The Provincial Government has provided $18,300 in funding to Allen’s Fisheries for testing of the various types of atmospheric mixtures available for ensuring the best shelf life of mussels. It is said that this project is necessary to carry out research and development work so that local mussel products can compete with those from jurisdictions that are already supplying mussels in modified atmospheric packaging (MAP).
The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, informed that this new project ensure the most modern packaging methods for seafood products for our local producers to remain competitive in the global seafood industry. Terry Loder, MHA for Bay of Islands District, said that this funding will be of tremendous benefit not only to Allen’s Fisheries but to the province’s mussel industry in general.
It is explained that this project will involve the analysis of six different types of MAP. Richard Allen of Allen’s Fisheries, opined that this is a very beneficial project to the mussel processing business in Canada as it will benefit mussel growers in the province.
Experts informed that currently MAP processed mussels comprise 60 to 70 percent of the foodservice and retail markets in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France. These countries represent Europe’s largest mussel importers in terms of dollar value. Now many major retail chains in Canada have shown an interest in MAP packaging for mussels and are encouraging suppliers to adopt this type of packaging which has many benefits including improved handling, increased shelf life, better merchandising and more consumer appeal.
