Representatives from 1,600 companies in 140 countries will have the opportunity to learn about and order B.C. seafood products at the European Seafood Exposition, underway in Brussels, Belgium May 3-5.

The B.C. Salmon Marketing Council is one of a dozen exhibitors promoting the flavours, nutrition, food safety and sustainability of B.C. seafood products. Exhibitors are featuring and profiling B.C. albacore tuna, crab, halibut, hake, prawns, roe, sablefish, salmon, sardines, shrimp and sea urchins.

B.C. is an internationally trusted source of sustainable seafood, with B.C. albacore tuna, sablefish, sockeye, halibut and hake all Marine Stewardship Council-certified and fully compliant with the United Nations' Guidelines for Fisheries Eco-Certification. In 2009, more than 40 per cent of all fish caught in B.C. was MSC-certified.

The export of seafood products is an important economic driver for B.C.'s coastal communities with shipments to 70 countries and a total export value of $900 million. About two-thirds of all B.C. seafood is exported.

Quick Facts:

• Twelve exhibitors are promoting B.C. seafood in the Exposition's Canada Pavilion.
• B.C. seafood was served in two billion meals around the world in 2009 and exported as 174 different products.
• B.C.'s top five seafood export markets are the U.S., Japan, China, Hong Kong and the U.K.
• B.C.'s biggest exports are salmon, shellfish, groundfish (e.g. halibut, sablefish, cod, hake), herring and other open-ocean fish.
• More than 15,000 British Columbians are employed in the fisheries, aquaculture and sport fishing sectors.

Learn More:

www.bcseafood.ca - From how it is caught to how to cook it, everything you need to know about seafood in B.C.

www.bcseafood.ca/PDFs/YIR-2009.pdf - statistics, figures and features on B.C. seafood for 2009

www.euroseafood.com - the European Seafood Exposition

Media Contact:

Niki Pandachuck
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Agriculture
250 387-1693