Introduction
EAS Berlin
AN international crowd of more than 2,700 delegates gathered in Berlin last month for the European Aquaculture Society’s annual conference and exhibition. Aquaculture Europe 2019 not only attracted record attendance, but also more than 1,000 abstracts, 798 presentations and 443 posters.
Some 85 countries were represented, in the 56 scientific sessions and on the 150 stands, another EAS record compared to previous exhibitions.
The conference featured an innovation forum for the first time, providing selected start-up companies with a platform to present their new technologies in front of discerning aquaculture professionals.
And there was a special focus on land based aquaculture, with the separate Nordic RAS seminar taking place at the conference centre ahead of AE2019, and drawing its own visitors, many of whom then stayed for the EAS show.
Sessions at the four-day EAS conference highlighted the latest research in nutrition; sustainable technologies; offshore farming; precision farming, and the use of artificial intelligence and big data in aquaculture; aquaponics and IMTA; fish welfare; the development of genomic tools and their applications; and the interaction between wild and farmed fish – among many other topics.
The poster presentations featured several ePosters for the first time, to accommodate the increasing number of abstracts submitted to EAS events, and organisers plan to implement the scheme fully from 2020.
EAS president Gavin Burnell said the overall response to AE2019 in
Berlin had been ‘overwhelming’.
As he opened proceedings at the splendid Estrel Hotel and Conference Centre, he made a reference to Brexit, saying the only ‘B’ word he wanted mentioned during the week was Berlin.
‘Let there be life and a future from growing from water,’ he added, echoing the show’s theme.
Alistair Lane, EAS executive director, described this year’s event as ‘probably one of the best ever’.
‘Attendance was very high, especially regarding the companies presenting products and the number of countries present.
‘We also received the highest number of abstracts ever for presentation in the oral and poster sessions. This shows the attractiveness of Aquaculture Europe for science and for the sector, providing an annual hub for people to get together. We look forward very much to welcoming you in Cork next year!’
Aquaculture 2020 will take place in Cork from September 29 to October 2, 2020.
Let there be life and a future growing from water”