Spanish Consul General Tours Operations

Jose Maria Castroviejo, the Spanish Consul General to Canada, and Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell are on a three-day tour of several Nova Scotia seafood operations. The trip began yesterday and will conclude Wednesday in Digby.

Mr. Colwell invited Mr. Castroviejo, who is based in Montreal, on the tour to build on the seafood trade that already exists between Spain and Nova Scotia. The province currently exports silver hake, lobster and salmon to Spain.

"Good exporting is built on good relationships," Mr. Colwell said. "I'm hoping this tour will open doors and lead to business that benefits us all."

The three day trip includes stops on the eastern shore, Cape Breton and Digby.

Mr. Castroviejo said he is visiting the province to add to what he already knows about the province's seafood industry. He will report his findings to the Spanish government.

Fish continues to be Nova Scotia's leading export. Last year, Nova Scotia lead all provinces in fish exports.

Monday's itinerary included a trip to a lobster pound and two seafood processors. Today, Mr. Colwell and Mr. Castroviejo are in Inverness County to visit a silver hake operation, steelhead operation and a smokehouse. On Wednesday, Mr. Castroviejo is in Digby to visit two full-line fish processors.