December 11, 1997
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

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

As Honourable Members may be aware, finding markets for dried squid produced in Newfoundland and Labrador this year has not been easy. Part of the reason for that is because extremely good catches in such regions as Japan and Argentina created a glut of the product. This also kept prices down.

I am happy to inform the House that despite this situation, marketing efforts are producing positive results. As a result of discussions I had with buyers during my trade mission to Asia last month, a local company has made arrangements for an overseas market for dried squid.

H.B. Dawe Ltd. of Cupids just this week arranged with a company in China to sell dried squid in the Hong Kong market. H.B. Dawe has already purchased about 50,000 pounds for this purpose, about 20,000 pounds of which is from the Baie Verte peninsula. The company plans to market in total five container loads - about 200,000 pounds.

Also just recently, for the first time in several years, a Newfoundland and Labrador company successfully marketed dried squid in Japan. Golden Shell Fisheries of Hickman's Harbour shipped a container load within the past few weeks. Knowing first-hand how stringent the quality standards of Japanese buyers are, I can say with conviction that this is a real credit to the company's record for quality product.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the private sector continue to pursue markets for all our seafood products.