On behalf of Fisheries Information Centre of the Estonian Marine Institute of the University of Tartu and
the Estonian Association of Fishery
we are pleased to invite you to
the 6th Fisheries Forum of the Baltic Sea Region
"The Baltic Sea Fisheries in a Changing World”
to be held on November 6 in Estonia, Tallinn at Nordic Hotel Forum (Viru väljak 3, Tallinn)
and via virtual conference platform Worksup.
Time: November 6, 2025 at 10:30
Place: Nordic Hotel Forum, Tallinn (Viru väljak 3, Tallinn) and via virtual conference platform Worksup. The link to participate online will be published here before the Forum. Pre-registration is not required to follow the event online.
Purpose: Cross-border collaboration, introducing innovative ideas to the fisheries sector
Participants: Fisheries sector, representatives from fisheries managing authorities, academic institutions
The purpose of the traditional fisheries forums is to address the issues and challenges that currently have the greatest impact on our fisheries sector with the help of leading international and domestic experts and specialists in the field. The audience consists of representatives of the fisheries sector, relevant ministries and research institutions, as well as international guests.
This year, the 6th Fisheries Forum will focus on renewable energy in fisheries and new challenges in food safety, automation and marine aquaculture. The presenters include several experts in their field: Johannes Palsson (FF Skagen), Niels Dalsgaard (Musholm), Jules Danto (EAPO) and other leading professionals.
The working languages of the Forum will be Estonian and English. Simultaneous interpreting will be provided for participants between English and Estonian. Participation on site is by invitation only.
AGENDA and speaker profiles
10:00 Registration and welcome coffee
10:30 Introduction
10:40 Mati Sarevet (Member of the Management Board, AS Reyktal; SG Coordinator for Distant Water Fleet, EU ETP)
“Renewable energy policy from a fisheries perspective”
Mati Sarevet
Member of the Management Board, AS Reyktal; SG Coordinator for Distant Water Fleet, EU ETP
Mati has over 17 years of experience with the Estonian Long Distance fishing company Reyktal Ltd, where he serves as a Member of the Management Board. He has also held the same position for 12 years at Reval Seafood Ltd and Reyktal Services Ltd. Additionally, he is a Member of the Management Board of the Estonian Long Distance Fishing Association.
He is involved in operating three freezing trawlers ("Merike," "Steffano," and "Reval Viking") as part of the Distant Water Fleet (DWF). These vessels fish in NAFO-regulated areas in the Flemish Cap, NEAFC-regulated areas in the Barents Sea, and fishing grounds in East and West Greenland. His efforts contribute to an annual catch of approximately 15,000 metric tonnes, comprising Northern Prawn, cod, and Greenland halibut (GLH).
11:20 Jules Danto (Policy Officer, EAPO – European Association of Fish Producers Organisations; EU ETP, SG Coordinator for Large-Scale Fisheries)
“Decarbonisation of the European fleet: current state of fisheries, regulatory and funding challenges”
Jules Danto
Policy Officer, EAPO – European Association of Fish Producers Organisations; EU ETP, SG Coordinator for Large-Scale Fisheries
Jules Danto is involved in the European Association of Fish Producers Organisations (EAPO) as a policy officer since October 2024. He has a scientific background as engineer in the field of fisheries and marine socio-ecosystem management. He has also obtained a second master’s degree in marine governance and maritime spatial planning through a second master's degree.
After gaining experience as a scientific researcher at IFREMER on sustainability indicators for fisheries, he progressively moved towards the institutional field, relying on acquired transversal skills related to research. He has been able to experience diplomacy and bilateral cooperation by working for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Azerbaijan and Denmark, while focusing on his core subjects: oceans, fisheries and aquaculture.
12:00 Opening remarks. Hendrik Johannes Terras, Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture
12:10 Coffee break
12:30 Valdur Lahtvee (Senior Project Manager, Stockholm Environment Institute, SEI Tallinn, Climate Systems and Energy Policy Unit)
“H2-SEAS project: funding, investments, regulation, barriers, and environmental impact”
Valdur Lahtvee
Senior Project Manager, Stockholm Environment Institute, SEI Tallinn, Climate Systems and Energy Policy Unit
Valdur Lahtvee is Senior Project Manager at SEI Tallinn. He was the Director of the Climate and Energy Programme at SEI Tallinn from 2011-2016 and served as Centre Director from 2004-2007. In 2023 he rejoined the team to work on the Green Agenda for Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine project.
