Seafood Summit starts in Vancouver
According to the Seafood Choices Alliance, The annual Seafood Summit has quickly proven to be one of the hottest tickets in town for seafood professionals interested in learning more about the issues affecting the future of the seafood industry. The Seafood Summit brings together global representatives from the seafood industry and conservation community for in-depth discussions, presentations and networking with the goal of making the seafood marketplace environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. The five day event (including two workshops) will be attended by FishfarmingXpert, and daily reports will follow.
The conference started today (Sunday in B.C.) with a half day workshop entitled “Seafood from crowded seas- The role of marine spatial planning in sustainable, multiple use”. Moderated by- among else- Paul Holthus from the World Ocean Council, the sessions focused on the need for everybody- including the seafood production sector (Fishermen and aquaculturists) to be participating in any kind of marine planning process in order to make it meaningful. And while many in the seafood business are usually too busy trying to make a living, a point was made that the environmental groups are very well organized and funded, and so are governmental representatives (as a rule). The seafood industry also needs to get organized and to find the necessary funding in order to participate. A marine use planning process would be worthless otherwise.
There is no doubt that certain segments of the environmental community in North America will be using this stage to publish and highlight their extreme views on fishing and aquaculture development- especially salmon farming- and it will be a challenge for the organizers to maintain a professional atmosphere among the audience- at last count numbering some ~700 participants from all over the world. People coming to this Summit with preconceived ideas and an unwillingness to work cooperatively together for the greater good will likely be sidelined. One of the biggest challenges will be to separate scientific facts from scientific fiction. There is reasonable common ground to be found, but in order to be a success, the conference must keep everyone at the table until next year’s Summit.
A good principle would be for everyone to pay attention to the principle established by the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, and one which is guiding the activities of a community-based Aquatic Management Board;
Aquatic resources should be managed on an ecosystem basis, which is consistent with the principles of Hishukish Ts'awalk (everything is one) and Isaak (respect).
