Marta Costas, Director of the Nueva Pescanova Foundation and Co-Director of the GSSG Forum, Patricia García, Director General of Fisheries, Technological Innovation, and Aquaculture of the Xunta de Galicia, and Ángel Matamoro, Co-Director of the GSSG Forum.
The third edition of the Global Sustainable Seafood Galicia Forum (GSSG), set to take place on May 28, has presented its agenda in Vigo. The Director General of Fisheries, Technological Innovation, and Aquaculture of the Xunta de Galicia, Patricia García; 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, announced the theme of the upcoming event, “Measuring Sustainability,” along with a panel of 21 national and international experts who will discuss the topic. An attendance of 300 people—both in person and online—is expected.
During the presentation, the Director of Fisheries, Technological Innovation, and Aquaculture, Patricia García, stated that “this forum is of great interest, both for its format and the quality of its speakers, as well as for the opportunity it provides to delve into a concept that is so fundamental, yet sometimes difficult to define or put into practice—sustainability.” A concept, she explained, that must serve as a goal for the entire maritime fishing sector, as its achievement will determine the future of the entire sea-industry chain.
The Director of the Nueva Pescanova Foundation, Marta Costas, emphasized the importance of focusing on sustainability measurement in this third edition. As she explained, “Identifying key indicators that enhance business efficiency and generate a positive impact on society is the way to move toward a common goal, while also consolidating the work we have been doing at the Nueva Pescanova Foundation.”
The Forum’s Co-Director, Ángel Matamoro, outlined the five perspectives that will shape discussions on measurement: NGOs, value chains, institutions, science, and finance—each bringing unique insights that will be explored through five dedicated sessions. “The diversity of views, experiences, priorities, challenges, and best practices will allow us, by the end of the meeting, to establish recommendations, identify needs, and draw conclusions that contribute to improvements in sustainability,” he noted.
The invited experts represent leading institutions, associations, research entities, and companies within the fishing and aquaculture sectors. They will offer diverse perspectives on the current situation, priorities, and challenges in the industry’s pursuit of sustainability.
Among the speakers at the third GSSG Forum will be UNESCO’s ocean observation expert Emma Heslop, FAO’s sustainable trade and value chain consultant Bhakti Anand, and policy assistant to the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Antonio Basanta. Rosa Chapela, Director of CETMAR, will moderate one of the roundtable discussions.
The challenge of measuring sustainability
Today, seafood sustainability is a shared goal among all stakeholders in the value chain, and the means to achieve it lie in responsible action.
The sector and its stakeholders face the challenge of measuring sustainability. On one hand, compliance with current regulations is essential; on the other, identifying effective measurement indicators serves a dual purpose: enhancing business value and efficiency while ensuring a positive impact on society and the environment. The shared goal is continuous progress.