He has more than 40 years of experience in environmental protection, public participation, environmental management, policy analysis and integration of sustainable development principles into sector policies. Last seven years, Valdur has coordinated the Horizontal Action Climate of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region at the Council of the Baltic Sea States.
Valdur is a Dipl. Engineer in Forestry Management (equal to MSc).
13:10 Niels Dalsgaard (CEO, Musholm A/S)
“Importance, risks, and assumptions at different stages of the marine aquaculture production chain (from egg production and hatching to sea-cage farming and marketing)”
Niels Dalsgaard
CEO, Musholm A/S
To be added...
14:00 Lunch
15:00 Gonzalo Campos (online) (Ex-Sealedair Cryovac)
“New seafood profit centers - beyond protection, creating value through packaging”
Gonzalo Campos
Ex-Sealedair Cryovac
Gonzalo Campos is a global connector and commercial strategist with deep expertise in go-to-market execution, international sourcing, and seafood supply chain optimization. He’s known for unlocking growth through strategic partnerships, packaging innovation, and cross-market insight.
With career spanning procurement, business development, and product strategy across the seafood, FMCG, and packaging sectors, Gonzalo brings a unique ability to translate operational complexity into market-ready solutions. His work includes optimizing packaging systems to enhance product value, shelf life, and sustainability, especially in ready meals and value-added seafood.
Currently, through consulting engagements with major companies, Gonzalo is unlocking global procurement strategies and enabling end-to-end product manufacturing launches for top-tier customers worldwide. His work connects sourcing, automation, and commercial execution—delivering results across retail, foodservice, and export channels.
Gonzalo’s educational background includes studies in International Marketing, Corporate Governance, Business Innovation, Creative Advertising, Design Thinking, and Fisheries Management at leading institutions such as Universitetet i Tromsø (Norway), Kansai Gaidai (Japan), University of Deusto (Spain), Cambridge Judge Business School (UK), and Brother Ad School (Barcelona).
He has held senior roles across global organizations:
• Director of Global Integrated Sales, Profand USA/Stavis Seafoods
• Senior Marketing & Ready Meals Manager, Europe at Sealedair Cryovac
• International Marketing Researcher, Norwegian College of Fisheries
• Commercial and procurement leadership at Mitsui & Co and La Portuguesa SA
Gonzalo also brings experience in system integration and automation, particularly in packaging and plastic recycling systems—supporting scalable, sustainable solutions for modern seafood operations.
His approach blends strategic foresight with operational precision, making him a trusted voice in global seafood innovation and market development.
15:40 Gorka Gabiña (online) (Head of Efficient Use of Resources, AZTI)
“The role of automation and digitalisation in fisheries”
Gorka Gabiña
Head of Efficient Use of Resources, AZTI
He is an industrial Engineer and holds a PhD in alternative fuels directed by the Department of Machines and Thermal Engines of the School of Engineering of Bilbao. Since 2008 he has been working at AZTI Research Centre, in the Sustainable Fishing Technologies department. His main research lines are the decarbonisation, energy efficiency and digitalisation of fishing vessels, where he has developed projects on consumption patterns and energy audits, engine operation and fuel consumption monitoring systems, propulsion systems, alternative fuels, digital tools for improving fishing operations, smart grids in port systems and the monitoring of the freezing process on board fishing vessels. He has participated in the development of different prototypes and test benches.
Since 2021, he has been coordinating the Sustainable Fishing Technologies department, which deals with the reduction of the impact of fishing on biodiversity (selectivity of fishing gear, monitoring and reduction of accidental catches), digitalisation of fishing operations (digital systems, monitoring of fishing operations, use of artificial intelligence, on-board decision-making tools), reduction of the environmental impact of fishing (decarbonisation, marine waste and circular economy) and innovation of on-board processes (alternative fishing systems, on-board quality control, health and safety).
16:20 Coffee break
16:40 Johannes Palsson (CEO, FF Skagen)
“Responsible Pelagic Fisheries Management Standard”
Johannes Palsson
CEO, FF Skagen
To be added...
17:20 Panel discussion and closing of the Forum
18:00 Supper
Please note that the agenda is subject to change.
For further information, please feel free to contact Mr Toomas Armulik, Head of Fisheries Information Centre,
Arrangement costs will be covered by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).
