SHELLFISH ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND DINNER

Shellfish Association of Great Britain’s annual conference and dinner. The Shellfish Association of Great Britain’s (SAGB) 53rd annual conference and dinner on 6th and 7th June 2023 features a host of excellent speakers, covering all aspects of the shellfish industry.
Taking place at The Crown Estate, 1 St James Market, London SW1Y 4AH, due to building works at Fishmongers’ Hall, the conference will be opened by the UK Fisheries Minister, the Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP, looking at the state of the industry and the government’s vision for a sustainable and productive fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Simon Fell MP follows with an address on the successes and direction of the Shellfish Aquaculture All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), which he chairs.
Delegates will also hear from Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales and Trefnydd, and from Tracey Teague, Deputy Permanent Secretary for DAERA, Northern Ireland.
Speakers are tackling such tricky subjects as the codes of practice for crustacean welfare, shellfisheries management plans and the effects of climate change, alongside those on funding, the ecosystem benefits of farming shellfish, an update on the market situation in UK retail and in China, and innovations in shellfish processing.
Trevor Bartlett from the Blue Sea Food Company, whose life has been spent in the crab fishing and processing industry, gives a potted history of crabs, while Eddie Derriman takes the members slot, recounting his lobster fishing career and his work with IFCAs and Sea Fisheries Committees.
Contributions from agencies include MMO’s Graeme High outlining the success of the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, Defra’s Andy Burn talking about shellfish fisheries management plans (FMPs), and Frederico Batista from Cefas looking at the impacts of climate change on shellfish production in the UK.
Seafood consumption and markets are covered by Linda Wood, Aquaculture and Fisheries Manager for Marks and Spencer providing a retailer’s perspective, Chris Wells of Food Assurance and Innovation talking discussing how to increase mussel consumption with novel uses of the species, and Ben Ying, seafood specialist from the British Consulate General in Shanghai giving an overview of the Chinese market for shellfish and opportunities for UK suppliers.
On the scientific side, a “decade of industry-led research” is covered by Mike Roach and John Terschak from the Holderness fishing Industry Group, while Sarah Horsfall, SAGB talks about the aims and importance of the current water quality projects being undertaken by the organisation. Tom Cameron, University of Essex, looks at the eco-system services delivered by shellfish habitats and shellfish farms.
Providing the low down on progress in developing industry Codes of Best Practice for Crustacean Welfare is the task of Paul Silcock and Steve Webster from Cumulus Consultants.
The Conference concludes with an upbeat talk from Gus Caslake from Seafish and Duncan Lucas, talking about the huge success that is SEAFEAST, the Dorset Seafood Festival.
The highlight of every conference is a superb dinner, in the splendid surroundings of Fishmongers’ Hall on London Bridge, where guests can appreciate the culinary skills of chef Stefan Pini, watch the sun setting over the River Thames with a dram or two, and enjoy a witty after dinner speech from Anthony Mangnall MP.
The event offers excellent opportunities for networking with the wider industry, from shellfish farmers and fishers to regulators and politicians, and both members and non-members are welcome.