Scotland scores GOAL for 2024
The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) has selected Scotland as the host country for its 2024 conference.
The event, known as GOAL will include a conference with international speakers focusing on production, sustainability, innovation and market trends alongside delegate visits across Scotland to learn more about, and from, the country’s seafood industry.
The GSA is an international nongovernmental organisation dedicated to advancing responsible seafood practices through education, advocacy and third-party assurances. Previous hosts of GOAL include France, Chile and Dublin with this year’s event taking place in-person at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, USA, over 3-5 October.
The responsible seafood conference, which has never been held in the UK before, will be co-hosted by Seafood Scotland and the GSA and will be attended by leaders from across the global seafood sector
The bid to host the conference was put together by Seafood Scotland who will work with the Scottish Government and other industry bodies to deliver the event with the Global Seafood Alliance.
The GSA’s COO Brian Perkins said: “We look forward to returning our signature GOAL conference to Europe for the first time since 2017. Scotland has a rich tradition in both aquaculture and wild-capture fisheries, and we see it as an ideal fit for GOAL 2024 given our organization’s growing involvement in wild-capture fisheries and rebrand from the Global Aquaculture Alliance to the Global Seafood Alliance in 2021.”
Brian Perkins shared news of the bid win today with Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, as she visited Scottish seafood producers on the Scottish Pavilion at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona.
“I am delighted that Scotland’s bid to host the prestigious Seafood Alliance Conference in 2024 has been successful and look forward to welcoming delegates from across the globe to this important event.
“Scotland’s seafood industry is a major success story, producing world-class, nutritious, low-carbon food that is enjoyed at home and abroad, with exports increasing by a £144m compared to 2020 and contributing £1.3bn to the Scottish economy annually in GVA.
“At the same time, our world-leading sustainable fisheries management plans demonstrate our commitment to supporting a resilient seafood sector which provides important employment opportunities across our coastal communities.
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in bringing the conference to Scotland and ensuring we have the opportunity to showcase our products to a key audience and sharing our expertise with international industry leaders.”
