation, highlighting the integration of innovation throughout the seafood supply chain and the preservation of natural resources as top priorities. e nal roundtable examined traceability and consumer analysis, emphasising the need for transparency and traceability in all aspects of sustainability. International collaboration and regulatory support were deemed essential to ensure product traceability and sustainability.

Consumer interests must go hand in hand with responsible practices

The FAO-Conxemar Congress 2023 provided a platform for industry experts to explore and discuss crucial issues in the seafood sector. These discussions highlighted the need for adaptability, innovation, sustainability, and collaboration to navigate the evolving landscape of the seafood industry while prioritising responsible practices and consumer interests.

Francesca Barazzetta, Euro sh, francesca@euro sh.dk