Fisheries & Oceans Canada has established a target of 2012 to develop a federal-provincialterritorial
network of Marine Protected Areas. Notwithstanding workshops, discussions etc,
as yet there is no common vision of what constitutes a network; the ecological objectives of
a network; or an action plan towards the establishment of a network. However, DFO
Maritimes and Pacific have developed thinking and actions regarding the development of
regional MPAs as a basis for establishing a national network of MPAs.
In view of these developments in the regions and the vacuum that seems to exist in Ottawa,
the FCC has established a MPA Network Working Group with the view to proposing credible
fishing industry friendly suite of criteria and a process to be used in defining a network and
the selection of its components. To assist the Working Group, the FCC has engaged Leslie
Burke (retired Regional Director, Fisheries Management, Maritimes region) and
Spatialanalysis. Spatialanlysis will be using Marxan &GIS software to identify and grade
areas of importance to the fishing industry starting with the eastern portion of the Scotian
Shelf.
Food Safety Tax Credit
The FCC has been working with the Meat Council, Pork Council, etc to develop a Food
Safety Tax Credit for the food processing industry for food safety investments made in
Canadian food processing plants. The plan is to jointly submit the proposal for inclusion in
the 2011 Federal Budget.
What Expenses would it cover?
• New product formulation & processing technologies that improve food safety;
• Product traceability & recall management systems;
• Plant equipment upgrades focused on sanitary and GMPs;
• Rapid testing systems for pathogens and chemical residues;
• New packaging technologies that improve product safety and shelf life;
• Skills upgrading for food safety & QA personnel;
• Implementation/upgrading of HACCP systems;
• Informatics systems for recording and analyzing microbiological test data;
• Third party food safety certification & auditing (ISO 22000, GFSI, etc.)
Per Capita Consumption Declining
After reaching a peak of 10.03 kilograms in 1999, Canada’s per capita consumption of
seafood has declined 22% to 7.81 kilograms in 2009.
The declines in 2008 and 2009 are understandable with restaurant traffic down considerably
because of the recession where about 50% of seafood is consumed. As well, seafood is
generally a high cost protein compared to poultry and most meat products. The earlier
declines beginning in 2000 may be related to the mercury in fish scares and advisories
which target females of child bearing age (major grocery shopping decision maker) and
young children and the PCB scares in aquaculture salmon.
Americans Want Country-of-Origin Labelling
Fifty-one percent of Americans surveyed by Deloitte 2010 Food Safety Survey say the new
country-of-origin labels help in determining which fresh meat, fish, fruit, or vegetables to
purchase. As well, 45% said they would like to find out the country-of-origin on a Web site
for all ingredients in packaged/bottled food products.
FAO – Lots of Whitefish Supply
Improved US groundfish supplies are expected for the remainder of the year which will
ensure prices won’t increase in the near future, says a U.N. Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) report.
According to the FAO, the recovery of cod and haddock resources and the increased
production of whitefish species, most notably tilapia and pangasius, will combine to keep
prices in check. Alaska Pollock volumes will remain stable as catch increases in Russia will
offset declines in Alaska.
FCC & Sillilker have joined forces to present a Sensory Workshop focussed on
White/Freshwater/Black Tiger Shrimp and Sea/Bay/Argentine Scallops. The dates for the
workshop are September 14 &15 in Burnaby BC and October 19 & 20 in Markham, ON.
Michigan Restaurant Show, Detroit, October 19 & 20
The Canadian Consulate General is organizing a Canadian presentation at the Michigan
Restaurant Show, October 19 & 20. They have booked six well located 10’ X 10’ contiguous
spaces (#139 on the “Show floor map” tab). Four different booth display options are
available, starting at $650 (USD).
The Show attracts independent and chain restaurants, distributors, institutional food service
buyers, and even a few retailers. Web site is http://mravideos.com/2010tradeshows/
Atlantic Fisheries Technology Conference, St. John’s, NL Sept 7-10, 2010
The 55th Atlantic Fisheries Technology Conference will be held at the Delta St John’s Hotel &
Conference Centre, September 7-10, 2010. This year’s theme is“Seafood and
Aquaculture in Focus: Resources, Processing, Biotechnology, Safety and Health”. A
Pre-Conference Short Course on Marine Nutraceuticals organized by the International
Society for Nutraceuticals & Functional Foods is also available.
If interested, check the web site www.aftc.ca
Ottawa - Site of the Fisheries Council of Canada 2010 Conference, October 26-28
