November 27, 1997
(COOPERATION Agreement)

Experimental salmon project for Sandwich Bay approved

The Sandwich Bay Watershed Management Authority (SBWMA) will be conducting an experimental salmon trolling initiative in an effort to diversify from the traditional commercial netting of salmon to a higher value sport fishery. The SBWMA has been awarded $174,404 from the Canada/Newfoundland Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement (SRDA) for this project which will be implemented over a two-year period.

Today's announcement was made by Lawrence O'Brien, MP for Labrador on behalf of Fred Mifflin, Minister of Veterans Affairs and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and by Beaton Tulk, provincial Minister of Development and Rural Renewal.

"This project has great potential benefits for Labrador," said Mr. O'Brien. "The intent here is to significantly lessen the pressure on the salmon resources in the Sandwich Bay watershed area. At the same time, moving toward a greater emphasis on a salmon sports fishery will have a positive impact because sports fisheries have a greater multiplier effect across a number of economic sectors."

"Salt water trolling for salmon is new to this province but is a major industry in British Columbia and Sweden," said Minister Tulk. "Over the years, outfitters in the Sandwich Bay area have made inroads into the U.S. fly-fishing market and have proven that they can compete in this market with international destinations. However, the potential for trolling for salmon in the region has not been fully investigated from a business point of view. Even a small fraction of the trolling market would be a tremendous boost to the economy of the area."

From a technical perspective the project will identify the strengths, weaknesses and constraints of developing a marine trolling fishery for Atlantic Salmon in Sandwich Bay. The SBWMA will work in partnership with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans to conduct this experimental fishery. Detailed catch and effort records, as well as oceanographic and environmental data will be kept. Sampling will also be carried out under the direction of DFO. This experimental fishery will be a catch-and-release fishery only.

The Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement is a 70:30 cost-shared agreement between the federal and provincial governments respectively. The agreement is administered federally by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and provincially by the Department of Development and Rural Renewal.

Contact:

Paul Murphy, Cooperation Communications, (709) 772-0219, Clifford Grinling, Development and Rural Renewal, (709) 729-7066.