MP for Vancouver South Wai Young announced a significant investment to boost Canadian seafood sector. (Photo Credit: waiyoung.ca)
The federal government of Canada will invest over CAD 740,000 (USD 656,000) in matching funds to help the Canadian seafood sector expand into new global markets and increase sales for high-end seafood products.
This announcement was made by Member of Parliament for Vancouver South Wai Young, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.
The Canadian Pacific Kazunoko Association will receive CAD 614,068 (USD 544,440) over three years to brand and market salted and flavoured kazunoko, also known as herring roe, to buyers in Japan, China and Taiwan. Kazunoko is a symbol of fertility and prosperity that has long been a ceremonial New Year's food in Japan.
The Underwater Harvesters Association will receive CAD 130,000 (USD 115,260) to develop branding strategies, produce marketing tools and attend trade shows to promote Canada's high quality geoduck products, with a focus on China and emerging markets. Harvested from Canada's pristine waters, geoduck is a unique shellfish delicacy known for its great taste, fresh flavour and premium quality.
The Canadian Pacific Kazunoko Association represents eight companies who collectively purchase and process 86 per cent of the herring and herring roe harvested in British Columbia and focuses on branding activities with Japanese industry. The herring sector exported CAD 31.8 million (USD 28.2 million) worth of product to international markets in 2013.
Established in 1981, the Underwater Harvesters Association (UHA) represents 55 licence holders to ensure environmentally sustainable management of geoduck and horse clam resources in British Columbia, while also developing the profile and markets for the resources. The geoduck industry generated an export value of CAD 47 million (USD 41.7 million) in 2013.
This investment is made through AAFC's AgriMarketing Programme, a five-year, CAD 341-million (USD 302 million) initiative under Growing Forward 2.
"Canadian Pacific herring roe has the top reputation in Japan for its taste and quality. The AgriMarketing Programme lets us work with our Japanese customers to communicate that reputation to consumers and begin to build new markets outside Japan," said Robert Katsura, President, Canadian Pacific Kazunoko Association.
For her part, Michelle James, Executive Director, Underwater Harvesters Association, highlighted that: "This cost-sharing programme is instrumental in assisting the UHA achieve its long-term international objective to increase the export value of geoduck from Canada by increasing the profile of this high-end seafood delicacy in both traditional and select emerging markets."
The Canadian Pacific Kazunoko Association represents eight companies who collectively purchase and process 86 per cent of the herring and herring roe harvested in British Columbia and focuses on branding activities with Japanese industry. The herring sector exported CAD 31.8 million (USD 28.2 million) worth of product to international markets in 2013.
Established in 1981, the Underwater Harvesters Association (UHA) represents 55 licence holders to ensure environmentally sustainable management of geoduck and horse clam resources in British Columbia, while also developing the profile and markets for the resources. The geoduck industry generated an export value of CAD 47 million (USD 41.7 million) in 2013.
This investment is made through AAFC's AgriMarketing Programme, a five-year, CAD 341-million (USD 302 million) initiative under Growing Forward 2.
"Canadian Pacific herring roe has the top reputation in Japan for its taste and quality. The AgriMarketing Programme lets us work with our Japanese customers to communicate that reputation to consumers and begin to build new markets outside Japan," said Robert Katsura, President, Canadian Pacific Kazunoko Association.
For her part, Michelle James, Executive Director, Underwater Harvesters Association, highlighted that: "This cost-sharing programme is instrumental in assisting the UHA achieve its long-term international objective to increase the export value of geoduck from Canada by increasing the profile of this high-end seafood delicacy in both traditional and select emerging markets."