Join us for the 22nd edition of the Responsible Seafood Summit at the Saint John Delta to discuss the foremost issues shaping the future of the seafood industry.
The Global Seafood Alliance has been encouraging collaboration and facilitating dialogue throughout the seafood community since 2001, beginning with the Global Shrimp Outlook for Leadership (GSOL) and continuing with its successor, the Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership (GOAL). Though the name has changed, the mission has not – to provide a pre-competitive platform for sharing knowledge and exchanging ideas amongst seafood thought leaders, from both aquaculture and wild-capture fisheries.
Between 400 and 500 seafood professionals representing the entire value chain – including farmers, fishers, processors, exporters and importers, feed manufacturers, wholesalers, retail and foodservice buyers, technology providers, NGOs and government officials – attend the Responsible Seafood Summit to be active participants in the development of a healthy, responsible seafood community.
The Responsible Seafood Summit features a carefully curated and forward-thinking program with around 50 speakers who identify emerging issues before they become challenges and develop a long-term strategy addressing those challenges, keeping you ahead of the curve. Available below, the program outline was crafted by a 10-member advisory board.
Program Advisory Board:
Julie Decker, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation
Rick Doucet, Former New Brunswick Fisheries & Aquaculture Minister
Bill DiMento, High Liner Foods
Jon Grant, Dalhousie University
Dick Jones, Blue Ocean Mariculture
Tim Kennedy, Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance
Allen Kimball, Allen K. Kimball Consulting LLC
Paul Lansbergen, Fisheries Council of Canada
Annie Tselikis, Maine Lobster Dealers Association
Matt Thompson & Lena Weiss, New England Aquarium
No two events are the same! We do not rest on our laurels by holding the same event in the same location each year.
The Responsible Seafood Summit has been held in 18 cities on four continents since 2001. Each event is unique, embracing the identity and culture of the host country while providing an entertaining, casual atmosphere for seafood professionals to learn and network through an education program, meals and receptions, and field trips to production facilities.
New Brunswick, Canada, was selected as the location of the 2023 event because of its diverse seafood community and the example it sets for aquaculture and fisheries done responsibly. Atlantic Canada is increasingly a leader in global protein production, job creation and rural development; advancements in supply chain management; deglobalization and food security; ocean economy strategies; bay management and conservation; and collaboration with First Nations. Discover first-hand what New Brunswick has to offer. The event is co-hosted by the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association.
Registration for the Responsible Seafood Summit is open! Register now before rates go up by $500 USD on July 1 and by an additional $500 USD on Sept. 10. Become a GSA individual or small business member to save $200 USD per employee, or become a GSA corporate member to save $500 USD per employee. Upon registering, you will receive instructions on reserving a guest room at the special event rate at the Delta ($249 CAD) or neighboring Hilton ($229 or $249 CAD). Don’t hesitate. Availability is limited. Questions? Contact us, or share your email address to receive event updates.
WHO QUALIFIES?
GSA Corporate Members
In-Country / Based in Canada
NGO
Academia
Government
WHO QUALIFIES?
GSA Individual Members
GSA Small Business Members
Companies with BAP- and BSP-Certified Facilities
WHO QUALIFIES?
GSA Non-Members
Registration & Information - 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Sponsored by Choice Canning Company.
Global Seafood Alliance Executive Committee - 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Field Trips - 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
A series of field trips to aquaculture production facilities and fishing communities will depart from the lobby of the Saint John Delta beginning at 1:30 p.m. When registering, check “field trips” to hold your spot on one or more field trips. Schedules will be released soon. Transportation sponsored by Expalsa.
Global Seafood Alliance Board of Directors - 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Aquademia Podcast: Live from the Summit - 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Watch as the co-hosts of the Global Seafood Alliance's Aquademia podcast interview speakers and attendees live from the Saint John Delta.
Opening Reception, Sponsored by Choice Canning Co. - 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Join us for drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres at the opening reception. Sponsored by Choice Canning Company.
Registration & Information - 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Sponsored by Choice Canning Company.
