The Spanish Pavilion in Hall 7 at the April 26-28 Seafood Expo Global in Brussels will be buzzing with representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment and members of important companies in the country’s fishery and processing sectors. In addition, there will be personnel on the scene from trade associations, among them the Anfaco-Cecopesca, Apromar, Anmape and Conxemar.
Spain has a highly developed fishery and processing industry that procures raw material from the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and other sources. Its frozen seafood prowess is highly regarded, and companies from that sector will be showcasing products and offering samples to taste during the duration of the show. From Galicia and Asturias to the Valencian Community, Murcia, Madrid, Cantabria and Aragon, the exhibitors are coming from regions across the nation.
Products from two Spanish companies, Angulas Aguinaga and Krustagroup S.A.U., have made it to the final round in the Seafood Excellence Global awards competition held in conjunction with the exposition. Angulas Aguinaga is in the running with its Moules Cuisinées a la Mariniere microwaveable mussels dish distributed in 1kg retail packs, which can be seen and sampled at Stand 1163 in Hall 6. The finalist product from Krustagroup is a 359-gram retail bag of Grand Krust Presto Special Seafood Fajitas featuring sautéed vegetables with wild red shrimp. Show-goers can check it out at Stand 625 in Hall 5.
More than 40 competing products from 15 countries are being judged for top prizes in five categories. Winners will be announced during a special awards ceremony and reception in Auditorium 2000 at the fairgrounds, which will take place from 6:15 to 8 PM on April 26.
Meanwhile, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment is organizing activities at the expo to maximize the presence and visibility of the country’s fishery industry. A commercial agenda coordinated by Nexus Fostering Partnership, which will hold forth at Stand 1533 in Hall 7, will include meetings with international companies interested in establishing commercial relations as well as firms looking for partnerships and opening new markets.
Spain ranks in the upper tier as an important country in the global fisheries industry. It boasts annual catch volume of approximately 1,237,000 tons, and output of 285,000 tons of value-added products. The aquaculture segment is the source of 343,000 tons of prepared and preserved fish. Spain also has one of the highest rates of per capita fish and seafood consumption in the European Union.
The quality of Spanish fishery products is appreciated both at home and abroad, especially in the categories of frozen and canned tuna, squid, cuttlefish, mackerel, mussels and shrimp. Exports of approximately 1,100,000 tons per annum, led by tuna, go to Italy, Portugal, France, Morocco, Portugal, the Seychelles and other countries.
