For vertically integrated seafood companies, the coronavirus pandemic has upended standard procedures, particularly regarding staff safety and keeping vessels operating as normally as possible.

Canadian seafood giant Ocean Choice International (OCI) was far ahead of the curve on its preparedness, and hindsight shows how much better off the broader industry would have been had it followed suit.

OCI drew up its first COVID-19 response plan in January, long before borders were closed, masks were required or restaurants were shuttered.