Continental Breakfast - 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM
Plenary Opening: Ceremonial Speeches, Keynote-Caliber Addresses and Data-Driven Presentations - 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
Coffee & Tea Break - 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Plenary Session #1: Inflation, Higher Seafood Prices and a Post-Pandemic Life - 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM
Inflation is eating into disposable income, consumers are once again time starved, foodservice is bouncing back and the pandemic-fueled cooking-seafood-at-home fad is fading. On top of that, the labor market remains tight, and the economy is stuck in a wage-price spiral. As a result, retail seafood sales are stalling. In a post-pandemic world, what do retailers need to do to grow seafood’s share of the grocery basket? Do they need to focus on what’s selling well? Do they offer more deals and better communicate the value of seafood? Do they provide more tray-pack fish, value-added seafood and meal-kit solutions? Is this affecting how buyers and sellers approach sustainability? Some of the world’s leading retail seafood buyers share their thoughts.
Plenary Session #2: Politics, Social License & Unification - 11:15 AM to 12:00 PM
The political landscape is evolving. Aquaculture and fisheries are increasingly viewed as political risks. Jobs and employment, food security and First Nations rights are increasingly ignored in the name of conservation. Polarization is at an all-time high. As a business, whether established or new, how do you plan for the future in a politically charged environment? How do we get politicians and the public to see seafood, farmed and wild, as food. What role do certification programs play? What can we learn by aligning with other food-production sectors and acting as a more unified front? And how can a better aligned seafood industry lead to production growth for both aquaculture and fisheries?
Lunch - 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Sponsored by Mazzetta Company.
Aquademia Podcast: Live from the Summit - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Watch as the co-hosts of the Global Seafood Alliance's Aquademia podcast interview speakers and attendees live from the Saint John Delta.
Field Trips - 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
A series of field trips to aquaculture production facilities and fishing communities will depart from the lobby of the Saint John Delta beginning at 1:30 p.m. When registering, check “field trips” to hold your spot on one or more field trips. Schedules will be released soon. Transportation sponsored by Expalsa.
Breakout Session #1: Politics, Social License & Unification - 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Speakers from the morning plenary join this afternoon breakout for a question-and-answer discussion with the audience.
Breakout Sessions #2: Inflation, Higher Seafood Prices and a Post-Pandemic Life - 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Speakers from the morning plenary join this afternoon breakout for a question-and-answer discussion with the audience.
Reception & Ceremony: Responsible Seafood Innovation Awards - 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Join the six finalists of the 11th annual Responsible Seafood Innovation Award for a reception and ceremony in which the two winners of the 2023 competition – one for aquaculture and one for wild-capture fisheries – will be announced. Sponsored by the U.S. Soybean Export Council.
Registration & Information - 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Sponsored by Choice Canning Company.
Continental Breakfast - 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM
Plenary Opening: Ceremonial Speeches, Keynote-Caliber Addresses and Data-Driven Presentations - 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
Coffee & Tea Break - 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Plenary Session #3: ESG - 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM
ESG is a framework that helps stakeholders understand how an organization is managing risks and opportunities related to environmental, social and governance criteria. Banks, investors and retail and foodservice corporations are ramping up their expectations, setting aggressive goals for 2030 and beyond. They’re looking to lower-impact foods, and they’re pushing their suppliers to reduce carbon emissions and strengthen worker voice. Are suppliers meeting these expectations? Is there a need for suppliers to be more transparent about where they’re falling short on their environmental and social responsibility goals? Is there a need for the NGO community to hold them more accountable and create a “safe space” for improvements to be made?
Plenary Session #4: Food Security, Deglobalization & Reshoring - 11:15 AM to 12:00 PM
Blue foods play a critical role in food security and social economic prosperity. Three billion people rely on seafood for food or livelihood, or both. The oceans can produce six times more food than they currently do, particularly foods originating from mariculture and the marriage of aquaculture and fisheries. How do we get there? The need to get there sooner rather than later is being accelerated by efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, inflation and the higher cost of labor, processing and shipping are forcing the industry to rethink its supply chain and consider reshoring, bringing social and economic prosperity back to rural areas in need of it. How do we create incentives for that to happen? What role do technology and automation play in making that happen?
Lunch - 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Aquademia Podcast: Live from the Summit - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Watch as the co-hosts of the Global Seafood Alliance's Aquademia podcast interview speakers and attendees live from the Saint John Delta.
Field Trips - 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
A series of field trips to aquaculture production facilities and fishing communities will depart from the lobby of the Saint John Delta beginning at 1:30 p.m. When registering, check “field trips” to hold your spot on one or more field trips. Schedules will be released soon. Transportation sponsored by Expalsa.
