Åpning av AquaNor 2019

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Your Royal Highness,

Ministers,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Welcome to AquaNor 2019 and to the city of Trondheim!

It is a great pleasure for me to see such a large number of international delegates attending.

A warm welcome to my colleagues from seafood producing countries (Brazil, Vietnam, Chile and Scotland)!

Señoras y señores, es un gran honor darle la bienvenida a AquaNor y a la ciudad de Trondheim.

En marzo, tuve el gran placer de estar con el Rey y la Reina de Noruega en una visita de estado a Chile. Fue una experiencia maravillosa.

Para mis colegas brasileros. Obrigado - por una interesante y buena visita a Brasil en abril.

Quizás sea mejor si sigo en inglés.

Now I will continue in English.  

My gratitude goes to the Mayor of Trondheim Rita Ottervik and Chair of the Nor-Fishing Foundation, Liv Holmefjord for hosting AquaNor.

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AquaNor has developed into a big event every second year.  For the industry and for friends and partners from all over the world.

Why do we all flock to this fair? It is of course the possibility to engage and network. We meet with the partners we already work with, as well as future partners.

Apart from that, the main reason that we spend time here is obviously the crystal ball effect.

AquaNor is offering a keen eye for what the future holds for the industry.

Having said that, the best way to predict the future is to create it!

This means to turn the riches of aquaculture into future wealth and welfare.

To do so, it takes hard work, a huge amount of knowledge and a committed spirit of tradition and innovation.

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The fact that the sustainability of our oceans is being threatened raises concerns.

Climate change, pollution and marine litter are omens of the situation for our environment, ecosystems and food sources.

That is why policies for development and business have to work together, hand-in-hand. There is no other way we can reach our goals.

Norway will dig deep to contribute.

And, I know our guests here today, representing countries from all over the world, will do too.

We have to create an international understanding of the need for more sustainable use of the oceans.

To succeed we have to combine the knowledge we have gained throughout history with innovation, new technology and research.

Healthy seas demand joined forces.

Last year Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg launched an international high-level panel for sustainable marine economics.

To support this goal, the Norwegian government has launched an ambitious national ocean strategy.

It embraces new species in aquaculture, green technology, digital solutions and the new use of marine resources.

We are creating the future based on the best of Norwegian traditions.

Traditions where respecting the eco-system does not stand in the way of economic growth.

The environmental impact of fish farming will determine future growth. 

In short, sustainability is an absolute key for future success.  

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To help lessen the environmental impact, we encourage companies to take action by stimulating investment in and the development and implementation of new technology. 

If we look far ahead, I think we will see a combination of different technologies in use.

Land-based, closed installations at sea, further development of today's technology – and more offshore-based production.

If aquaculture is to remain sustainable – it can never rest in its quest for new solutions. 

The AquaNor fair is a cross road for all the different worldwide contributors to aquaculture. By sharing and learning from one another, we are all making the most of the blue field and contributing back to the ocean.

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We know that feeding a growing world population is a challenge.

Aquaculture might hold one of the keys.

FAO recognizes the fast-growing contribution aquaculture is making to food security.

Moreover, farmed salmon is one of the most efficient ways of converting feed into high quality food. 

I believe aquaculture can make a big contribution to the UN sustainable developments goals.

The FAO Sub-committee on Aquaculture will meet here in Trondheim back to back with AquaNor.

I encourage its members to continue the efforts to contribute to strengthen their work on aquaculture.

At the same time, profitability is what drives this industry forward.

In fact, sustainability can also be a competitive advantage.

Aquaculture that promotes food security, health and responsible use of resources – as well as being good business – sounds very close to reality!

As aquaculture becomes more important it opens a window of opportunity for seafood nations like those of us present here today.
This means that all of you fish farmers and suppliers have an incredibly important job to do over the next few years.

It is possible to align sustainability and profitability.

Will we succeed?  The answer will depend on the willingness to invest in the future.

The Norwegian government and I will promise to do our part!

I hereby declare AquaNor 2019 open!