UK’s biggest seafood conference will explore responsible seafood economy

The UK Seafood Summit has attracted an impressive line-up of speakers for the second year.

Organised by Seafish, the public body that supports the £10bn UK seafood industry, the annual event is the largest seafood conference in the UK attracting around 300 people from the seafood industry, Government, the wider food industry and academia across two days of debate and discussion.

This year’s theme is The Responsible Seafood Economy and day one of the prestigious event, which will be held in North Lincolnshire again, will be hosted by the Young Seafood Leaders Network, launched at last year’s Summit. The day will explore changing consumer preferences, habits and desire for sustainable products and what industry can do to attract the consumer of the future.

Day two will focus on seafood supplies and operations, exploring the workforce of tomorrow, sustainability, and innovations.

The keynote speaker for 2019 is Winus Sloot, Marketing and Sales Director, Fish Tales, who will deliver the opening speech. Fish Tales is a Dutch based organisation that works with responsible fishing communities and encourages its customers, retailers and chefs to explore the world of fish.

Ahead of his first visit to the Summit, Winus said: "Being relatively new to working in the seafood industry I am very excited to speak at the UK Seafood Summit.

“At Fish Tales, we seriously love seafood and we want the world to be able to enjoy it forever. I am honoured to further share and discuss our brand's mission and vision in a continuously changing consumer environment.”

Other speakers, who will all talk on the changing nature of seafood sourcing, innovations in technology and the evolution of the workforce, include:

• Max Mossler, co-founder and managing editor of the Sustainable Fisheries UW website
• Laky Zervudachi, Director of Sustainability at Direct Seafoods
• Yvonne Adam, Marketing Director at Young’s Seafood
• Mike Mitchell, consultant for M&S
• Roy Angelvik, Norwegian Seafood Council
• Dr Huginn Freyr Thorsteinsson, partner at Aton Consulting
• Angela Coleshill, Competitiveness Director at FDF
• Jean-Charles Gordon, Fisheries Analyst at Ocean Mind
• Sven Edgren, from DNV GL
• Daniel Whittle, Managing Director at Whitby Seafoods

Seafish Chief Executive, Marcus Coleman, said: “The year’s Summit focuses on market demands, operations and supplies and highlights the positive work going on to make the UK seafood industry responsible and identifies opportunities to improve.

“We’ve got some exceptional speakers lined up from around the world including the US, Norway and Holland. This event provides an invaluable opportunity for the industry to come together to network, share ideas and discuss major issues, ensuring a thriving seafood industry for all.”

The two-day summit opens on Wednesday 16th October which includes an impressive Seafood Fayre networking evening, showcasing seafood from around the UK, on the first night.

The event is free and registration is open for those who wish to attend.  Limited spaces are available which can be booked here.

The UK Seafood Summit will be held at Doubletree by Hilton Forest Pines Hotel, Broughton, North Lincolnshire.