GSA Connect - 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
For the second consecutive year, the Global Seafood Alliance is organizing Connect, a matchmaking activity connecting seafood buyers with suppliers through presentations to the audience and one-on-one meetings. Buyers who participate in Connect receive complimentary registration to the Responsible Seafood Summit. For more information or to participate, contact GSA Media & Events Manager Jim Batchelor.
Breakout Session #3: ESG - 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Speakers from the morning plenary join this afternoon breakout for a question-and-answer discussion with the audience.
Breakout Session #4: Food Security, Deglobalization & Reshoring - 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Speakers from the morning plenary join this afternoon breakout for a question-and-answer discussion with the audience.
Gala Reception - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Join us for dinner and drinks at the historic Imperial Theatre, which is walking distance from the Delta and Hilton. The gala will conclude with a show in the theater. Sponsored by the Province of New Brunswick.
Registration & Information - 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Sponsored by Choice Canning Company.
Continental Breakfast - 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
Plenary Opening: Ceremonial Speeches, Keynote-Caliber Addresses and Data-Driven Presentations - 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Coffee & Tea Break - 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Plenary Session #5: Future Proofing - 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Pressure is mounting for both aquaculture and fisheries to gety ahead of the next crisis by being more resourceful and more thoughtful of the animals they farm, catch and interact with. Mitigating bycatch, reducing wildlife interaction, replacing traditional baits with alternative baits, improving animal welfare through more humane slaughtering techniques and using seafood processing waste more efficiently are among the challenges faced by both aquaculture and fisheries. What can aquaculture and fisheries learn from each other to become a more resourceful, more thoughtful industry as a whole?
Closing Ceremonies - 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
Join us for 2024 Responsible Seafood Summit, co-hosted by Seafood Scotland, at the Fairmont St. Andrews on Scotland’s east coast from Oct. 21 to 24.
Lunch - 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Sponsored by Seafood Scotland.
Take your learning and networking experience on the road with field trips to aquaculture production facilities and fishing communities. Field trips to Cooke Seafood’s Atlantic salmon processing plant, a farm and a hatchery, Connors Bros. Ltd.’s sardine and herring cannery and East Coast Innovation Inc.’s workshop for a new fish-transfer technology are being planned, and more field trips will be added as they’re confirmed. They will occur on the afternoons of Oct. 2, 3 and 4. Availability is limited. Check “field trips” when registering to reserve your spot. (There is an additional $200 fee to participate in field trips; this is flat rate that allows you to participate in as many field trips as your schedule allows.)
Now in its 11th year, the Responsible Seafood Innovation Awards recognize individuals and organizations finding new solutions to the challenges facing seafood. The competition has two categories – one for aquaculture and one for fisheries. Applications are being accepted through June 30. Apply now! Six finalists will be invited to the event for a special reception on Oct. 3, at which the winners will be crowned. Pictured is one of two 2022 winners, Dr. C.R. Subhashini and Mrs. Sudha Lingappa of Aristogene Biosciences with Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, the competition’s sponsor.
Heighten the visibility and credibility of your brand by aligning with GSA’s mission of responsible seafood production and sourcing and sponsoring the Responsible Seafood Summit. There are only a few sponsorship opportunities, including complimentary registrations, remaining. Download GSA’s 2023 Media & Events Kit and contact GSA Media & Events Sales Manager Jim Bachelor to learn more.
Co-hosted by Seafood Scotland, the 2024 Responsible Seafood Summit will be held at the Fairmont St. Andrews in historic St. Andrews on Scotland’s east coast from Oct. 21 to 24, 2024. The Fairmont St. Andrews is Scotland’s largest conference facility, with more than 15,000 square feet of meeting space and 220 guest rooms. Registration will open on May 1, 2024.
Interested in co-hosting the 2025 Responsible Seafood Summit? GSA is currently accepting bids from host countries. Fill out a request for proposal, and contact GSA’s Steven Hedlund for more information.
GSA’s sister organization, the Center for Responsible Seafood (TCRS), is organizing the inaugural Shrimp Summit at the New World Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from July 24 to 26, 2023. The event will convene the global seafood value chain to address the challenges facing shrimp farming in Asia and around the globe, from stagnant production to growers’ livelihoods, with a focus on sustainability and climate change. Registration is open. Contact TCRS’ George Chamberlain for more information.