Fisheries and Aquaculture
June 11, 2009
Whelk Processing and Market Development Project Funded in St. Lawrence
The Provincial Government is providing $21,500 for a whelk processing
and market development project in the St. Lawrence area. This project is
being funded through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities
Program, which is part of the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy. The
project is being carried out by Ocean Choice International (OCI).
�Our government is pleased to support the development and marketing of
seafood products,� said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of
Fisheries and Aquaculture. �We are also pleased to be working with a
private sector partner to help facilitate diversification in the
province�s processing sector.�
In order to capitalize on the increasing market demand for whelk in
Asia, OCI is planning to diversify its product mix to produce raw whelk
meat products for markets in Korea, Japan and China. OCI has
historically produced whelk for the Asian marketplace in cooked form.
However, recently, the company has begun to prepare both raw and cooked
in-shell whelk for these markets. The preliminary product assessment in
Asia has been positive. The buyers have requested continued process
development and delivery of finished product during the 2009 fishery.
�I am pleased to see OCI diversifying and looking for new markets for
the fishing industry,� said the Honourable Darin King, MHA for the
District of Grand Bank. �This initiative provides the St. Lawrence
workforce with the opportunity to expand whelk products for new
markets.�
OCI will be organizing a process technology and marketing mission to
Korea and Japan. This mission will involve visits to several whelk
processing facilities and marketing companies to learn more about the
product in its raw form, including specifications, end use, customer
preferences and market potential. This research will then be used to
assist in evaluating business opportunities and integration into the
company�s long-term operational plan. The company has already contacted
brokers and processors that have expressed an interest in purchasing raw
whelk.
�OCI is committed to ensuring that the fishery in Newfoundland and
Labrador is both profitable and sustainable and as such have a corporate
philosophy to explore and introduce new technology and innovative
methods to harvest, process and market our products,� said Blaine
Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer for OCI. �This project will provide us
with an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how the end
consumer views whelk as well as how whelk is portrayed in the market
place. We are pleased to be participating in the opportunity to expand
whelk processing at our St. Lawrence facility.�
Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation allocated $2 million for
the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program, as part of the
Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy. This program was designed to support
the harvesting, processing and marketing sectors, and ultimately
increase the overall viability of the province�s seafood industry.
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Media contacts:
Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 690-8403
oatesll@gov.nl.ca |
Derick Reid
Executive Assistant to Hon. Darin King
District of Grand Bank
709-729-1658
derickreid@gov.nl.ca |
Blaine Sullivan
Chief Operating Officer
Ocean Choice International
709-782-7122 |
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2009 06 11
11:15 a.m.