Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney highlights seafood independence in new food strategy

Canada’s first National Food Security Strategy aims to build a more resilient, affordable food system by expanding domestic production and processing, including seafood. The plan notes Canada imports about CAD 2.5 billion (roughly USD 1.8 billion) of prepared and packaged seafood annually, despite a lengthy coastline and a strong fisheries and aquaculture sector. Processing capacity accounts for roughly 70 percent of the processed food, beverage, and seafood consumed in Canada, a gap the strategy seeks to close through greater domestic investment. Disparities persist in coastal, northern, remote, and Indigenous communities lacking local processing, cold storage, and logistics infrastructure, increasing costs. Fisheries and Oceans Canada plans to renew the national Fisheries Fund to strengthen the seafood sector. Minister Joanne Thompson pledged support during Seafood Expo North America in Boston, noting the need to modernize funding to reflect current industry needs. The strategy emphasizes reducing reliance on imports, expanding processing capacity, and boosting domestic jobs across provinces including Quebec.