The world’s fisheries community is gathered in Edinburgh this week to discuss the future of sustainable fishing at the 6th World Fisheries Congress.
The congress is being held at Edinburgh International Conference Centre and will address Sustainable Fisheries in a Changing World. The event features 700 speakers, with 106 sessions running throughout the week, and 1,000 delegates from over 65 countries will attend.
HRH The Prince of Wales addressed the conference on sustainability in his capacity as the founder of The Prince’s International Sustainability Unit (ISU). The ISU works to build consensus on how to resolve some of the key environmental challenges facing the world.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment Richard Lochhead said: “I am delighted to welcome the World Fisheries Congress to Edinburgh this week. As one of the foremost fishing nations, Scotland is at the centre of international efforts to sustain the world’s fisheries. Bringing together leading scientists and experts will provide stimulating and thought provoking discussions, and I look forward to building on our work and exchanging ideas with international partners.”
Professor Felicity Huntingford, World Council of Fisheries Society president and professor of Functional Ecology at University of Glasgow, said: “This year’s Congress will investigate the significant role that science plays as the foundation stone to good management and sustainable fisheries, including the increasing importance of aquaculture in the provision of food and nutrition.”
She said that the “overarching aim” of the conference is to exchange information and to promote discussion of complex and controversial issues, so that knowledge can be shared and common solutions identified.
