Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Seizing the global opportunities for New Zealand seafood
Seizing the global opportunities for New Zealand seafood
The growing global demand for environmentally sustainable, natural, healthy food offers great opportunities for the New Zealand seafood industry, Seafood New Zealand Chairman George Clement says.
Speaking at the New Zealand Seafood Industry Conference in Wellington today, Mr Clement referred to the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) prediction that global food production will need to increase by 40 per cent by 2030 and seventy per cent by 2050.
Growth in global seafood production (3.2 per cent annually) continues to outpace population growth (1.6 per cent annually), he said.
“Nutritionally, seafood is part of the solution, not the problem.”
In addition, there is a growing middle class globally, especially within Asia.
“Customers in these high end markets increasingly want to know where their food comes from, whether it’s safe to eat and natural, how it was harvested and whether it comes from a sustainable source.
“These discerning and affluent customers are the most politically active, influential and the most likely to research what they are buying.”
That places New Zealand in a very good position, he said.
The challenge for the New Zealand seafood industry is rising to those opportunities by establishing a validation scheme under a New Zealand brand with four key assurances:
• Natural – establish and extol the natural qualities
• Safe – assured food safety standards so consumers can buy and eat with confidence
• Healthy – establish and extol seafood’s health benefits
• Sustainable – establish and extol our very low environmental impact.
The New Zealand seafood industry has experienced steady growth in exports since 2001 – 85 per cent of New Zealand seafood is exported.
“It’s not just about selling our seafood, it’s about promoting it and telling our story - our commitment to quality, sustainability, the environment and the exclusivity of our products,” he said.
Around 270 people are attending the New Zealand Seafood Industry Conference which has as its theme, New Zealand Sustainable Seafood – Adding Value.
ENDS
Seafood New Zealand
Seafood New Zealand’s primarily focus is deepwater and inshore wild capture fisheries, but works closely with other sectors to ensure a thriving and sustainable seafood sector that is valued by New Zealanders and our trading partners.
New Zealand's seafood industry plays a key role in the country's economy, contributing around $2 billion in export earnings and employing more than 16,500 people, who provide New Zealand and the world with high quality, nutritious and great tasting seafood.
The seafood industry is committed to providing high quality careers in local communities through our sustainable and innovative provision of safe seafood.
NIWA: Ship Anchors May Cause Extensive And Long-lasting Damage To The Seafloor, According To New Research
New Zealand Customs Service: A Step Forward For Simpler Trade Between New Zealand And Singapore
Horizon Research: 68% Say Make Banks Offer Fraud Protection
NZ Banking Association: Banks Seek Government Support For Anti-Scam Centre
National Road Carriers: Praises NZTA State Highway Investment Proposal Turnaround
Greenpeace: Cameras Reveal Mass Underreporting Of Dolphin, Albatross And Fish Bycatch By Commercial Fishing Industry
