A highlight of the BC Shellfish and Seafood Festival is the BC Seafood Expo for the seafood trade and industry. The Expo offers speakers, talks, keynotes, workshops, exhibitor booths, and networking events to help shellfish researchers, poducers, exporters, distributors, educators and associations keep abreast of innovations, challenges and opportunities in the industry.
Two keynote addresses featured long-time sustainable seafood ambassador Ned Bell, Ocean Wise executive chef at Vancouver Aquarium speaking on Farmed & Wild Fish, It’s All Seafood, and broadcast personality Terry O’reilly speaking on Marketing BC Seafood.
Ten different Expo sessions featured over 30 speakers. Topics included ocean acidification and climate change, transport logistics, food and traceability, seafood and public health, research projects, new cultured species, human resources and training, and marketing.
Booths showed off products, disseminated information from goverment agencies and consumer watchdogs, and displayed educational materials to foster learning at interactive booths; and of course, served up tasty new food products.
There were plenty of networking opportunities to mingle, make connections, and talk shop at lunches and coffee sessions. In addition, the BC Shellfish Growers Association hosted a reception with a screening of the film Ebb and Flow about the history of oyster farming on the West Coast. The BC Seafood Expo reception for International Seafood Buyers featured over a dozen stations where international and regional celebrity chefs prepared local seafood, pork, bison and beef; proceeds raised funds for the Comox Valley Community Foundation.
For more information visit BCSeafoodExpo.com.