As Seafood Expo Global / Seafood Processing Global, which will take place from 21 to 23 April 2026 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, prepares its next edition, aquaculture is set to gain a more prominent position with the launch of the Aquaculture Innovation Zone, evolving from a dedicated pavilion into a broader platform focused on technology-driven solutions for the sector.
Building on the Aquaculture Innovation Pavilion the initiative signals a strategic re-positioning of aquaculture – from a complementary segment of the seafood industry to a core driver of future growth. This comes as aquaculture consolidates its role as the fastest-growing source of seafood worldwide, increasingly influenced by digitalisation, automation and sustainability requirements.
Located in Hall 1, the Aquaculture Innovation Zone is designed as a curated exhibition space bringing together companies developing solutions in areas such as farm management, environmental monitoring, smart feeding, fish health, genetics, water treatment and data-driven production systems. According to the organisers, the focus is on technologies with proven or emerging potential to be scaled across different aquaculture models and production environments.
Beyond the exhibition floor, aquaculture-related content will also gain greater visibility within the event’s conference programme. Planed sessions will address topics including automation and machine learning, blue food strategies, sustainable innovation and responsible management, reinforcing the connection between technological development and strategic decision-making in aquaculture.
This expanded focus reflects the challenges currently facing producers, from rising operational costs and increasing regulatory pressure to climate-related risks and biological uncertainty. In this context, innovation is no longer framed as an optional upgrade, but as a necessary tool to improve efficiency, resilience and long-term competitiveness.
The strengthened presence of aquaculture at Seafood Expo Global is also mirrors a broader shift within the international seafood value chain, where buyers, investors and policymakers are paying closer attention to how farmed production systems can deliver both volume and sustainability.
With more than 35,000 participants attending the 2025 edition, Barcelona has already established itself a key hub for the global seafood industry. The introduction of the Aquaculture Innovation Zone in 2026 is expected to further reinforce the city’s role as a meeting point for technology providers, producers, and decision-makers shaping the future of aquaculture.
More information about Aquaculture Innovation Zone
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