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January, 2006 Edition
What's Happening at the FCC
Endangered Species – Cod, Cusk, Interior Fraser Coho, Bocaccio
The Minister of the Environment submitted recommendations to Cabinet in December
regarding Atlantic cod, cusk, Interior Fraser Coho, Boccaccio and 6 other aquatic
species. COSEWIC, the endangered species’ science body, had recommended the
species to be listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern. The Minister is
recommending that 3 species be listed, 6 sent back to COSEWIC for further
consideration, and the 3 cod species not be listed.
FCC is working with its Oceans Use/Endangered Species Committee to submit formal
comments on the recommendations pertaining to the cod stocks, cusk, Interior Fraser
Coho, and Bocaccio. In summary, the FCC supports the Minister’s recommendations
except the recommendation concerning Interior Fraser Coho. The Minister
recommended listing Interior Fraser Coho as endangered. The FCC believes that the
recorded improvement of the population over the past four years plus other measures
now in place would lead COSEWIC to not recommend listing if COSEWIC was to assess
the status of the population today. As such, we shall request that Interior Fraser Coho be
returned to COSEWIC for further consideration.
With respect to the cod stocks and cusk, our submission will follow the talking points the
FCC presented to Environment Minister Dion and Fisheries Minister Regan when the
Ocean Use/Endangered Species Committee met with them separately early in 2005 on
the issue. Regarding Bocaccio, the submission will focus on the scientific inadequacies
of the 2002 COSEWIC assessment of the 2002.
2006 FCC Conference &AGM
Four hotel properties in Downtown Toronto were reviewed as potential hosts for the 2006
FCC Conference and AGM. Negotiations are proceeding with one of the hotels to finalize
a contract. The prospective dates are October 17 – 19. The Maple Leafs, the Raptors,
and the Argos should all be in operation. And with the Blue Jays spending money this
year, who knows, World Series fever may return to Toronto. As well, it looks like the tall
ship Kajama, as seen on the Amazing Race, will be available for an evening cruise and
dinner around Toronto harbour and through the Toronto Islands.
So, tentatively mark your calendars for October in Toronto.
USA COOL – Live Lobsters
As reported in FCC’s November newsletter US Country of Origin rules allow retailers to
have signs for live lobster tanks to state “Wild Lobsters: Product of US and Canada”
when the tank contains a mixture of US and Canadian lobsters. However, USDA has
raised concerns about this signage when the tank contains only US or only Canadian
lobsters. In response, the FCC approached USDA with two possible alternatives: “Wild
Lobsters: Product of US and/or Canada”; “Wild Lobsters: May Contain Product of US
and/or Canada”.
Both suggestions were rejected by USDA. It was pointed out that the “May Contain”
phrase is reserved for commingled products that have been further processed in the US.
The Food Marketing Institute in the US is advising US retailers to get their Canadian
suppliers to put red rubber bands on the lobsters printed with “Product of Canada” and
their US suppliers to put blue rubber bands printed with “Product of US.”
Key Meetings – January
Workshop on Protecting Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction – Halifax, NS
In preparation for a February meeting at the United Nations, Foreign Affairs Canada,
Environment Canada, and DFO have contracted Dalhousie University to hold an informal
workshop to get input to help the departments to develop positions that Canada can
adopt at the UN meeting. Patrick McGuinness has been invited to be a “Lead
Commentator” regarding the fishing industry’s interests, concerns, etc.
Inspection/Technical
Changes in Senior Ranks of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
François Guimont, appointed President of CFIA in September 2005, has made some
changes in the senior ranks of CFIA – both involving individuals who have worked with
our industry in seafood inspection. Cameron Prince becomes Vice President,
Operations. Cameron is well known to the industry having headed up seafood inspection
in Toronto, Ottawa, and food inspection for the Atlantic region. Krista Mountjoy becomes
Vice President, Programs. Krista has previously been in charge of seafood inspection in
Toronto and food inspection for BC.
With the creation of CFIA and its absorption of fish inspection from the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans, the FCC has complained that seafood issue were being lost in
CFIA’s food inspection empire. With these appointments, we are confident that our
issues, concerns, etc. will, at least, be understood by CFIA’s executive ranks.
Market / Economic Issues
2006 Trends
IntraFish offers the following insights into what they believe are the 10 most significant
trends in 2006:
More consolidation. Several Big players are on the block, including Holland based
shrimp supplier Heiploeg, Swedish frozen seafood firm Findus, Unilever and Heinz. Expect
for buyers to be named sometime in the first half of 2006. Several
other major seafood industry players - including American Seafoods and Youngs’s
Bluecrest have said they’re looking at opportunities that pass across their desk.
Price relief. Both on the raw material front, and on big seafood buyers finally
budging, the seafood industry should expect a little breathing room on price.
Asian uptick. Vietnam and China both are ramping up their aquaculture and
secondary processed seafood production. With companies like Navico and
Pacific Andes scheduled to open up huge new processing plans, the volume is set
to grow.
Sustainability. This work was on a lot of lips in 2005; expect it to be the buzzword in
2006.
Efficiency drives. Higher costs mean a push towards efficiency. Expect to see
major investments in seafood processing automation, particularly in the Western
world.
Fuel pain. The world isn’t making any more oil, so expect the price of this commodity
to stay high.
Health focus. With experts touting the benefits in new studies all the time, expect the
industry to take a health tack in much of its marketing.
The rise and rise of aquaculture. Wild fish is still the dominant supplier of searfood.
Next year will sea the major species take bigger and bigger steps, an dmay see
some traditionally wild fish companies get into farming.
Big business. More and More professional investors are looking at the seafood
industry as a decent place to put their money.
More seafood consumption. From fresh to frozen, shrimp to salmon, consumers
across the world are eating more seafood. People know seafood is healthy, and
the industry is finally providing convenient ways to eat this stuff.
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