Eat more ‘Vitamin Sea’ say seafood farmers and fishers

“Choose Canadian Seafood” campaign, is designed to cater to the growing demand among Canadian families for fresh, locally produced seafood products.

By Samantha Bacchus
SeaWestNews

Canada’s seafood farmers and fishers want you to put more “vitamin sea” on your plate.

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) and The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) have announced a recent expansion of the “Choose Canadian Seafood” campaign, designed to cater to the growing demand among Canadian families for fresh, locally produced seafood products.

Emphasizing the ease of incorporating nutritious seafood into daily meals, this initiative prioritizes convenience, health, and sustainability, with the introduction of exciting new partnerships that are set to make choosing Canadian seafood even easier, the groups said in a joint statement.

The campaign has partnered with over 300 Sobeys and Safeway locations across Canada to feature “Choose Canadian Seafood” labels, making it simple for consumers to identify Canadian seafood products.

Metro locations across Ontario will also offer their customers complimentary, easy-to-follow recipe booklets that showcase a diverse range of Canadian seafood recipes.

“The campaign’s website has undergone a significant transformation. It now includes a comprehensive Seafood Guide, highlighting the nutritional benefits and industry sustainability of Canadian seafood,” said Timothy Kennedy, President & CEO, CAIA.

“Our monthly newsletter will also keep our consumers informed and engaged, providing continuous updates on the world of Canadian seafood,” he said.

“A recent study from Dalhousie University showed an overwhelming 86.7% of Canadians regularly make fish and seafood staples in their diets, mainly driven by nutritional considerations,” said Paul Lansbergen, President, FCC.

“With 64% citing health as their primary motivator, the results underscore the relevance of the ‘Choose Canadian Seafood’ initiative. It’s clear we’re on the right track, particularly with the Millennial cohort, who place a premium on the twin pillars of health and environmental sustainability in their consumption choices.”

The expanded “Choose Canadian Seafood” campaign, in partnership with major retailers, will serve as a driver for those who value health, sustainability, and convenience.

The project is funded via the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund (CFSOF).

CAIA is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally to regulators, policy makers and political leaders. CAIA members generate over $5 billion in economic activity, $2 billion in GDP, and employ over 20,000 Canadians delivering a healthy and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada.

The FCC is the voice of Canada’s wild capture fish and seafood industry. Its members include small, medium and larger-sized companies along with Indigenous enterprises that harvest and process fish from Canada’s three oceans.

Image courtesy of Creative Salmon