N.L. Fisheries Minister has expressed its disappointment over the result of the vote by the seafood processing sector on the proposal for a provincial seafood marketing council. The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture offered the seafood processing sector the opportunity to vote on the proposal and they have voted against establishing a council.
The Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy has made an important recommendation of a provincial seafood marketing council, which was developed after extensive series of consultations with industry. This was an opportunity for processors to enhance their marketing capability and support their sales efforts.
It is said that the province committed is ready to provide up to $5.4 million in financial support to initiate such a council for a trial period of three years. In addition, the Provincial Government had already initiated discussions seeking a comparable level of financial support from the Federal Government.
Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, opined that it is very difficult to understand why the industry would vote against something that has been a very positive initiative in other seafood producing regions such as Norway and Alaska. He added that the government had no plan to be either restrictive or prescriptive in the set up or governance of the proposed seafood marketing council.
