March 25, 2024

 

TARS 2024 returns to Thailand with renewed focus on Asia's finfish aquaculture

 

 

 

The organisers of The Aquaculture Roundtable Series^® (TARS) have announced that the theme for the event's 13th edition is "Finfish Aquaculture: Steering an Industry into Focus".

 

TARS 2024 will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 14-15, 2024, at the Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel. The event offers expert analysis as well as providing a look into business models, technology, innovations and state-of-the-art biotechnology along the entire aquaculture supply chain.

 

In Asia's finfish aquaculture, there are large, integrated operations that are making waves globally. However, most stakeholders are still searching for directions for growth.

 

Additionally, finfish production is still associated with lower-value fish such as tilapia and pangasius while there are no marine fish species of significance in the market, according to TARS organisers. Nevertheless, there are opportunities for producers in Asia to become a leading supplier in the global whitefish market and play a larger role in food security.

 

Zuridah Merican, chair of TARS 2024 said: "At TARS 2024, we will seek answers on what is holding back growth, despite opportunities. Pangasius faces a saturated market while tilapia has moved into the commercial export segment but more needs to be done. Marine fish is an opportunity to build a third leg for expansion into the whitefish market. At this (year's) TARS, we take a deep dive and analyse the situation, and set the scene on where the industry wants to be."

 

Aside from industry and technical presentations, attendees at TARS 2024 can expect an industry dialogue, 'real talk' sessions with business leaders, panel discussions with the participation of producers and an interactive roundtable breakout session.

 

Participation is limited to 250 to facilitate networking and attendee engagement.

 

"Our unique proposition is the interactive roundtable breakout session where all participants have a voice," Merican said. "This has been the forte at TARS to get stakeholders to interact together and resolve the industry's challenges. We also encourage industry partners to join us in this endeavour. The last TARS was very successful with stakeholders in the shrimp aquaculture industry to regenerate the sector. The new highly interactive format attracted more participation from the farming and hatchery segments."

 

Given that aquaculture spans many sectors, the focus of TARS annually rotates to cover aquafeed, shrimp aquaculture, or finfish aquaculture.

 

- TARS