Scotland's new marine minister Jim Fairlie to open Aquaculture UK
Scotland’s new agriculture, marine and the islands minister, Jim Fairlie, is to open Aquaculture UK in Glasgow next week.
The minister will cut the ribbon on the first day of the exhibition, which runs from June 16-17 at its new home at the SEC (Scottish Event Campus) by the River Clyde.
He will then launch the Aquaculture UK conference programme in the Keynote Theatre, outlining the Scottish Government’s continuing commitment to finfish and shellfish farming in Scotland and the extensive supply chain these industries support.
Aquaculture UK has more than 250 exhibitors from over 20 countries, including inaugural national pavilions from Norway and Ireland.
Record crowds are expected after the show’s move from its former base in Aviemore to Glasgow.
Most ambitious event
Cheri Arvonio, event director at show organiser Diversified Communications, said: “With less than a week to go, the momentum is building for our most ambitious show yet, and we can’t wait to welcome the aquaculture community to Glasgow for what promises to be a truly memorable two days.”
At the free-to-attend conference, leading figures from the sector will head a line-up of speakers exploring the themes and challenges at the top of the aquaculture agenda.
They include the Scottish Government’s chief scientific advisor marine, Mark Inall, who will address the regulatory system in his update on improvements to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s sea lice framework.
Also on day one in the Keynote Theatre, Helge Adne Lien, managing director of Norway’s DNB Bank, will present a banker’s perspective on the seafood sector, with a focus on the risks and opportunities for Scotland’s salmon farmers.
Breakfast briefing
Day two kicks off with the Norway-Scotland Breakfast Briefing, focusing on the next wave of aquaculture innovation. Representatives from Innovation Norway and Salmon Scotland will be joined by sector experts to explore deeper collaboration between the two aquaculture nations. Register here for the event, starting at 8.15am in the Keynote Theatre.
Later in the day, an expert panel - including Northern Light Consulting’s Greg Riddle, and Melanie Siggs, global head of seafood at LRQA - will discuss rising fuel prices and smart strategies for managing the impact on aquaculture margins.
A look at land-based
And there will be a special focus on land-based aquaculture, with a talk from Mike Berthet of Aquacultured Seafood, which aims to build the UK’s first commercial land-based salmon farm at New Clee, Grimsby.
Recirculating aquaculture systems engineer Andrew Whiston will explain how the company he co-owns is producing king prawns commercially in Scotland, and RAS pioneer and Atlantic Sapphire co-founder Thue Holm will share lessons from the real-world experience of large-scale RAS salmon farms.
Aquaculture UK will also feature dedicated sessions led by the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) showcasing the Sustainable Aquaculture Partnerships for Innovation (SAPI) programme, which is now drawing to a close.
The sessions will highlight how the programme has brought together researchers and industry partners to accelerate innovation in sustainable aquaculture, from advances in health management and breeding to new technologies supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.
As well as the Keynote programme, the popular Innovation Theatre returns this year with an international roll call of sector specialists, including a team from Pure Salmon Technology who will outline how biological risk can be reduced in RAS smolt production.
