Seafood industry must emphasize quality and reliability

On the eve of the International Boston Seafood Show, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture is mindful that the global seafood marketplace emphasizes not only product quality, but also reliability.

"Internationally, seafood producers are emphasizing quality in response to consumer demands for fresher and tastier fish," says Minister Trevor Taylor. "We saw at the Boston Seafood Show last year that our competitors were emphasizing words such as freshness, value, select-grade, purity, tasty, and premium cuts. They are promoting production standards and traceability capabilities. Food safety tips are being communicated about the purchase, storage, handling, and preparation of raw seafood. Global seafood producers are also investing in new technologies, such as patented processes, automatic baggers, computerized production lines, and state-of-the-art freezing equipment."

But reliability and consistency is another theme resonating in international markets, says the minister. "On the world stage, we are seeing seafood producers emphasize consistency of supply. They see the timely and dependable delivery of their product as a competitive advantage. This commitment to customer service gives them an edge in a marketplace where the availability of raw material has diminished. Our seafood industry is facing enough challenges without weakening our markets by not providing product in a dependable manner."

Newfoundland and Labrador�s fish products are safe to eat, however, says the minister, we need to maximize the value of these resources. "We need to improve the timing of our landings and our production to meet market demands. In this day and age, we still produce cod block from fish that should be going to white tablecloth restaurants. This depresses prices to harvesters, results in lower return from the marketplace, and weakens our reputation as a high quality fish producer.

"The Dunne Report found that the provincial government�s efforts to promote quality consciousness increase the value of our crab fishery alone by $30 to $40 million annually. We recognize the importance of superior grade products and have responded by hiring more inspectors, by modernizing legislation, and by generally strengthening our Quality Assurance Program."

The 2005 International Boston Seafood Show is being held March 13-15.

Media contact: Alex Marland, Communications, (709) 729-3733 or (709) 690-6047

International Boston Seafood Show
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the International Boston Seafood Show?
Seafood producers from all over the world exhibit at the Boston Seafood Show, which is an annual opportunity for seafood industry buyers and sellers to get together. Show participants benefit from improved buying and selling opportunities. Buyers for restaurants, supermarkets, wholesalers, and importers meet with representatives of fishing, aquaculture, transportation, equipment, and packaging companies, as well as fields such as government, education, and research. All types of seafood, prepared in a dizzying array of delicacies, can be sampled. An extensive range of materials are available to take home, from brochures and videos, to industry directories and recipes.

How big is the Boston Seafood Show?
As North America�s preeminent seafood trade show, over 35,000 people from around the world visit over a three-day period the over 1,200 exhibitor booths from more than 90 countries. In addition to industry representatives, Canadian federal and provincial officials have traditionally attended. The 2005 show is being held March 13-15.

What presence does Newfoundland and Labrador have at the show?
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has participated in the Boston Seafood Show since 1982. The province has an exhibitor booth that is available to Newfoundland and Labrador seafood companies, which have individual booth spaces and graphics. They also share a meeting room and the services of a seafood chef.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, as the lead exhibitor, is responsible for the overall feel and look of the exhibit. Staff provides general information on the province�s seafood industry. A range of background information is distributed, including the Newfoundland and Labrador Seafood Processors Directory, the Seafood Industry Year in Review, and fact sheets on species produced in this province (such as crab, shrimp, mussels, whelk, herring, mackerel).

The province also hosts an evening reception that provides invitees from all over the world with the opportunity to network with prospective business contacts while sampling food contributed by Newfoundland and Labrador seafood companies. This occurs amidst the backdrop of a multi-media presentation that emphasizes the industry�s professionalism, diversity, and the variety of premium quality seafood that it produces.

What other trade shows does the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture participate in?
The department has a smaller presence at two other major international seafood shows: the U.S. West Coast Seafood Show (Long Beach, California) and the European Seafood Exhibition (Brussels). It has aquaculture exhibits at the AquaFair in New Brunswick and biannually at AquaNor in Trondheim, Norway. It also participates in local events such as the Marine Show, the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation Winefest, and the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA) Trade Show and Conference, among others.

What�s new for 2005?
This year the Boston Seafood Show is being held in a new location and has been split into two events. The Seafood Processing American show, which will be held in conjunction with the primary event in the same building, will separate processing equipment exhibits from seafood exhibits.

Where can I get further information about the Boston Seafood Show?
Information is available online at www.bostonseafood.com.

2005 03 10                           10:45 a.m.