British Columbia’s Authentic Indigenous Seafood Finds New Horizons in Japan

Authentic Indigenous Seafood (AIS), a cooperative of Indigenous-owned fisheries across Canada, has launched its premium, sustainably-sourced seafood into the Japanese market through a groundbreaking partnership with Horizon Farms. Facilitated by Trade and Invest British Columbia (TIBC) and the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) at the Embassy of Canada in Japan, this achievement marks the beginning of a trade relationship that highlights British Columbia’s (B.C.) ecosystem of innovation, sustainability and global competitiveness.

A New Chapter for Canadian Indigenous Seafood

AIS is a unique cooperative that collaborates with Indigenous-owned fisheries, prioritizing ecological, cultural and economic sustainability. Representing small to medium-sized enterprises across Canada, and predominantly from B.C., AIS exemplifies the province’s commitment to responsible resource management and community-driven economic development.

Recently, AIS was honored with the Indigenous Business of 2024 Award at the 17th Annual Rise Awards Night, hosted by BC Food & Beverage. This award celebrates Indigenous-owned and led businesses in B.C. that produce food or beverages while advancing Indigenous community knowledge and development.

TIBC introduced AIS to Japanese importer Horizon Farms through a partnership with the Trade Commissioner Service as part of the Embassy of Canada to Japan’s Canada Brand e-commerce initiative. This initiative promotes Canadian food and beverage products in Japan’s thriving e-commerce market, including a dedicated store on Rakuten, Japan’s largest online platform.

To support AIS’s entry into Japan, TIBC provided market intelligence on Japanese consumer preferences, facilitated connections with Horizon Farms and coordinated seafood sample shipments to ensure quality standards were met. TIBC also offered ongoing guidance to AIS on logistics and regulatory requirements throughout negotiations.

This comprehensive support led to the launch of AIS products on Horizon Farms’ e-commerce platform, bringing premium, sustainably-sourced B.C. seafood to Japanese consumers and marking the start of a promising new trade relationship.

Deepening B.C. and Japan’s Trade Relationship

B.C. and Japan share a deep cultural and economic connection, with Japan ranking as B.C.’s third largest destination for commodity exports in 2022. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) strengthens this relationship, fostering trade, investment and innovation between Canada and Japan.

The partnership between AIS and Horizon Farms represents not only a victory for Indigenous businesses but also a step forward in increasing the diversity and resilience of B.C.’s exporting food and beverage companies.

B.C.’s Trade Diversification Strategy is designed to expand export and investment opportunities by using B.C.’s strengths, including its reputation for high-quality products, proximity to global markets and commitment to sustainability. Events like the 2024 Canada Food Expo play a vital role in supporting this strategy by connecting B.C.-made food products with buyers in Japan and Korea. TIBC and TCS worked closely with seven B.C. companies to participate in the event and spark ongoing conversations about potential deals.

Looking Ahead: Building a Global Future for AIS

AIS has recently expanded its export markets, extending its reach into Japan, Asia and Europe. The partnership with Horizon Farms marks a significant step in this journey, demonstrating the value of combining Indigenous traditional knowledge with modern business practices, creating products that resonate globally.

“We have carefully nurtured our export relationships to bolster our value-add programs for locally-branded Indigenous seafood products, while protecting local markets that are important for food, culture and economic security of Indigenous communities who fish them.
Horizon Farms have been a pleasure to work with. We have expanded the product offerings over the last year, worked out a custom labelling program with them, and our products have been met with great feedback from Horizon Farm’s customers.”
— Gord Sterritt, CEO of Authentic Indigenous Seafood

TIBC is proud to champion B.C. businesses like Authentic Indigenous Seafood, creating pathways for growth and global impact. Contact us or learn more about how we connect local companies with international opportunities on LinkedIn and X.