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October 30, 1997
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

Fisheries minister on mission to Japan, Korea, China

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister John Efford will be in Japan November 9-14, on a fact-finding mission related to work being undertaken by the task force that is assessing the effectiveness of the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act as a continuing mechanism for negotiating prices. Mr. Efford undertook to lead a small delegation to Japan when the task force was announced.

The minister will be accompanied by David Vardy, chair of the task force; Alastair O'Rielly, president of the Fisheries Association of Newfoundland and Labrador; and Reg Anstey, Secretary-Treasurer of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union. A follow-up visit is planned for early 1998 that will include processors and harvesters.

In Japan, the delegation will hold meetings with all crab importers to discuss matters relating to their purchases of crab from this province. In this context, the delegation will be further promoting our snow crab in the international marketplace.

"The Japanese market is very demanding and quality conscious," Mr. Efford said. "As one of the principal suppliers to this market, we face competition from other countries and regions which impacts on the price fishermen receive in this province. We therefore want to reiterate our commitment to quality consistency to ensure a measure of stability within the industry."

The minister emphasized that while quality is only one factor that affects prices, it is an important factor. The task force will look at all factors that influence fish price negotiations, as well as mechanisms used in other jurisdictions to reach price settlements. The information-gathering mission in Japan will also include visits to crab plants and fish markets, and a meeting with the National Federal of Fisheries Co-operatives Associations.

In addition to the mission to Japan, Mr. Efford will also spend time in China (November 1-7) and Korea (November 15-18).

In China he will join Newfoundland fish processing companies that are participating in an international seafood exposition, and meet with some fishing industry representatives of China as part of ongoing promotions of seal and seafood products.

In Korea, the minister will meet with the fisheries import divisions of several major corporations, mostly to discuss the province's seal fishery, but also to explore the potential of Korea as a market for dried squid and other seafood products from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Contact: Josephine Cheeseman, (709) 729-3733.