The SeaWeb Seafood Summit, which returns after a two-year absence, is still seven months away. But as any event planner will tell you, the bulk of the work for a global gathering of the minds is done well in advance. As such, it’s what’s on my mind at this time.
As a result of the SeaWeb-Diversified Communications (parent company of SeafoodSource) partnership that was announced last fall, I landed the opportunity to help develop the program content and schedule for this intriguing event. Having covered the 2010 Summit in Paris as a journalist, I knew going in that the conference sessions would be strong.
The proposal deadline has recently passed, and after vetting the first few rounds of submissions, the review team is impressed. A wide range of crucial global seafood supply chain issues will be addressed by some of the world’s leading voices on sustainability within the industry, academia and the non-governmental community.
Plan to dig
“There’s a lot of great proposals. In terms of really advancing the discussion a lot of people have hit the mark,” said Ned Daly, special projects advisor for SeaWeb. “To really provide value for Summit participants we want to see the program evolve from speakers educating the audience to panels that engage and challenge the audience to think about how we impact real-world issues. We also want to identify opportunities to continue the discussions after the Summit. The slate of proposals we have received definitely provides those opportunities."
The experience will also extend beyond the conference rooms for an exciting field trip. Details are not yet finalized, but attendees will have the chance to witness firsthand some certified-sustainable Gulf of Mexico seafood being harvested and processed. “Improvement on the water” is a phrase so often heard in classrooms and exhibition halls, so don’t miss the chance to see some real improvement with your own eyes, where the rubber meets the road.
Be sure to put the SeaWeb Seafood Summit on your calendar. It will take place 9 to 11
