“TUNA, AQUACULTURE AND SOCIAL ISSUES HOT TOPICS AT 2010 SEAFOOD SUMMIT
Largest ever seafood sustainability conference closes in Paris.
“PARIS ‐‐ Seafood Choices’ Seafood Summit closed today with reflections by Julie Packard, executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, on the successes of the sustainable seafood movement over the past 10 years, and the challenges to come. “There is no doubt that the earth and the ocean are changing, said Packard. “We’re just beginning to understand how ocean ecosystems work. Our job is to design solutions in this changing world.”
During the past three days, over 640 delegates from 47 countries gathered to discuss the current sustainability challenges facing the seafood industry and conservation community. Tuna was a hot topic, as the global community awaits France’s position on the proposed international trade ban for bluefin tuna. Many conversations also revolved around salmon, due in part to the recent decisions by retailers Target and Marks & Spencer to remove farmed salmon from their shelves. A spirited debated occurred between anti‐farmed salmon campaigners and representatives from the salmon farming industry after a Summit screening of a controversial film, “Farmed Salmon Exposed.”
On the third and final day of the conference, the panel “Small Farmers in Big Markets” challenged the common definition of sustainability, which often only reflects environmental and economic factors. Michael Phillips, of World Fish Center said: “Our assumption with sustainable seafood is that it is broadly inclusive of social and environmental issues, but as of yet it is not inclusive of social considerations. We need to challenge [the definition of] “sustainable” seafood.” Small aquaculture producers in developing countries are challenged to find their place in the global seafood market. The prospect of Fairtrade shrimp being introduced in the coming year could help address these challenges.
Melanie Siggs, vice president of sustainable markets for SeaWeb, announced during the Summit that the 2011 Seafood Summit would be held in Vancouver, Canada:
“Vancouver’s proximity to Pacific Northwest fisheries, as well as the city’s strong ties with Asia make it a perfect city to continue the fruitful discussions we’ve had in Paris,” she told delegates.
Seafood Summit panels, presentations and workshops are now available online: www.seafoodchoices.org ”
– Apresentações disponíveis: aqui
PONG-Pesca 
The Seafood Summit in Vancouver next year is welcomed by everyone in BC. This is a chance to truly educate everyone on sustainability of seafood for the future. I hope you chose to engage the public as much as possible. There is a lot of rumors and mud-slinging regarding wild vs farmed Salmon. I would like to see the summit address how aquaculture plays and will continue to play a large part in sustainability of our oceans and seafood consumption.
On a side note if anyone has any projection models of fish stocks in 2011 and on, please forward me a link.
See you next year, Nelson.
By: Nelson on 2010/02/09
at 15:47