From 16th to 19th of September 2009, and under the umbrella of the World Fishing Exhibition, Vigo will play host to the first Aqua Farming International, a professional aquaculture exhibition where companies and professionals of the aquaculture sector will meet in a venue of 3000 square metres.
This first edition is supported by the World Fishing Exhibition, which provides it with a special attraction. At its coming-out in society, Aqua Farming International will benefit from the synergies created at each edition of the World fishing Exhibition in Vigo, its high impact in the media coverage and the presence of the top authorities in fisheries attending the fifth International Fisheries Ministers Conference. All these reasons are a big incentive to exhibitors of equipments destined to the aquaculture sector and to the producers who will be able to exhibit their products and set new markets and trade relations. This is one of the great aims of the Aqua Farming International organisation, which is determined to establish a benchmark regarding equipments and supplies for aquaculture, apart from the final product.
Andrew Webster, President of World Trade Exhibitions, organisers of the event, recognises that thanks to Aqua Farming International “aquaculture will receive the recognition it deserves”. In fact, the WFE is held in a crucial moment for the fishing and aquaculture industries, which have to meet the global growing demand for fish. Health researches backing the properties of fish as a source of proteins and good health widen the range of benefits of eating fish.
In this sense, Alfonso Paz-Andrade, President of the Executive Committee of the WFE-Vigo'09 highlights that “hunger in depressed areas of the world can not be eradicated without the contribution of fisheries and aquaculture”. The world offer of fishing is kept steady at around 86 million tons and aquaculture contributes with 46 millions per year. However, this amount does not cover the growing demand and FAO has notified that aquaculture needs a new boost, as it seems that its growth rhythm has slowed down in the last years. Likewise, the European Commission will launch its proposal of Communication for Aquaculture in the European Union next April.
A little less than a year away from the celebration of the World Fishing Exhibition-Vigo'09, more than 70% of the space available has already been booked. The participation of companies that produce engine and propulsion equipments is a remarkable fact at a moment in which the fishing industry is looking for new ways to save fuel. Companies dedicated to electronic equipment and fish finding high technology, aquaculture, nets and fishing equipment will also be present at the exhibition. The WFE will also have international approach; Italy, France, Faroe Islands, United Kingdom, Cuba, Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden have already confirmed their participation with national pavilions.
Under these prospects, we expect to beat the figures of 2003, when 800 companies from 80 countries participated and the turnover registered amounted to around 400 million euros. The big emerging countries in the fishing field, specially the ones from Southeast Asia, are among the targets of Vigo'09. According to Mr. Alfonso Paz-Andrade, in the international situation in which we are immersed, the show “will be a great opportunity to get in touch with the main international producers, who will present their latest technologic advances and innovations in energy saving for vessels and industry; as well as to take part in the different meetings and events held in parallel”.
