Expo to Explore First Nations Opportunities in Seafood Value Chain

May 31, 2018

COMOX VALLEY – The BC Seafood Expo will examine business opportunities for First Nations communities along the entire aquaculture and fisheries value chain.

Over 40 First Nation and Indigenous communities are now directly or indirectly involved in farming seafood in Canada.

The MaPP First Nations Aquaculture Resources for Commercialization Workshop, will be held June 11 in the Comox Valley as part of 2018 BC Seafood Expo and Trade Show.

This is one of the largest seafood industry trade events in the Pacific Northwest attracting suppliers, buyers, distributors, producers, industry leaders and government representatives to network, meet and grow the seafood sector and their bottom line.

First Nations communities in the Haida Gwaii, North Coast, Central Coast, and North Vancouver Island, have been working to develop marine plans and coast resource economic opportunities, one of which is aquaculture and fisheries.

Concurrently, First Nations in other coastal areas of BC have been actively engaged in seafood economic opportunities though research, pilot and commercial projects.

The goal of this workshop is to present an update on these various projects and facilitate a broader discussion on financial and business resources currently available to First Nations communities for the development of business opportunities along the entire seafood value chain.

The workshop will be moderated by Dr. Myron Roth, aquaculture and seafood industry specialist with the Government of British Columbia.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization projects that aquaculture will account for two-thirds of the global food fish consumption by 2030.

According to the latest Statistics Canada data, Canadian seafood farmers produced $1.35 billion of fresh, nutritious seafood in 2016. Our farming and processing activities generated over $5 billion in economic activity, $2 billion in GDP, and more than 25,000 full-time jobs for Canadians earning an estimated $1.16 billion in wages in 2016, with significant Indigenous participation across the nation.

– By SeaWest News

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