In November 2005, WCSMPA has successfully organized a China Seafood Delegation consisting of 20 companies to Guangdong province to attend the 10^th China Fisheries & Seafood Expo and to network with industry colleagues in China.

This year, Guangdong Fisheries Association (GFA) has organized a seafood delegation to North America. WCSMPA took this opportunity to hold a half-day conference in Richmond on Jan. 5 besides all other busy activities during their 2-day visit in Vancouver.

 In the conference & other occasions, comprehensive topics were discussed:

1. Exploring business opportunity of Sino-Canada seafood market, especially between BC &     Guangdong province
2. Briefing the seafood trade in Guangdong province
3. Introducing the “Cage Culture ?development  & future prospect  in China
4. Reviewing seafood import/ export inspection system & requirements on both countries

 Guangdong is one of the richest provinces in southern China with population of 83 millions, it is also a leading province in fisheries industry, In the year 2005, the aquatic products output reached 6.95 million tons, covering 13.6% of the national total output; 2.42 millions tons were for export. Regretfully for them, only 34,000 tons were exported to Canada.  On the British Columbia side, more than 100 companies are engaged in seafood related trade, in the year of 2004, total aquatic products export reached 680,000 tons; many of them were sold to Asia.  Both sides agreed there is plenty of room to grow.

 GFA further specified their cooperation plans with WCSMPA in 2007:

1. Inviting WCSMPA to visit Guangdong again in the fall of 2007
2. Enhancing the collaboration between WCSMPA and GFA. GFA wished they could up-skill the level of their management/ quality control/ production technology by the help of WCSMPA.
3. Importing Canadian proprietary species to Guangdong
4. Establishing the mechanism of training program provided by WCSMPA, GFA will send their technicians trained here as required.

 President of WCSMPA, Mr. Claude Tchao, also assessed the results of the conference/visit and expressed his perspectives:

1. Supply of Canada live seafood is tapering off every year and China happens to be the ideal candidate to make up the shortage in an economic way; besides, new frozen/ processed aquatic products can be imported if China strengthens their quality control to meet Canada/ USA inspection requirements.  More variety of exotic seafood to choose will benefit all consumers, especially for 20 millions overseas Chinese in N. America 
2. Canada’s trade deficit with China definitely will improve by importing more aquatic products from China. A well-balanced trade between China & N. America also helps importer/exporter as well; more competitive shipping cost/ constant schedule are just a few examples.
3. Globalization makes “Acquisition & Merger?a trend among those big international companies, no exception in air shipping industry, either. Cathy Pacific Airway’s acquisition of Dragon Air of Hong Kong in 2006; China Southern Airline and China Eastern Airline, two of the largest air-shipping companies in China, have aggressively speeded up their N. America business in recently years; All of the above ensure Sino-Canada trade running in a more efficient & effective way in this one world concept.
4. Mr. Lyle Reid, program specialist of CFIA also attended this conference; he was impressed what WCSMPA did and acquainted the development of seafood industry in Guangdong.  The conference also clearly directed members of WCSMPA what we should/ could do in the future.  More delegation activities and business cooperation will be engaged in the coming months.