Busan, South Korea — The city of Busan is hosting the 24th Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Exhibition (BISFE 2026) for a three-day run from November 4 to November 6 at Exhibition Center 1 of BEXCO.

Celebrating its 24th anniversary this year, BISFE has established itself as a premier international trade show covering the entire spectrum of the fisheries and marine industry, ranging from seafood products and equipment to smart aquaculture and marine biotechnology. The event is hosted by the Busan Metropolitan Government, jointly organized by BEXCO and the Korea Fisheries Trade Association, and sponsored by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Record-Breaking International Participation

First launched in 2003 and accredited by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) in 2008, BISFE continues to expand its global footprint. This year's exhibition spans a massive scale with 506 companies from 32 countries operating 1,300 booths, setting a record-high for international participation with 162 companies hailing from 31 countries.

Notably, eight countries—including Finland, the Netherlands, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Germany, and Russia—are participating for the first time to showcase their diverse seafood products and technologies. The city of Busan plans to bolster export counseling tailored to participating enterprises and enrich its fisheries innovation displays to help global and domestic firms open new sales channels and secure tangible business outcomes.

Opening Ceremony and the 10th Marine & Fisheries Talent Day

The official opening ceremony took place on November 4 at 1.30 PM within the BEXCO Exhibition Hall, drawing around 60 dignitaries, including Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-su, Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Nam Jae-heon, National Assembly Member Cho Seung-hwan, and National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives President Noh Dong-jin.

As a major concurrent event, the 10th Marine & Fisheries Talent Day Commemorative Ceremony was held at the BEXCO Auditorium later that afternoon under the banner: “A Decade of Growing Together, Opening a New Century for Korea's Fisheries Industry.”

Originally designated by the private sector to highlight the importance of nurturing future marine and fisheries professionals, the ceremony brought together some 1,200 attendees. Highlights included Mayor Jeon Jae-su being appointed as an Honorary Fisheries New Knowledge Intellectual, alongside the presentation of scholarships to 11 outstanding students from Busan (six university and five high school students).

Diverse Exhibition Zones and Business Matchmaking

The exhibition floor is organized into specialized sections to maximize industry engagement:

*Seafood Pavilion: Showcases frozen/refrigerated seafood and processed goods.
*Equipment & Smart Aquaculture Pavilion: Features cutting-edge processing machinery and aquaculture gear.
*Marine Blue Bio Pavilion: Highlights marine-derived novel biomaterials and seaweed applications.
*Fish Cake, Laver, and Mackerel Special Pavilions: Promotes regional specialty products and enterprises.
*Busan Premium Seafood & City Fish Mackerel Pavilions: Emphasize the high quality and brand competitiveness of Busan's local fisheries.

To drive export growth and domestic distribution, the event features robust trade programs. Over 80 international buyers are participating in match-making sessions alongside domestic exporters. Programs organized via KOTRA, global business networking sessions, and retail merchandise planner (MD) consultations are facilitating one-on-one trade negotiations.

Academic Forums and Public Engagement

Industry experts and visitors can also participate in a rich lineup of academic conferences and public activities, including the Marine Bio Business Connect Forum, the Korea Aquaculture Technology Workshop, the Korea Fisheries Sciences Conference, and the Busan Fisheries Policy Forum.

For the general public, the event offers hands-on programs such as seafood tasting events, a stamp tour of designated vendors rewarding participants with Busan City Tour bus passes, and a first-come, first-served discount coupon event worth 5,000 KRW for 500 visitors, blending exhibition viewing with tourism to stimulate the local economy.

Ranked as a promising exhibition by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and selected as a regional global top exhibition, BISFE aims to solidify Busan's status as a global marine capital and international fisheries business hub by expanding overseas networks and empowering the export competitiveness of local seafood enterprises.

For more information, visit the official website at bisfe.com or contact the event organizers at +82-51-740-7520.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]