MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands fishing industry participates of Europe’s leading seafood Show

Falklands’ delegation at the Stand in the Brussels Seafood Show

Representatives from the Falkland Islands’ fishing industry travelled to Belgium last week to attend the Brussels Seafood Show.

In the 25th anniversary of the establishment of a fishing industry in the Falklands, it was a timely opportunity for fishing companies to showcase the development of an industry that has gone from strength to strength in that time.

The Brussels Seafood Show is a major event in the calendar for seafood companies, distributors, processors, equipment manufacturers and fishing companies from all over the world.

This year around 1600 companies, representing around 80 countries exhibited at the show, making it the biggest one ever despite the economic recession affecting many European countries.

For Falkland Islands fishing companies’ attendance at the show offers an opportunity to meet customers and suppliers, to make new contacts and to promote awareness of the Islands’ industry.

A total of 10 difference species (illex, loligo, kingclip, hake, hoki, toothfish, rock cod, red cod, ray/skate and southern blue whiting) were showcased at the meeting, with the squid species, kingclip and toothfish attracting most interest.

Rumours that the show will move to Barcelona either in October 2012 or next year were still not confirmed by the time exhibitors and visitors had left, but having experienced increasingly inflated prices for the mediocre accommodation available in Brussels during “Seafood Show” week, most people seemed to be of the view that it would be a good move.