Role models

Aqua Nor is claimed, by its organisers, to be the greatest aquaculture show in the world and it is certainly the biggest. The biennial event sees the fish farming fraternity from around the world gathering in Trondheim, where around 500 exhibitors will be showing their latest products, and industry experts will hold forth, in a series of talks, on everything from offshore farming to land-based technology. Norwegian innovation will be the focus of the show, and the Norwegian aquaculture ‘model’ will be the central theme of the seminars.

In this issue, some of those driving Norway’s expansion, including top scientists, educators and bankers, explain their vision for the sector, in their own country and beyond.

Training the next generation of site managers, technicians, research teams and business pioneers remains one of the industry’s toughest challenges. An alliance between Europe’s leading aquaculture states may be the way forward, argues Martyn Haines (page 48), who has met fellow minded Norwegians to consider uniform qualifications between our nations.

Also over the following pages, we look at the future of the Crown Estate, which is subject to further devolution under the propsals of the Smith Commission. Long-serving Crown Estate aquaculture manager Alex Adrian discusses the implications for the industry, while representatives of salmon and mussel producers defend the organisation’s role and herald the support it has given to fish farmers over the years.

We would like to hear your opinions, too, on this subject and on anything else that affects your working life. Please get in touch and we will air your views, with your permission of course, in a letters section, to be launched in the magazine soon.