Technological advances have progressed the seafood industry dramatically in recent times but the sector should not dilute its focus on maintaining quality or ensuring that pollutants have minimal impact on marine ecosystems, cautioned Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson, president of Iceland.
“At sea and on land, the fishing industry has changed tremendously. Technological advances mean that fewer hands are needed to process the products, but we have seen a considerable change in the kinds of work that the seafood industry provides,” Iceland's elected head of state told delegates at the World Seafood Congress 2017 (WSC) in Reykjavik.
“Although we need fewer hands in the production itself, we need more hands and minds to develop the necessary technology. This development is not tied to Iceland alone. The blue bio-economy of the 21st century depends on innovation, sustainability, diversity, globalization and forward thinking.”
Jóhannesson highlighted that because quality is a key issue for consumers, it is equally important for seafood producers. He also stressed that pollution presents a major risk to oceans and their productivity.
“We have all heard about the issue of microplastics; but there are also oil spills and the aggregation of heavy metals. All of these are potentially threatening, not only to fishing sectors in several countries, but also to world communities in general.
“We must keep reminding governments and industries of these issues if we are going to remedy the situation and continue to keep having wonderful and healthy food from the sea,” he said.
