Few nations are as dependent upon sustainable fisheries as Iceland is, making it of prime importance to harvest fish stocks responsibly and sustainably. During the 2009 International Boston Seafood Show, representatives of the Icelandic fishing industry and government officials will announce a new program that will document and certify responsible fisheries. Iceland exports about $2 billion worth of fish a year, employing about 6,000 people in fishing and fish processing, according to the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture (www.fisheries.is).
The 10 a.m. event on Monday, March 16, will be hosted by The Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, The Trade Council of Iceland, The Icelandic Embassy in Washington, D.C., The Fisheries Association of Iceland and Icelandic® USA, Inc. It will be held in room 204B on meeting level two (two levels above exhibit floor), in the Boston Conference and Exhibition Center.
Joining the moderator, Mr. Hjalmar W. Hannesson, the Icelandic Ambassador to the U.S., will be scheduled presenters:
• Dr. Sigurgeir Thorgeirsson, Permanent Secretary, The Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, who will present the Icelandic government’s fisheries policies.
• Dr. Kristján Thórarinsson, Population Ecologist, Vice-Chair, The Fisheries Association of Iceland. He will discuss Iceland’s project to document and communicate responsible fisheries and plans to certify the Icelandic fisheries.
Both will participate in a panel discussion along with Dr. Jóhann Sigurjónsson, Director General, The Icelandic Marine Research Institute.
