Atlantic Canada selected to host GSA’s GOAL 2023 conference

A view of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.

The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) announced it has selected Atlantic Canada as the location for the 2023 GOAL Conference.

GSA said it has selected Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada as the location for the conference, which brings over 500 seafood industry leaders from around the world together. The decision marks the second time that the conference has been held in Canada.

“Atlantic Canada is a major seafood producer on the global aquaculture scene, particularly with salmon. The region’s finfish and shellfish aquaculture farmers have embraced best practices and are highly regarded as responsible and significant contributors to the rural coastal economy and working waterfronts in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island,” GSA CEO Brian Perkins said.  “Coupled with a rich tradition of wild-harvest fisheries, New Brunswick is an ideal fit for GOAL 2023 and GSA.”

The GOAL Conference travels every year – this year’s conference, running from 3 to 5 October, is taking place in Seattle after COVID-19 forced a move from it’s originally planned location in Tokyo, Japan. So far the show has taken place in 18 cities on four continents since 2001.

According to GSA, the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association led the bid to host the GOAL conference, and will work with federal and local governments – along with seafood industry bodies around Canada – to deliver the event.

“As one of the regions that pioneered the global salmon farming sector, Atlantic Canada has become an extraordinary hub of innovative and sustainable aquaculture and cutting-edge marine research. We cannot wait to showcase Atlantic Canada’s science-based, collaborative approach to sustainable seafood production to the world,” Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association Executive Director Susan Farquharson said. “Hosting GOAL in Atlantic Canada will give our seafood professionals invaluable opportunities to learn from and connect with their counterparts from around the world so we can continue to evolve our sector.”

Some of the main sponsors of GOAL, as well – like Cooke Aquaculture Inc. – have roots in Atlantic Canada.

“Even as we have continued to grow our global seafood company our head office remains in New Brunswick,” Cooke Aquaculture CEO Glenn Cooke said.  “Atlantic Canada has a deep relationship with the ocean and producing sustainable seafood. As a family company we have always worked to improve operations and the quality of our products. Innovation is part of who we are, intrinsic to our east coast mentality and the values of everybody who works with us.”  

Photo courtesy of the Global Seafood ALliance

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