MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

World Fishing Expo draws exhibitors from 60 countries

Vigo in northwest Spain is set to become a great business centre for the international fishery industry when it hosts the World Fishing Exhibition for the fifth time, between 17 and 21 September

Since its was first staged in 1973 the event has become the meeting point for fisheries professionals and administrators from all over the world, and this year organisers expect 60 countries to be represented at the beginning of the event. Among the countries that have confirmed their participation are the United Kingdom, Denmark, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, France, Iceland, Holland, Norway, Sweden and Italy. And there are advanced negotiations with Chile, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

Among the institutions that will have pavilions at the event are the EU, FROM, the Andalusian Council and the Galician Xunta's Fisheries Council, which will have an 800 square metre area to host Galician fishing sector organisations.

To honour its international condition, the agenda of VIGO 2003 will include the traditional "A Toxa Conference of Ministers," as well as the 1st World Conference on Deep-Water Fisheries and the II International Seminar on Safety in Fishery Activities, organised by Galicia's Fisheries Council.

The purpose of the deep-water fisheries conference, as its organisers explained, is "to open constructive dialogue among scientists, governments, industry representatives and international organisations, to ensure the sustainability of deep water fisheries." EU countries and delegations from New Zealand, Iceland and Australia, which have relevant experience in managing and exploiting deep water fisheries, will participate in the conference, and the London Imperial College will act as technical adviser.

This commitment from the fishing industry is considered vital at a time when illegal fishing and uncontrolled activities threaten the conservation of fishery resources. So much so that conclusions will be compiled in the "Vigo Declaration," which will be presented at the Deep Sea 2003 Conference that will take place later this year in Queenstown (New Zealand).

This interesting agenda and the opportunity to close important deals have already attracted 600 companies from 41 countries, which confirmed their participation seven months before the event.

"The World Fishing Exhibition has completed the first phase by training exhibitors, the entire exhibition space is already fully booked, and 50% of the additional 4,000m2 that we built is also taken," said Alfonso Paz-Andrade, president of the Exhibition's Executive Committee. (FIS/MP).-