It is also a unique networking opportunity with representatives of the world's main regulatory and policy organisations available to discuss the issues that will affect businesses in the future. And all visitors to Vigo should try to find a little leisure time to enjoy some of the best seafood and wine available, as well as the city itself, the islands and Rías Baixas.
World Trade Exhibitions, the technical organiser, has been working closely with the Executive Committee to ensure that we produce an event that is both relevant, in terms of the key issues that are affecting the fishing industry, and of the highest possible production values. I think you will see that we have largely achieved this. It provides the best environment for exhibitors and visitors to network and do business.
There are a larger number of foreign companies already registered at WFE Vigo 2009 in comparison to the 2003 exhibition. This reflects the changes taking place in the business. The production of seafood is international and aquaculture is becoming more capital intensive so there is an increasing need for communication between stakeholders. The World Fishing Exhibition is a long established forum that the communities know and trust.
As to the location, Vigo remains the biggest fishing port in Europe. Many of the world's most important fisheries companies have bases here. It is a natural location for WFE. The facilities that Vigo has to offer when producing an event such as this - IFEVI, the transport connections and the hotels - also help a great deal.
Sustainability
The world faces an increasing demand for protein and fish and seafood are the most efficient ways to produce it. The two key issues towards achieving this rest with trying to achieve a balance with wild catch and the development of aquaculture.
Sustainability of fisheries is both a political and practical problem. It firstly requires consensus as to what sustainability is and then how it will be achieved. It will mean limitations and history proves time an again that enforcement alone will not work. All of the stakeholders need be committed and this needs discussion, and more discussion. WFE 2009 is an important part of this journey.
AQA 2009
The Aqua Farming International exhibition makes its debut alongside the World Fishing Exhibition. As aquaculture will overtake wild catch over the next 10 years, it is hard to ignore! It is also becoming more international as capital costs increase, which in turn requires access to bigger markets. It is becoming an important part of business for WFE's traditional constituents so we needed to respond.
As well as creating a marketplace for visitors and exhibitors to meet, network and do business, we think it is important that AQA is also a learning experience. There are a number of issues that the aquaculture industry has to address to meet the production challenges and ensure its future. Just some of these include environmental and planning, and the viability and control of offshore fish farms. With increasing pressure and restrictions on wild catch and the resulting decommissioning of vessels, the industry needs to find a way of not losing the skills that fisherman have such as animal husbandry and the understanding of dealing with the marine environment. Many of these are transferable and valuable to aquaculture. A significant theme of the AQA Conference will be how this can be achieved.
