P.E.I.'s bearded skipper big hit in China

A P.E.I. fisherman attracted a lot of attention during a recent trade mission to China.

The China Fisheries and Seafood Expo, held Nov. 6-8, is the largest of its kind in Asia, with 900 exhibitors and 15,000 visitors.

North Rustico's Norman Peters, known as the bearded skipper, was initially not sure about the value of going on this trip, but that quickly changed.

"I just wondered, is it good money? Are we getting something for our money when we go over?"

"I was giving out brochures and calendars and I put a Canadian flag in my hat and I was yelling out 'Canada!' and then they'd all stop and pictures and pictures. People from the New Brunswick booth across the way said, 'We need a bearded skipper.'"

In addition to attracting attention at the expo, Peters was featured on the front page of one of Bejing's newspapers.

It was his first time overseas.