Fisheries Minister expects positive market response at Boston Seafood Show

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister John Efford will be in Boston March 6-8 to attend the Boston Seafood Show and meet with fish companies and their brokers to discuss Newfoundland and Labrador�s position in the international marketplace for providing top quality products.

The Boston Seafood Show is the foremost show for seafood products in North America and Mr. Efford said it gives Newfoundland and Labrador the opportunity to promote its seafood industry and demonstrate the disciplined approach taken by the province for producing and selling premium quality products.

"We have made major strides in our quality initiatives and the positive response we�ve been getting from the marketplace continues to grow. The feedback we received from industry representatives during our trip to Boston last year was extremely encouraging and I am confident that the positive market response will be even greater this year," said Mr. Efford.

Minister Efford stressed that in the 2000 fishing season it is vital for Newfoundland and Labrador to continue working diligently in the area of quality assurance because of a quota reduction in the Alaskan snow crab fishery.

"This year, Newfoundland and Labrador will be supplying about 40 per cent of the world market for snow crab which is an opportunity that we must take advantage of and ensure that the crab we put into the marketplace is of superior quality. Alaska�s loss has been our gain and we have to utilize this opportunity and concentrate on expanding our position in the global marketplace... we must not repeat the mistakes we made in1995 in the Japanese market."

Mr. Efford said it�s important for industry to continue moving forward in the area of high quality standards and to build on the successes achieved to date as we strive to become number one for producing top quality seafood products.

"My department will continue to work with industry to ensure we derive the maximum benefits from our fish resources and that means everybody involved in the handling of our fish products must do their part to ensure high quality products are produced in this province," said Mr. Efford. "Quality is the key focus of our new Government-Industry Working Group on Fisheries, and it is through such cooperative initiatives that we will reach our goal to achieve a strong position in the marketplace for the long term."

Mr. Efford added that the success of the new Final Offer Selection process has also been key to our positive market response by ensuring early fishery openings and a consistency of supply to the markets.

"This new price settlement mechanism has been instrumental in meeting market demands and has resulted in a sound collective bargaining process. All parties involved in this process are to be commended for their efforts in ensuring the marketplace is supplied with superior quality products."

Mr. Efford said with government and industry working together, he is confident that Newfoundland and Labrador�s reputation for high quality products in the international marketplace will continue to grow.

Media contact: Sonia Glover-Sullivan, Communications, (709) 729-3733.

2000 03 02                                                     10:20 a.m.