Marta Costas, Director of the Nueva Pescanova Foundation and Co-Director of the GSSG Forum, Isaac Rosón, Director General of Fisheries, Technological Innovation, and Aquaculture of the Xunta de Galicia, and Ángel Matamoro, Co-Director of the GSSG Forum.
The fourth edition of the Global Sustainable Seafood Galicia Forum (GSSG), which will take place in Vigo on 28 April, has officially announced its agenda. The Director General of Fisheries, Technological Innovation and Aquaculture of the Xunta de Galicia, Isaac Rosón; the Director of the Nueva Pescanova Foundation and Co‑Director of the GSSG Forum, Marta Costas; and the Co‑Director of the GSSG Forum, Ángel Matamoro, presented the theme of the upcoming event, ‘Responsibility and Impact’, along with its ambitious programme, which will bring together an international panel of 18 experts. Attendance is expected to reach 300 people.
At the presentation, the Director General of Fisheries, Technological Innovation and Aquaculture of the Xunta de Galicia, Isaac Rosón, described Galicia as “an undisputed international benchmark in the responsible management of marine resources; forums such as the GSSG are the best platform for showcasing our model”. He also noted that the theme of this fourth edition, centred on the analysis of responsibility and impact, aligns directly with the Galician Government’s roadmap: “to ensure that our fishing, shellfish harvesting, aquaculture and processing activities continue to be a vital economic and social driver, whilst always safeguarding the conservation and balance of our marine ecosystems”.
For her part, Marta Costas, Director of the Nueva Pescanova Foundation and Co‑Director of the forum, emphasised the importance of the theme under discussion: “how responsible practices within the seafood sector, across the entire value chain, have a positive impact on the planet and on people, building on the previous edition, where we discussed measuring sustainability.”
The Forum’s Co‑Director, Ángel Matamoro, outlined the five discussion panels featured in this fourth edition – certification schemes, blue carbon, socio‑economic development, waste reduction and Marine Protected Areas – along with an opening address on the FAO’s Blue Transformation programme and a closing session focused on the impact economy. “We are bringing together leading figures and organisations in Vigo, thereby contributing to the sector’s progress in terms of sustainability.
Speakers
Representatives from institutions, associations, research bodies, NGOs and leading companies in the fishing and aquaculture sector will share a range of perspectives, challenges and best practices relating to responsible initiatives that combine continuous improvement with positive impact. For the fourth consecutive year, Galicia will be at the heart of the global dialogue on seafood sustainability.
Speakers at the fourth GSSG Forum included FAO international consultant, Diana Fernández de la Reguera; the executive director of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Rupert Howes; the environmental coordinator of the National Chamber of Aquaculture of Ecuador, Simone Maridueña; the mayor of Lüderitz, Brigitte Fredericks; the director of Sustainability and Competitiveness of FIAB, Paloma Sánchez; the head of Planning and Sustainable Management of the Oceans of UNESCO, Fanny Douvere; and the executive director of the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), Gerbrand Haverkamp.
Registration to take part in the event will remain open until 24 April at 2.00 pm, for both in-person and online attendance.