In a run-up to the four-day World Fishing Exhibition (WFE) in Vigo, Spain, which kicks off on Wednesday, SeafoodSource caught up with Alfonso Paz-Andrade, president of the WFE executive committee, to talk about his vision for this year’s event.
Dove: Is this year’s WFE being well received?
Paz-Andrade: I have been genuinely surprised by the enormous support the industry has given to this event, especially given the financial climate we are presently “enjoying.” The industry heard our call to participate in an event that could only invigorate the economy and get things rolling. There is much to be done, and we have many new people from all over the world coming to see us for the first time (visitors from 111 countries are expected to attend). We are looking forward to welcoming them all to our city.
What hot-button issues will everyone will be talking about?
I think we will be commiserating over the economy. But once that’s out of the way there is the even more dire issue of sustainability, upon which this industry depends 100 percent. We need to get good governance of our oceanic farms and repair the marine environment. We need to get rid of pirates, poachers, radioactive dumping and re-educate the human race about marine conservation, especially in emerging countries to ensure they start off well without making the same errors that we, the supposedly developed and more [educated] nations, have made over the years. There is no room left for rhetoric. It is now or never.
How many exhibitors and visitors are you expecting this year?
We are expecting 800 exhibitors from 82 different countries and more than 70,000 visitors.
What new elements to this year’s show are you particularly pleased with?
First must be the Aquafarming Show, which is a new departure for us and we are happy to have it running in parallel to World Fishing. They are brother industries and complement each other perfectly.
We also have the European Summit on Sustainability and the Fisheries Ministers Conference (featuring 45 ministers), which will bring many authorities and dignitaries to Vigo. It is an opportunity to update them on new technology, [fishing] methods, etc.
The exhibition will also have an attractive look this year. The Plaza de Galicia was created by landscape designer Francisco de Sales, and the green areas will be taken care of by the foundation set up in his name. Italian architect Ettore Burdese and plantsman Oliver Weiss will be creating a wonderful oasis within the Exhibition Centre itself. We will also have spectacular paintings by Galician artist Dario Bassó in an exhibition inspired by South American cultures. We felt it highly representative of the feeling of the exhibition in bringing different cultures together under one roof where business will hopefully be achieved in an atmosphere of friendship, mutual respect and admiration.
You talk about the importance of Spain’s presence. Is Andalucía well-represented this year?
Andalucía is promoting its industry with six companies exhibiting. This will be of great benefit to the area as it will offer its businessman the opportunity to rub shoulders with possible clients from all over the world, thanks to the support of its regional government, which has taken practical and highly commendable measures to help local commerce by ensuring that financial difficulties would not mean them missing the sixth World Fishing Exhibition.
