ColdWater Seafood, the new seafood B2B exhibition focusing on higher quality coldwater seafood, will unfortunately not take place in 2023 and is postponed until next year.

The planned new seafood event in Amsterdam October 2023 is postponed by one year due to the turbulence in the seafood market, caused by a proposed new taxation system in Norway. The new tax was released in last autumn, giving seafood producers in aquaculture an extra 40% tax on top of the already 22 % company tax. The scope of seafood at ColdWater Seafood fair is almost 50 % with Norwegian origin, and a lot of long-term contracts of seafood has not been prolonged out of uncertainty. The debate on the taxation system is still ongoing and are yet not clarified.

The market response since the announced additional taxation has led to several cancelations, and as new tradeshow we would rather wait until the whole market is ready to join in for the first time in Amsterdam.

Vidar Onarheim, CEO of AqKva says, “it is a pity for the whole industry that a taxationsystem is changed overnight, and we feel strongly with the market operators and their uncertain situation. We will therefore postpone with one year, giving us even better time to plan a world leading exhibition and conference on sustainable seafood.”

The need for greater international cooperation is clear in a world that will be increasingly dependent on seafood in the future. As the global population grows to an expected 9.7 billion in 2050, there is limited additional production capacity available from traditional land-based agriculture. The future growth in food production will lean heavily on seafood of all sorts, which is also regarded as healthier and more sustainable by consumers. Seafood from cold waters tends to grow slower and in cleaner water, which fits in with the prevailing trends as well as returning a higher quality product for this growing market.

The entire organization of the exhibition is currently working on the details of the new date and will communicate all information as soon as possible.

Vidar Onarheim, CEO of AqKva, adds “we are determined to make Coldwater Seafood 2024 an unforgettable event for all participants, and we thank all those who have already expressed their support and understanding and look forward to seeing you in 2024 to celebrate the fishing and seafood industry.”