The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) will lead a delegation of 22 businesses and organizations from Atlantic Canada’s seafood industry to North America’s largest seafood exhibition, the 2010 International Boston Seafood Show. The annual industry trade show, held from March 14-16 in Boston, Massachusetts, attracts top-tier buyers and sellers of seafood from over 90 countries. This trade mission is being organized in partnership with the four Atlantic provinces.

“The International Boston Seafood Show is the most important event of its kind in North America, and the Government of Canada is investing to ensure Atlantic Canada is well represented at the show,” said the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of ACOA and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. “This mission will allow our delegates to meet directly with buyers from around the world and will contribute to the continued prosperity of this key sector of our economy.”

The trade mission delegation includes representatives from fisheries, seafood and aquaculture companies and organizations from across Atlantic Canada. While in Boston, the Atlantic Canadian delegates will exhibit together in an Atlantic Canadian pavilion, gaining international exposure for their high-quality seafood products and services.

During the mission, delegates will interact with key industry specialists and participate in various marketing and networking events. The trade mission will also allow the Government of Canada to promote the Atlantic Gateway to importing companies from the United States.

The International Boston Seafood Show draws approximately 800 exhibitors and attracts close to 16,000 seafood buyers and sellers from around the globe.

This is the eighth ACOA-led trade mission to the International Boston Seafood Show. Past missions have been successful for Atlantic Canadian companies – resulting in valuable international contacts, strategic partnerships, and
short- and long-term sales – and consequently the show has become an important destination point for the seafood industry in Atlantic Canada.

The mission, which is being organized in conjunction with Innovation PEI, is supported by a $150,000 investment from ACOA through its Business Development Program.

Exports are crucial to the growth of Atlantic Canada’s economy, creating one out of every three jobs. Over $50 million in trade crosses between Atlantic Canada and the United States every day, with more than 44% of the U.S. exports being sold to the New England states. The Atlantic Canadian seafood and aquaculture industry alone exported $2.4 billion worth of products in 2009, making it the region’s second largest export sector.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

A delegation of 22 businesses and organizations representing Atlantic Canada’s seafood industry will be participating in North America’s largest seafood exhibition, the 2010 International Boston Seafood Show. The annual industry trade show, held from March 14-16 in Boston, Massachusetts, attracts top-tier buyers and sellers of seafood from over 90 countries.

ACOA Minister Keith Ashfield said that this mission will provide Atlantic Canadian seafood exporters with the opportunity to meet with buyers from around the globe, and expand their international markets. The mission is supported by a $150,000 investment from ACOA through its Business Development Program.

The Atlantic Canadian seafood and aquaculture industry alone exported $2.4 billion worth of products in 2009, making it the region’s second largest export sector.

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INFORMATION:

Robert Bourgeois
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Telephone : 506-851-6394
Cellular : 506-871-9294


MEDIA BACKGROUNDER

Following is the list of the Atlantic Canadian exhibitors 
participating in the ACOA-led trade mission to the 2010 
International Boston Seafood Show, March 13-16, 2010:

Nova Scotia
Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd. (Louisbourg)
St. Mary’s River Smokehouses (Sherbrooke)
Davis Strait Fisheries Ltd. (Halifax)
Fisher King Seafoods (Halifax)
Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 
(Halifax)

New Brunswick
True North Salmon Company Ltd. (Black’s Harbour)
Darro Seafoods (Memramcook)
Gourmet Chef Packers Ltd. (Shediac)
Partner Seafood Inc. (Shediac)
New Brunswick Department of Fisheries (Fredericton)

Newfoundland and Labrador
Ocean Choice International L.P. (St. John’s)
Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (St. John’s)
Whitecap International Seafood Exporters (St. John’s)
Quinlan Brothers (Bay de Verde)
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (St. John’s)

Prince Edward Island
Future Seafoods (Salutation Cove)
PEI Mussel King (Morell)
BJ Trading & Marketing (Montague)
Ocean Choice PEI Inc. (Souris)
Minigoo Fisheries (Lennox Island)
The Culinary Institute of Canada (Charlottetown)
Innovation PEI (Charlottetown)