Developing seafood market in China and Asia is a tough task but the Provincial Government is working towards that goal. For the fourth year in a row, representatives from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and fishing industry participated in the China Fisheries and Seafood Exhibition in Qingdao.
In this effort big companies from this province like Ocean Choice International (OCI), Beothic Fish Processors Limited and the Fogo Island Cooperative are taking part actively. It is said that the province has provided financial support to each of these companies to facilitate their participation in the show.
The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, said that Newfoundland and Labrador produces some of the best quality seafood in the world. He added that improved marketing of these excellent products continues to be a priority for our government and we will continue to work with the industry toward this goal.
China is a very important market for seafood because it is growing and provides access to many Asian countries that are high-level consumers of seafood products. Blaine Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer of OCI, informed that China is a fast growing market with great opportunities for the future. He told that China will be extremely important for commodity items as well as high quality Canadian seafood.
Paul Grant, Executive Vice-President of Beothic Fish Processors Limited, explained that China has become a very important market for Newfoundland and Labrador seafood and particularly for pelagic species such as capelin and mackerel. Phil Barnes of the Fogo Island Co-operative, said that the show has been very beneficial to our business during the past few years.
