Aqua Nor ‘not in danger’ over traffic row

THE organisers of Aqua Nor, arguably the biggest event in the aquaculture calendar, have issued an extraordinary statement insisting the show will ‘go ahead as planned’.

In what will come as a surprise to exhibitors and delegates outside Norway, a municipal row in Trondheim, which hosts the event, has threatened to halt the biennial exhibition.

Doubts about the show surfaced in the Norwegian press on Wednesday, when the newspaper Fiskeribladet published an article saying this year’s Aqua Nor may be cancelled.

There have reportedly been ‘traffic challenges’ related to the development of the new Trondheim Spektrum.

The building, long in the planning, will offer increased capacity for exhibitors, with the exhibition area covering 17,000 m², but it is also designed to accommodate sporting events.

Both the Nor-Fishing Foundation, which organises Aqua Nor, and Trondheim council have stressed that the exhibition will be going ahead.

Liv Holmefjord, chair of the Nor-Fishing Foundation board, said: ‘As organiser of the exhibition we have an agreement with Trondheim Spektrum to hold the event in their facilities.

‘Trondheim Spektrum has confirmed that they have all the necessary permits and dispensations for a successful organisation of the event.’

The Nor-Fishing Foundation said it felt the need to clarify this because of recent press coverage, which had given the impression there were uncertainties related to the implementation of Aqua Nor 2019.

‘There is nothing to indicate that Aqua Nor will not go as planned,’ said Holmefjord.

Meanwhile, the municipality of Trondheim’s chief executive, Morten Wolden, issued a statement – under the heading ‘The Aqua Nor exhibition is not in danger’ – stressing that ‘there are no plans to move or cancel the event’.

‘It is correct, however, that there are traffic challenges in connection with upgrading of road and other infrastructure that takes place in parallel with the development of the new Trondheim Spektrum,’ Wolden continued.

‘Trondheim municipality and its partners have always been aware of this. Both before and during the entire construction process, measures have been put in place that will limit these disadvantages and the danger to residents and others traveling in the area.

‘These measures will, of course, be maintained and possibly adjusted as needed, as long as it is considered necessary.’

Wolden said the council will ‘take the necessary measures to ensure that this year’s Aqua Nor exhibition will take place in traffic-safe conditions’.

Aqua Nor will be held, in the Trondheim Spektrum, from August 20-23.