The III
Global Fishery Forum and International Exhibition of Fish Industry, Seafood and
Technology (Seafood Expo Russia) began in St. Petersburg on 10 July. The main
event of Russia’s fishing industry brought together representatives of more
than 25 countries and 30 regions of Russia. The Forum is also attended by 20
foreign delegations. The organizer is the Federal Agency for Fisheries and the
operator of the Forum is the Roscongress Foundation.
“The Russian Federation currently ranks fourth among
the world’s commercial fisheries. In 2018, our fishermen produced more than 5
million tonnes of aquatic bioresources, a record result for more than a quarter
of a century. The fishing industry is an essential part of the Russian economy
and is also of strategic importance for food security. Today, Russia faces the
ambitious task of becoming a leader not only in terms of catch, but also
production and supply of fish products. For this purpose, the state provides
large-scale support. Its volumes are increasing every year, and this trend will
continue”, Dmitry
Patrushev, Minister of
Agriculture of the Russian Federation, said in his welcome address at
the opening of the Forum and Seafood Expo.
Ilya Shestakov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian
Federation and Head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries, noted that the results
of the II Forum and Expo confirmed that Russia was correct in its intention to
make the event annual. “We decided to
relieve September, which is full of business events, and to hold the Forum and
Exhibition in the middle of July, on the eve of Fisherman’s Day in Russia. This
year we have gone a step further. In terms of both participants and the number
of guests gathered today, we can see that the authority of the Forum and the
Exhibition is growing not only in Russia, but worldwide as well. We will look at use of ocean resources from
three perspectives: environmental, economic and social. And we will try to find
a balance”, he said
The Forum programme was launched with the plenary session
“Ocean of Opportunities: Nature, Economy
and People”. Russian and foreign experts discussed economic efficiency and
social stability, regulation of fishing and competition, legislative support
for the industry and a balance between public and private interests in the
fishing industry.
The meeting
was attended by Dmitry Patrushev, Minister of Agriculture of the Russian
Federation; Ilya Shestakov,
Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation and Head of the
Federal Agency for Fisheries; Bekir Pakdemirli, Minister of Agriculture and
Forestry, Vladimir Ilyukhin,
Governor of the Kamchatka Territory; Igor
Orlov, Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region; Jacques Verborgh, President of the North East Atlantic Fisheries
Commission (NEAFC); Suam Kim, President of the North
Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC); Vladimir Sitnov, Senior Vice President of the Corporate and
Investment Business Block of PJSC Sberbank; and Marcio Castro de Souza,
Senior Fishery Industry Officer of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO).
“We are responsible for leaving the World Oceans to
coming generations. We will pursue a policy of social responsibility and
develop international programmes. Renewability of resources is one of the
strategic objectives”, Bekir Pakdemirli, Minister of Agriculture and
Forestry of the Republic of Turkey, stated at the meeting.
The business
programme of the Global Fishery Forum’s first day continued with the roundtable
“Digitalization as a Tool for the
Transformation of the Fisheries Industry”. The participants considered the
possibilities for IT solutions and services for the fishing industry.
Roundtables were also held on “How to
Sell Fish Properly” and “The Arctic
and Antarctica: Resource Potential, Ban or Fishing, Elements of Cooperation”.
The Scorpion freezer trawler for the Murmansk fishing
company was launched ceremonially at the Pella Shipyard on the first day of the
Forum. The ceremony was attended by Dmitry Patrushev, Minister of Agriculture of the Russian
Federation; Ilya Shestakov,
Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation and Head of the
Federal Agency for Fisheries; Gerbert Tsaturov, General Director of the Pella Shipyard; and Yuri Parshev,
Executive Director of the Fest Group. The vessel was built under the
state support programme providing quotas for investment purposes.
The International Exhibition of Fish Industry, Seafood and Technology (SEAFOOD EXPO RUSSIA) opened on 10 July. The exhibition, which occupies an area of 13,200 square metres, features novelties and the latest developments in domestic and foreign fishing, fish-breeding and processing companies, shipbuilding enterprises, manufacturers of equipment and related materials, as well as relevant services of trade and other companies. The exhibitors include the major Russian fishing companies Norebo Group, Russian Fishery Company and Antey Group, equipment manufacturers Fishering Service, Technologisheskoe Oborudovanie, Optimar and KAPP, as well as entire countries with national expositions and Russian regions. The total number of participating companies is 34% higher than last year: an increase from 250 to 335.
Five important agreements were signed on the first day of the exhibition. The Government of the Arkhangelsk Region concluded agreements with the Government of the Kamchatka Territory, with the Northern (Arctic) Federal University, and the Arctic Fishing Cluster Association. In turn, the Northern University signed an agreement with the Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography. The Arctic Fishing Cluster Association and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise National Fish Resources (FSUE NATSRYBRESURS) signed a document on participation in the industrial activities of the Arctic Fishing Cluster.
The business programme of the Global Fishery Forum will continue on 11 July. The exhibition will also be open on 12 July.
The III Global Fishery Forum and
International Exhibition of Fish Industry, Seafood and Technology (Seafood Expo
Russia) are being held from 10 to 12 July 2019 in St. Petersburg, at the
ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Centre.
