The Fisheries Council of Canada

advisory boards and commissions, ministers, as well as foreign governments. The FCC maintains ongoing relations with fish and seafood industry associations in other countries, as well as relations with ministries of foreign governments and international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The FCC focuses on five key areas: Market Access/Trade Policy; Inspection/Technical Issues; Environmental/ Ocean Use Conflicts; International Fisheries; Fisheries Management; and Communications. Located in Ottawa, its main areas of influence concern the policies and decisions of Fisheries & Oceans Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency; Foreign Affairs, Trade, & Development; Environment Canada; Employment & Social Development Canada, and Finance as well as foreign embassies regarding access to their markets. The Canadian fish and seafood industry is an important producer of high quality food and a significant contributor to Canada’s economy, especially rural coastal and Indigenous communities. Thousands of Canadian families, businesses, employees, and their communities depend on this industry to provide for their well- being. In total more than 72,000 Canadians are employed directly from fishing, aquaculture, and related activities. This does not take into account all of the other spin-off and incremental jobs and benefits that are accrued in support of this industry which is often the “anchor tenant” in rural communities throughout the country. Ultimately, a stable fish and seafood sector has the potential to create an innovative base for other dynamic, regional economic growth and development to occur. In 2017, the Canadian fish and seafood industry exported $6.9 billion of high quality seafood – ranking it as the world’s 8th largest seafood exporter. Approximately 63 percent of exports were destined for the United States, followed by China and the European Union at 14 percent and 7 percent respectively. With exports to 139 counties in 2017, seafood has the most highly diversified market compared to the rest of the food THE F I SHER I ES COUNC I L OF CANADA