Maritime seafood industry officials looking for new buyers at Boston expo

Atlantic Canadian seafood businesses are looking for new markets amid U.S. tariffs.

The Seafood Expo North America is the largest event of its kind on the continent. With importers, exporters, wholesalers and hotel operators from 50 countries in attendance, it’s the perfect place to pitch Nova Scotia seafood to the world.

“I was expecting doom and gloom when I came down here and it is not that. There’s a lot more optimism for the demand for our product and will be able to get through this storm,” says Fisheries Minister Kent Smith.

Smith says Nova Scotia companies have a deal with a new contact in the Philippines and one is in the works with an existing importer in Spain to expand that market.

Lobster seller Shawn Landry has been busy, too.

“Singapore was one of the ones that we talked with. Southeast Asia, Italy, and Europe,” he says

With 25 per cent tariffs coming from China on Thursday and 25 per cent promised by President Donald Trump on April 2, Landry does sense some hesitation from established buyers south of the border.

“We’re getting the same thing, they’re all saying that the price is too high, they want to be buying, but the price is way too high right now. It’s kind of a worry for everyone right now and not sure what’s happening,” he says.

According to a Fisheries and Oceans Canada report from 2021, the nation’s lobster exports to the United States hit $2.2 billion. China is second at $483 million. Those numbers are much higher if all seafood exports are included.

If tariffs slow the demand, Brian Guptill, president of the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association, is worried about the effect on the entire island.

“The lobster industry fuels the majority of the local economy,” he says. “And if there’s less money and there’s less cars bought, there’s less houses built, less of a lot of things done.”

Smith says he had a full day of meetings Sunday and Monday, and despite not knowing what will happen with tariffs, the Nova Scotia contingent will be heading home with a few new deals in their pockets.