Prince Edward Island Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Minister Allan Campbell attended the annual meeting of the Fisheries Council of Canada in Quebec City last week where he participated in discussions on emerging trends in the seafood industry. The annual conference attracts over 100 seafood executives from across North America, as well as senior federal and provincial government representatives involved in fisheries and oceans issues.
“The conference provided an excellent opportunity to meet with industry officials and to learn more about how the industry is evolving nationally and internationally,” said Mr. Campbell. “The industry is facing growing global competition, and it is vitally important that our industry in Prince Edward Island position itself to expand opportunities with new markets and products.”
Representatives attending the meeting heard from a number of speakers, including John Sackton, president of Seafood.com, who presented the market outlook for Canadian species such as snowcrab, scallops and lobster; and Richard Gutting, former president of the US National Fisheries Institute on emerging issues in the US that could impact seafood imports. Mr. Campbell said it is critical to follow developments in the US because it is Prince Edward Island’s largest and most important export market.
During the conference, Jeff Malloy, general manager of Acadian Fishermen’s Co-op, a Prince Edward Island seafood company, was elected as chair of the Fisheries Council of Canada for the 2008/2009 year. He was the vice-chair and has represented the Prince Edward Island Seafood Processors Association on the board for the last four years.
“The FCC tackles several issues of great importance to our province’s fishery and seafood processing industries,” said Michael MacInnis, executive director of the Seafood Processors Association. “Mr. Malloy has served as a great representative of our association with the FCC, and we are confident that his position as chair will help to ensure the issues of most importance to Prince Edward Island will have a voice on the national and international stage.”
Mr. Campbell said he looks forward to working with Mr. Malloy and other fishers and processors in the province to address issues in the domestic and export markets.