NEWS RELEASE
                                                                                       Office of the Official Opposition

PROPOSED FEDERAL – PROVINCIAL SEAFOOD MARKETING SUMMIT

Liberal Fisheries Critic, St. Barbe MHA Jim Bennett has written to Minister Darin King proposing that Newfoundland and Labrador hold a Federal – Provincial Seafood Marketing Summit. Hosted by this province, proposed attendees would be Federal Minister Keith Ashfield and the 5 Eastern Canadian fisheries ministers. These 5 provinces account for 75% of Canada’s fishery.

The objective of the Summit would be to establish a Canadian Seafood Marketing Council as now exists in both Alaska and Norway. Bennett believes that the Canadian model should:

i.                   take full advantage of Canada’s excellent reputation in food safety;

ii.                  cash in on Canada’s NAFTA opportunities;

iii.                 market a premium product under a single Canadian label;

iv.                 utilize existing Canadian embassies and trade offices worldwide to promote our product;

v.                  employ Canada’s Export Development Credit Corporation to guarantee payment.