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THE Humber Trade Corridor said last night that it believed the Norway Seafood Conference it organised in Grimsby last March played a major part in the Norwegian Seafood Export Council announcing a major sales drive in the UK.
Simon Dwyer, chairman of the trade corridor, described it as a pleasing development, saying: "Both, on behalf of Trade Corridor we would like to think the Norway Day event we hosted at Humber Seafood Institute was the catalyst for this announcement.
"Increasing the awareness of Norwegian Seafood throughout the UK should lead to an increase in seafood trade and have a direct impact on North East Lincolnshire jobs in our ports and logistics and seafood processing sectors.
He added: "The Trade Corridor is establishing a track record in developing trade links and impacting local jobs - we experienced this when we took a trade mission to Canada last year.
Yesterday Norway unveiled a large-scale UK campaign with the sustainable fishing message - FISK.FøREVER. Export council director Johan Kvalheim said that Norwegian Seafood was endorsed by four internationally recognised eco-labels.
" We feel that the time is right to raise awareness of this in the UK. The aim of our UK marketing campaign is to educate the fish trade and consumers that there is a positive and sustainable choice when it comes to enjoying seafood – including cod and haddock fished from Norwegian waters.” The Norwegian Seafood Export Council is planning a two-year campaign that will simultaneously target trade and consumers, with the intention of increasing supply and growing demand.
Johan added: “We believe that the best seafood in the world comes from Norway and choosing Norwegian means that people can enjoy cod, haddock, prawns and other seafood favourites with a clear conscience. We want to encourage people to go out and ask for guilt-free Norwegian cod!”
In March Fishupdate reported that Karin Olsen, the export council's marketing manager, disclosed at the Grimsby conference that her organisation was planning a major sales drive in the UK later in the year and had been given the funding to carry out that operation.
At around £250-million a year Britain is Norway’s sixth largest buyer of Norwegian fish, with Russia and France heading the list.
Ms Olsen told the Grimsby conference: “Norway is known for its clear cold waters and its long tradition in harvesting the ocean. But we also take care of our resources and this gives Norwegian seafood real value. It is important for us to communicate that message."
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