A new guide has been
launched to help Australian seafood producers crack
the lucrative US market.
"The publication,
A $34 Billion Reasons to Access the US Seafood
Market, is the first in a series of seafood
market access guides to be produced jointly by the
Australian Seafood Industry Council (ASIC) and the
Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry - Australia (AFFA)," Federal Minister
for Fisheries, Senator Ian Macdonald, said.
"Over the past
decade, the US seafood market has doubled, and, in
2001, was worth more than A$34 billion. In 2000/1
Australian seafood exports to the US totalled $192
million. Australia's major seafood exports included:
rock lobster, pearls, fish, prawns, crabs and
abalone."
Despite being the
third largest destination for Australian seafood
exports, behind Japan ($744M) and Hong Kong ($494M),
the sheer size of the US market means there is
tremendous potential for expansion, and establishing
a more stable, diversified base for our products.
"The guide provides
small-to-medium-sized Australian seafood producers,
or those with a non-diversified export base, with
the latest information on the opportunities
available in the US market.
"The easy-to-read,
38-page guide provides information and advice under
four main headings:
