A group of Nova Scotian businessmen, headed by Ralph Bell and including C.J. Morrow, Wallace Smith and Gary Connor formed National Sea Products in 1945 by amalgamating Nova Scotia's largest independent fish companies.

The company's product line has grown from the fresh and salt fish of the 1940's to include a full line of frozen fish portions, deluxe entrees with shrimp and scallops, lobster and a line of chicken products.

National Sea's retail brands are High Liner in Canada, and, in the United States, Booth and Fisher Boy. The company also services the international food service market, as well as sourcing and trading worldwide.

The small Lunenburg operation of the founding days has become a company of more than 7,000 employees, with 16 plants along the Eastern seaboard of North America, a fleet of 59 trawlers, and sales offices across North America and in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Lisbon. The company also owns a subsidiary company in France, and is affiliated with major Uruguayan and Australian seafood companies.

National Sea's success has not come easily. In the 1960's and 70's foreign overfishing threatened the basic resource of the entire industry. The 200-mile limit imposed in 1977 controlled foreign presence in Canadian waters, but resulted in overenthusiasm in the Atlantic Canadian fishery.

Troubled by over-inventory and a weak market, four of the five key companies were restructured to form Fishery Products International of Newfoundland. But National Sea, led by one of its largest minority shareholders, David Hennigar and president Bill Morrow, with the support of banks and private investors, was able to remain in the private sector and achieve a dramatic turnaround.

The establishment of new federal government quota and allocation systems in 1983 has acted to stabilize the industry since those troubled years. A new market-driven approach and a change in management's direction have been central to the present success of National Sea. In 1985 the company recorded a net income of $10.1 million after a loss of $18.9 million in 1984, an accomplishment of which the management team, led by Bill Morrow, Chairman of the Board, and Gordon Cummings, President and C.E.O., are especially proud. 1986 results showed a further increase with a net income totalling $36.1 million dollars. 1987 at National Sea closed with a healthy net income of $24.8 million dollars.

National Sea Products' forward-looking character led the company to campaign successfully in 1985 for a federal license to own and operate a factory freezer trawler. The Cape North, first such vessel of its kind in Canada, now fishes out of Lunenburg as flagship of the fleet.

National Sea Products, from its Halifax Head Office, has combined modern technology, business acumen and a commitment to the Atlantic fishing industry to become a respected leader in the seafood industry worldwide.

"The Cape North", a Typical Atlantic Fishing Vessel.