Seafood heavyweights ‘line-out’ at Dublin’s Avia Stadium

A conference organised by the Irish Sea Fisheries Board (BIM): Capturing Ireland’s Share of the Global Seafood Opportunity (April 2) is being billed as the country’s premier seafood event of 2014.

Taking place in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, home of Irish international rugby and soccer, the one-day event includes a speaker line-up of seafood business leaders, global industry thinkers and ‘renowned’ fisheries experts. According to the agency’s chief executive, Jason Whooley, the busy agenda should stimulate discussion and promote debate on how the industry will shape the future of the sector as Ireland’s maximises its share of the worldwide seafood opportunity.

“The speaker line-up gives delegates access to business heavyweights operating nationally and internationally at the top of the seafood and agri-food sectors. Their experience should be of benefit to the Irish industry as it continues to strategically develop the fishery and aquaculture resource.”

 He added that while Ireland may be a small player on the world seafood stage, that did not mean preclude major ambitions for growth. “Ireland is being presented with opportunities for unprecedented sectoral growth that are largely dependent on our ability to produce and supply fish and related products to an increasing world population and its growing demand for seafood.”

Global requirement for fish is set to grow by an additional 42 million tonnes per annum by 2030. “The potentially transformational opportunities being presented to industry can only be fully utilised if Ireland increases sustainability, competitiveness, grows industry scale and expands the raw material base,” he added.

The event also includes panel-led discussions on economic, political and environmental issues along with expert analysis and opinion on the financial trends affecting market forces and consumer behaviour.

The conference is part of BIM’s 2013-2017 strategy under which the agency aims to deliver 1,200 new jbs and €1 billion in seafood sales as part of seafood targets and objectives set out in the Food Harvest 2020 national food production plan.

 

An online conference registration form is available @ www.bim.ie, or register by email: [email protected], or ring the conference organiser on Tel: 01 2144100