News release

Minister’s 2020 Conference Largest Yet, More Global

Fisheries and Aquaculture

This year’s conference on the trends, benefits and growth of the fishing and aquaculture industries in Nova Scotia will be the largest yet, attracting more international speakers and local industry members than ever before.

The annual Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister’s Conference, a partnership this year with the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia’s Seafarmers Conference, will be Feb. 25 to 27 in Halifax.

“Nova Scotia’s seafood industry now has exports of $2.3 billion and it is the leading employer in our coastal and rural communities so it’s important we gather to focus on strengthening and advancing that success, in environmentally sustainable ways,” said Keith Colwell, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “We will learn the latest global seafood trends, talk to fishers, processors and sea farmers about their needs and spend time discovering new opportunities for growth.”

The conference will feature expertise from all over the world, including Norway, Ireland, Iceland and Canada.

A world-class trade show will feature companies with products and services for the seafood industry.

Quotes:

“The aquaculture industry is expanding across the province and working alongside the fisheries sector is essential to reach our full potential for our coastal and rural communities and for all Nova Scotians. This will be the largest fisheries and aquaculture conference in Canada, bringing together a diverse group of delegates and representatives of farmers, fishers, academia and supplier partners from around the world. The Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia is pleased to be a conference partner."

– Tom Smith, executive director, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia

Quick Facts:

  • total fish and seafood exports from Nova Scotia were $2.3 billion in 2019, a 13.6 per cent increase over 2018 export earnings
  • lobster led the way as Nova Scotia’s most valuable export species in 2019, valued at almost $1.2 billion
  • the majority of the total 2019 lobster export value was earned from sales to the United States ($1 billion), China ($725 million) and the European Union ($234 million)
  • this is the 22nd conference to be held. It will feature more than 100 speakers and 30 breakout sessions
  • speakers will include Julie Ferguson Ceniti, Canada’s trade commissioner, to the European Union and Jim O’Toole, CEO of Ireland’s seafood development agency
  • the conference’s theme is quality as it relates to technology and innovation, full utilization, automation, and labour

Additional Resources:

To register or get conference details, visit https://www.perennia.ca/seafoodaans/

More information on the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia is at http://seafarmers.ca/

Follow Us