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AN initiative is under way to bring an important international seafood gathering to Grimsby.
Professor Mike Dillon, deputy principal at the Grimsby Institute, told the Humber Seafood conference that he was working hard to bring the event to the town.
Prof Dillon is the current president of IAFA, the International Association of Fish Inspectors, which is holding its annual conference in Washington DC next month.
Not only will he be delivering a keynote speech as the association's president, but he plans to lobby the 400 delegates to bring the bi-annual event to Grimsby in 2015 by laying on a special presentation about the town.
Also known as the International Association of Seafood Professionals, IAFA, is a relatively new and growing organisation serving the world fish inspection community and exists to promote an exchange of ideas around the world.
Founded in Canada, its vision is to ensure that fish, seafood and associated products are safe, of acceptable quality and readily available for sale in the world's market places. It has members from more than 40 countries.Previous world congress events have included Vancouver, Sydney, Dublin and The Hague. This year it is the US capital.
Prof Dillon said : "I will be proposing Grimsby, which has the largest concentration of seafood in Europe, as the venue for the 2015 conference.
"I already have the promise of sponsorship from Seafish and our own Grimsby Institute, along with a pledge of support from North East Lincolnshire Council.
"I believe we have a lot to offer the delegates." However, there's a more exotic rival - the Indonesian island of Bali. He added: "If I can't get it for 2015 then I will definitely put in for 2017.
"I don't intend to leave Washington without bringing something back," he told the 100 delegates at the Seafood Summit.
Prof Dillon also revealed that there were moved to make the annual Young Seafood Chef of the Year competition, held every summer at the Grimsby Institute, an international event."We have already had a lot of interest and support for the idea from overseas," he added.
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