These days, quality control of marine products and food safety is very much in the news. From capture to consumption, product quality and food safety pose a challenge that must be met by everyone involved at every stage. This can only happen through greater accountability on the part of every single person who has a role in the process, and the application by businesses of more effective measures for preventing and managing risk.

This greater accountability is what prompts the experts in the CZRI Fishery and Marine Products sector to perform ongoing technological monitoring in areas such as regulation, product quality, new technologies, food safety, value-added products and the use of by-products.

By way of example, a literature review resulting from a technological monitoring on herring quality is about to be published. This review provides a compilation of relevant information drawn from traditional sources (scientific articles, reference books, consultants’ reports) and electronic documents, as well as audiovisual material and meetings with various stakeholders from the herring industry. An industry consultation group was also established, whose prime purpose was to support the CZRI throughout this project. In addition to updating available information, this literature review also deals with issues like roe yield and value-added products.

Other species, like mackerel, could also be the subject of a similar exercise. These literature reviews, which represent an integrated approach to commercial use of species from the Acadian Peninsula, are conducted in cooperation with partners like the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) – Gulf Region and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Finally, through the CZRI Laboratories and Analysis Services, the Fishery and Marine Products sector offers New Brunswick’s fishing and aquaculture industries a full range of chemical, physical, microbiological and nutritional analyses adapted to their needs. These analysis services support the industry in its efforts to diversify, maintain, and improve the quality of marine products.