The Evolution of Sustainability and the Role of Choice discussed in Brussels

24 April 2012

Iceland Responsible Fisheries (IRF) and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) hosted a joint luncheon in Brussels 24 April. The President of Iceland, H.E. Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson addressed the meeting. The title of his speech was Responsible Fisheries and the Future of the Oceans.

Mr. Eggert Benedikt Gudmundsson, CEO of HB Grandi and Chair of the Marketing Advisory Board of Iceland Responsible Fisheries, welcomed guests on behalf of the hosts. He pointed out that both Alaska and Iceland put great emphasis on harvesting the fishing stocks in the oceans responsibly and in a professional way, to create value for customers in international markets, so as not to compromise the ability of future generations to utilize them as well.

Mr. Ray Riutta Executive Director of ASMI presented Cora Campbell Commissioner of Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game. "We appreciate Iceland’s leadership role in responsible fisheries management and we are pleased to collaborate with Iceland in offering seafood certification choice for the marketplace" she said in her remarks, Alaska Steeped in History of Responsible Stewardship. 

The President of Iceland, Mr Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, mentioned in his speech that our common knowledge about the oceans is limited and that the oceans must be given the benefit of the doubt and economic utilisation must rest on sound scientific recommendations. The fishing sector in Iceland has served as the basis for technological innovations and the President gave some examples on innovation used in processing and in tracking of the fish from source to market. By using some of these innovations world-wide important contributions could be made towards responsible management of the ocean resources.

See further some of the articles written about this event: by Steve Hedlund at SeafoodSource.com and some video on the same website, an article by John Sackton at SeafoodNews.com and video from John Sackton from day one at the Brussels show.

The president visited the exhibition and the Icelandic companies that participated in both European Seafood Exposition and Seafood Processing Europe. Promote Iceland and the Icelandic Embassy in Belgium hosted a reception at the Icelandic national stand at ESE.