Opening the show in the main square outside the venue, Liv Holmefjord, Director of Fisheries, described how important the show is to the Norwegian seafood industry.
Turning to the more wider importance of the show, Arni Mathiesen, Assistant Director General of FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture spoke about how the show is helping to address sustainability issues.
It will be a huge challenge to feed 9 billion by 2050, noted Mr Mathiesen. With land and fresh water availiability decreasing, the extra food needed must be met from the oceans, in particular from aquaculture.
The opening ceremony was concluded by the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries, Lisbeth Berg Hansen who stated the industry needs to develop sustainably and that the show can help to do that.
Over 480 exhibitors visited the show, promoting their products, and a vast array of seminars covered topics such as sea lice, sustainable farming, aquaculture certifications and different production systems.
Sustainability was at the core of most of the talks but one session in particular, organised by the Norwegian Seafood Centre, looked into the economics of sustainable aquaculture, noting how it improves consumer confidence as well as the environment.
Running alongside Aqua Nor, the Global Salmon Initiative held its first public meeting. The GSI is made up of 15 leading salmon farming countries from around the world all working together and sharing knowledge to ensure a sustainable salmon aquaculture sector for the future.
Speaking at the GSI press conference, Alf-Helge Aarskog, Marine Harvest CEO, stated that the GSI will focus on biosecurity, fish feed sourcing and sustainable standards.
