The following statement was issued today by Trevor Taylor, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Minister discusses International Boston Seafood Show

Last week I attended the International Boston Seafood Show. This is the foremost show for seafood products in North America, perhaps the world. There was a significant number of our province's fishing companies and fishery workers present. The professionalism of the Newfoundland and Labrador Pavilion and its exhibitors was second to none.

Due to a cabinet meeting, I was unable to attend the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture's reception at the show. My staff informs me that it was one of the best received and better attended to date. Over 400 guests from Canada, United States, Europe, and Asia sampled Newfoundland and Labrador seafood that was contributed by members of our seafood industry. The federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Mr. Geoff Regan, was among those in attendance.

While in Boston, I met with Mr. Regan and impressed upon him the importance of federal investments in our aquaculture industry. I repeated the province's position that a limited cod fishery should be opened in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. We talked about the need for a �conservation first� approach to management of our snow crab resource. We discussed international fisheries issues, including custodial management. We also reviewed the challenges faced by this province's cooked and peeled shrimp industry in 2004.

The world market for seafood products is very competitive. Meetings I attended in Boston with fish companies and their American brokers confirmed support for our emphasis on seafood excellence. These discussions solidified my view that a new and improved Quality Assurance Program, as recommended in the Dunne Report, is essential for members of the Newfoundland and Labrador seafood industry to derive maximum benefits from a finite resource.

A healthy fishery must play a pivotal role in this province's economic well-being. I look forward to continuing to work with all industry stakeholders to ensure for the long-term sustainability of the fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador.

2004 03 24                                         2:50 p.m.