Four North Wales seafood enterprises will be representing their country at the most significant global event in the industry, Seafood Expo Global, in Barcelona from April 25-27. This event will host exhibits from more than 80 countries, with Ross Shellfish Ltd from Caernarfon, The Lobster Pot in Church Bay, Ocean Bay Seafoods, and South Quay Shellfish from Holyhead showcasing their products at the event. This year, the expo is returning for the second time to Fira Barcelona Gran Via Venue, the primary seafood hub in Europe.
More than 1,550 businesses presented their wares to qualified professionals during the 2022 expo, which both The Lobster Pot and Ocean Bay Seafood attended. The Welsh Government-funded stand at this year’s event is being overseen by the Food and Drink Wales Seafood Cluster, which aims to encourage joint cooperation among the seafood industry businesses in Wales.
Chef Harri Alun from the Carden Park Hotel will also be providing visitors to the Welsh Seafood stand a sample of Wales’s delicacies. Minister for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, praised the initiative and stated that the expo will provide an outstanding opportunity for the four Welsh seafood firms to showcase their goods to a broader audience, helping them break into new markets.
Nia Griffith, the manager of the North Wales Seafood Cluster, expressed her enthusiasm on returning to Barcelona to present the high-quality produce from Wales. This year, the number of businesses from Wales will appear on the Welsh seafood stand has doubled. She is optimistic that an international audience will be impressed with what they see.
The Welsh Government has also reminded Wales’s fishers and vessel owners that a £400,000 grant fund has been made available to promote seafood item adaptation to market trends until May 12th. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) is co-funded by the Welsh Government and the European Commission. The EMFF Standard Costs Scheme enables fishers and vessel owners to purchase equipment from a pre-determined list, at standard costs, allowing them to add value to their catch.
“The grant will be instrumental in helping fishers and vessel owners respond quickly to the rapidly changing market conditions for seafood goods,” stated Minister Lesley Griffiths. She encouraged those with an interest to apply to the fund by its closing date.
