Over 500 exhibitors were in attendance, from 32 countries. Visitor attendance at the event rose to over 13,500 compared with the previous event in 2011, making this the highest ever attended Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition.
The event commenced with the Opening Ceremony hosted by the Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, in the presence of the Mayor of Kópavogur, Ármann Ólafsson and the guest of honour, the President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.
There was a large delegation of overseas guests in attendance at the event, including those from Norway, and as far afield as Bagladesh and Namibia.
IceFish exhibitors pulled out all the stops this year to provide a truly exciting and interactive experience; from satellite dishes, to conveyor belts and food processing machines, through to leather boots made from cod skin, arm wrestling and a man standing in a bucket of cold water to demonstrate the water tightness of his sealskin boots.
On the evening of the opening day of the Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition, fish processing equipment manufacturers Marel and Valka, and fish processor HB Grandi, were among the winners at the sixth Icelandic Fisheries Awards.
Celiktrans Shipbuilding of Turkey, and exhibitor at IceFish, announced it has been contracted to build new pelagic vessels for fellow exhibitor, HB Grandi.
Marko Partners, launched its new seafood information dashboard, the markofish.com at IceFish 2014. The Icelandic consultancy has devised this so that users can access catch, quota, fish volumes and pricing, as well as schedules and news, on one dashboard. Currently this is for the Icelandic market, with further countries pending release.
Mustad Autoline told World Fishing and Aquaculture that it has sold its new laser seabird and bait loss solution, the Seabird Saver, to Saxhamer at IceFish 2014. In addition, Mustad Autoline sold its Autoliner Coastal System to Icelandic company, Kristbjörg Blikaberg during the event. This newly developed system is already in use onboard two Eimhamar Seafood vessels. It is designed for longliners from 30ft, setting and hauling 6-30,000 hooks inshore and often on rocky seabeds. The system requires little space and is reliable and easy to maintain.
Representatives from one of the UK's fish growth hubs, Grimsby, were at IceFish in the hope of drawing Icelandic investment. Icelandic firms who have benefited from associations with fisheries organisations in the UK are Atlantic Fresh and Icelandic Seachill.
IceFish exhibitor, the Polish shipyard, Nauta, has announced that it has won business for a hull build that is destined for Norway, as well as currently having two hulls under construction for a Danish firm.
This year was a sell-out event, therefore do not delay to reserve your stand space at the next Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition, which will once again return to Kópavogur in 2017. Contact the IceFish Team to discuss your requirements.
