N.L. succeeding in finding markets outside U.S. at seafood expo in Boston, minister says

Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne says efforts to diversify to markets beyond the United States have been successful at Seafood Expo North America in Boston — but isn't ready to share exactly where provincial products could be going.

"Diversification for Newfoundland companies has been successful," Byrne told CBC News on Monday.

"I'll leave that for the companies to unfold as they sign those final contracts, but we have had success in developing new markets in different continents."

Byrne is part of a Newfoundland and Labrador delegation attending the ongoing seafood expo, which includes unions, plant representatives and more.

Representatives from 50 countries make up the largest seafood gathering on the continent — which is giving Canadian operations the chance to explore new markets as the threat of tariffs from the United States and China loom.

Byrne said it's also given the chance for global markets to see what Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer.

"New markets are readily available to us. Everybody who drops by the Newfoundland and Labrador booth here at the Boston seafood show is just amazed at the versatility, the variety of products we have," Byrne said.

"This is a big, big industry. We do have a certain strength here."

Byrne said some contracts arranged during the show could come into effect in the second or third quarter of 2025.

Juan Roberts, president of Badger Bay Mussel Farms in Triton, N.L., said tariffs have brought his business to the idea of expansion in Canada and movement beyond the U.S. Fifty-five per cent of his product currently goes south of the border, he said.

He's been able to have good conversations at the show.

"There's other places in the world that buy what we grow. So we'll get there eventually, it just might take a bit of time," Roberts said Monday.

"There's going to be more sold in Canada, I think, but it might not make up the full 55 per cent that we sell in the U.S."

Byrne was also asked about the appointment of Newfoundland and Labrador MP Joanne Thompson as the new federal fisheries minister under Prime Minister Mark Carney. He says he's looking forward to their collaboration.

"I cannot help but think that that's a positive," Byrne said. "But the virtues, the attributes that I would always ask for in any federal fisheries minister is to be fair … respond to evidence and facts, and fair play. Newfoundland and Labrador, its entire history is dependent on the fishery."

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