Reykjavík University was a Gold Sponsor of the 2025 Seafood Conference, held at Harpa on November 6–7. This year’s theme was: Rowing in the Same Direction – Value Creation and Competitiveness in Icelandic Fisheries.

The idea behind the Seafood Conference is to create a platform for all those involved in the Icelandic seafood industry to meet and exchange views. It encompasses those involved in harvesting, farming, primary processing, further processing, marketing and sales, services, research, and development, as well as the public sphere, including teachers, students, media, and other interested parties.

The conference opened with a humorous and thought-provoking talk by Bergur Ebbi, who reflected on how fishing, seafaring, and ocean-related industries have shaped the Icelandic language. He noted that it is nearly impossible to hold a conversation in Icelandic without the sea being reflected in the nation’s vocabulary.

Kristinn Hjálmarsson, Development Manager at RU’s Open University, served as Chair of the Seafood Conference in 2023–2024 and participated in the professional committee on Resources, Utilisation and Fisheries this year, which helped design that segment of the programme.

Kristinn noted that this year’s discussions were strongly influenced by clear messages from industry representatives:

There is strong willingness and interest within the fisheries sector to collaborate with the government on policy development and the implementation of sustainable fishing practices in Iceland—where sustainability is understood as environmental, social, and economic. With our unique expertise in teaching and research at Reykjavík University, we can contribute to enhancing knowledge and understanding of sustainability across Icelandic industries.”

At Reykjavík University, sustainability is a guiding principle that informs all aspects of teaching, research, and collaboration with industry.