By Anni Conn, participant and chaperone for Asger :-)

Main discussions and outcomes of the 2024 Groundfish Forum

The main discussions and outcomes of the 2024 Groundfish Forum in Copenhagen centred around projections for wild-caught whitefish supplies and regional catch shifts.

Industry leaders forecasted a largely stable global supply of wild-caught whitefish for 2024, at approximately 7 million metric tons, with variations among species. Notably, Barents Sea Atlantic Cod quotas are going to be reduced and the harvest in 2025 is predicted to be the lowest in 75 years. Alaska pollock supplies are expected to see a slight increase, driven primarily by Russian supply boosts, while other key species like Pacific cod and haddock will face declines, mainly due to reduced catches in regions like Norway, Russia, and Iceland​.

 

Read the full notes from GFF 2024

The forum also highlighted an anticipated increase in farmed whitefish supplies, especially for species like tilapia and pangasius, with significant growth in production across Asia.

 

Additionally, the event spotlighted up-and-coming industry leaders, emphasizing the importance of sustainable and strategic sourcing practices within the groundfish sector to adapt to changing supply conditions and regulatory requirements​

 

The discussions reflected the industry’s response to fluctuating fish stocks and the need for adaptation in procurement strategies across both wild-caught and farmed whitefish categories.

 

Picture to the left: Alternative socialising with Riberalves in the form of trying Tivoli's vomit-inducing rides