Shrimp marketing a step in the right direction

Government’s recent announcement that the province will invest in marketing of peeled and cooked cold water shrimp is a great first step in revitalizing the province’s troubled fishery says NDP Leader, Lorraine Michael (Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi).

“For years I, and the NDP, have been calling on government to invest money into a large scale marketing campaign for our province’s fish products,” says Michael. “I am glad to see that government is finally seeing the value of such an initiative.”

Michael says it is time for the government to show some leadership and take a more active role in seafood marketing.

“If we are to sustain this lifeblood industry for our province, particularly rural areas where the fishery is the chief money maker, we need to invest heavily in making sure harvesters receive a fair price for their catch,” says Michael.

“I would urge government to take a more active role in marketing initiatives similar to the role they play in tourism marketing, where the province continues to win awards,” says Michael. “Tourism numbers since the inception of the marketing plan have been on a continuous upward trend; the same is possible for our province’s fishery.”

“This recent investment represents a step in the right direction, however it is still in a piecemeal fashion,” says Michael. “Government, in partnership with industry and the union, must institute a complete marketing plan for the province’s seafood so that we may sell our products at prices conducive to the world class quality of the Newfoundland and Labrador product.”