Going to Aqua Nor? Come and say hello!

With Scotland as one of the top players in the global aquaculture industry, it’s only natural that a vibrant Scottish pavilion should feature at the biggest aquaculture technology exhibition on the planet.

And that’s very much the Team Scotland ambition for Aqua Nor 2023, which takes place in Trondheim, Norway, from 22-24 August.

There will be 25,000 people from 75 countries attending. We’ll have 18 of Scotland’s supply chain businesses exhibiting at the stand. Many more will be joining the wider Scottish delegation, either with their own stands or just to walk the floor and explore.

All of them will be flying the flag for our aquaculture sector and wider blue economy. They’ll be showcasing the wealth of expertise and world-class research that underpins our successes across finfish, shellfish and seaweed.

Aquaculture is, of course, very important to Scotland’s rural economy. In the Highlands and Islands in particular, it provides valuable career opportunities that helps sustain many rural and island communities. That’s one of the many reasons it’s a key sector for us at HIE.

Having been part of the team behind the first Aqua Nor Scottish pavilion in 2017, I’m really looking forward to joining colleagues from the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) and the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government.

The pavilion will give companies of all sizes a chance to use facilities and space to host meetings and make valuable connections – at THE global meeting place for the industry.

We have a packed programme lined up of events and presentations to highlight the innovation, entrepreneurship, products and services across the sector in Scotland. Networking, knowledge exchange and business deals will be at the forefront of every activity.

This year, Aqua Nor is at a new conference venue in the heart of Trondheim. There will be additional exhibition space in the adjacent harbour area, which is also a great place to see the large feed barges and other boats involved in supplying aquaculture farms.

So, if you’re one of the 25,000 or so people connected with the sector who is visiting or taking part in the event, please come and say hello. You’ll find me at the reception desk of the Scottish pavilion from Tuesday to Thursday.