The Quebec Fish Processors Association's Annual General Meeting

News Release

Minister Shea reiterates Government’s support for fish and seafood industry

January 31, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario

Quebec, Quebec -- The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, delivered a speech yesterday at the Quebec Fish Processors Association’s Annual General Meeting. Her speech reiterated the federal government’s support for the fish and seafood industry, highlighting the government’s commitment to the recently concluded Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, and the potential related opportunities this presents for the industry.

Quick Facts

The Quebec Fish Processors Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to defend the professional interests of Quebec fish processors. It is now an important consulting hub for Quebec’s ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation as well as Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The EU is already Quebec’s second-largest trading partner and export destination and Quebecers stand to benefit significantly from this preferred access to the EU market.
Quebec’s fish and seafood exports to the EU were worth an average of $13.7 million annually between 2010 and 2012.
When the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement comes into force almost 96 percent of EU tariff lines for fish and seafood will be duty-free. Seven years later, 100 percent of these tariff lines will be duty-free, making these world-class goods more competitive and creating the conditions for increased sales.

Quotes

“The Canada-EU Trade Agreement is our most ambitious trade agreement yet. It’s good news for Quebec where the fish and seafood industry provides jobs to more than 7,900 Quebecers. Our trade agreement will open the world’s largest common market to Canadian exporters. This will allow Quebec processors to sell more of their goods. Higher sales will lead to more jobs, higher wages and greater long-term prosperity, which directly benefits hard-working Quebecers.

As the world’s largest importer of fish and seafood, the EU presents significant export opportunities for Quebec’s fish and seafood producers. The province’s world-class industry is well placed to take advantage of the growing demand for high-quality and sustainable fish and seafood from discerning and health-conscious European consumers. In short, Quebec will reap the benefits of this trade deal.”
Gail Shea Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada