New seafood quality certification available

A new certification is now available for Nova Scotia seafood companies to increase quality standards.

In a recent news release, provincial officials said the Nova Scotia Seafood Quality Program will provide a certification for the province’s top exported seafood products.

Certified companies will gain the ability to utilize

Nova Scotia Seafood brand creatives, a trademarked logo, features in brand promotion materials, marketing campaigns and access to training

and marketing for business growth said officials.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell said the promotion of highquality seafood standards will enhance Nova Scotia’s reputation and make for a strong economic recovery.

“Nova Scotia’s seafood companies lead the way as Canada’s top exporters of seafood and this new program will differentiate us even further in the global marketplace,” he said in the news release.

The program, developed by Nova Scotia Seafood in collaboration with Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc. and Université-Anne, will be available to companies that export seafood products such as lobster, oysters, sea scallops, Atlantic halibut and several other species.

Université Sainte-Anne will manage live lobster certification and ensure suppliers, exporters and harvesters are complying with regulations such as handling, lobster quality, water monitoring and traceability.

Perennia will manage certifications for all other species that require exportation and ensure companies comply with regulatory requirements, premium quality standards and improvement, noted the release.

Brian Fortune, president of Fortune Oysters, said marketing with the new trademark will assist his company in gaining worldwide recognition.

“The addition quality assurances offered by this trademark will give us a solid foundation to export superior, consistent, quality oysters to destinations throughout the world,” he said.