It is reported that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has opened its new Catch Certification Office to support Canadian exports of fish and seafood products affected by European Union (EU) regulatory requirements. The new rule will go into effect on January 1, 2010. It is no doubt that the EU is the second-largest market for Canada, importing $489 million (CDN) in fish and seafood products in 2008.
The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, said that the global fish and seafood marketplace is evolving to support sustainability and combat harmful practices such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. She is pleased that the government has worked quickly and collaboratively with provincial governments and the fishing industry to ensure good support to the Canadian exporters of fish and seafood products.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), in collaboration with provincial governments and industry representatives, has developed a process for issuing the necessary EU catch certificates. New market demands for information about fish and seafood products are driven by increasing consumer awareness of the origin and safety of food products, as well as regulatory and non-regulatory changes to promote legal and sustainable fishing practices.
