With just a month to go before its opening, ItechMer, France’s international exhibition for the fishing industry has unveiled its programme for this year’s event – the fifteenth time the exhibition has been held – as it prepares to welcome visitors from a sector that is facing pivotal challenges.
More than 200 exhibitors and 5000 visitors are expected at the Lorient Bretagne Sud Exhibition Centre as ItechMer 2023 aims to focus on innovation.
‘ItechMer gives us a comprehensive overview of the industry, enabling us to talk to professionals and to identify opportunities through the innovations and equipment presented,’ said Olivier Le Nézet, President of the French National Committee for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs (CNPMEM).
‘The main challenge is to work towards moving away from the reliance on from fossil fuels. Technology must also enable fisheries to be selective and sustainable, to ensure our food sovereignty. Eventually, we’ll need to renew the fleet with viable solutions.’
The focus of ItechMer 2023 will be on transformation and innovation, both in terms of the technological and scientific solutions presented and the programme of meetings and conferences, all of which will revolve around the theme of Innovating to transform the maritime industry.
Eight conference panels featuring 50 expert speakers will be staged over the three days of the event, focusing on the three key issues of Energy transition and decarbonisation (Wednesday, 11th October), Technologies for sustainable fishing (Thursday, 12th October) and Maritime planning and access to resources (Friday, 13th October).
‘The exhibition gives us an opportunity to talk to fishermen about improving the way we handle catches on board, reducing fuel consumption, and more,’ said Paul-Henri Celton, director of Piriou Naval Services.
‘Our design office is also involved in the Pilothy hydrogen conversion project, which will be presented at the exhibition.’
Welcoming Oman
An international event, ItechMer will welcome a large Omani delegation, including the ministers of fisheries and industry. The day before the exhibition, a meeting to present the progress of the Duqm fishing port project will be held at Lorient town hall. The Franco-Omani consortium MARSA, including SAS Ker’Oman, supported by players from Brittany and Lorient, won this tender for projects worth an estimated €130 million, including an exclusive 28-year operating concession.
‘ItechMer is an opportunity to showcase Lorient’s extensive maritime expertise around the world. I am particularly delighted to welcome the representatives of the Sultanate of Oman,‘ said Fabrice Loher, President of Lorient-Agglomération and Mayor of Lorient.
‘The Duqm port project is testimony to Lorient’s recognised expertise in fishing and seafood processing, which Lorient Agglomération is supporting.’
