 |
||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
New aquaculture species for province The Newfoundland Salmonid Growers Association will receive $100,000 from the Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement as part of a $613,622 project to conduct research into the grow-out of eastern brook trout. The project will take advantage of the aquaculture facility at Bay d'Espoir and create a new product line for the province. Today's announcement was made by Fred Mifflin, Minister of Veteran's Affairs and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Beaton Tulk, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal. The Salmonid Growers Association will undertake this initiative in partnership with SCB fisheries, a vertically integrated aquaculture company producing rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon at its facility in St. Alban's. "It is critical that we diversify our fishery. We cannot remain dependent on the commercial harvest, either wild or cultured, of a very limited number of species," said Mr. Mifflin. "This is a strategic investment that will build a closer working relationship between SCB Fisheries and the Salmonid Growers Association, and help facilitate our transition to the diversified fishery of the future." The introduction of a new species line in the Bay d'Espoir facility will improve the efficiency of the operation. Different species spawn at different times so that at certain times of the year tanks may not be in full use. Adding brook trout, which spawn before Atlantic salmon, will make better use of SCB Fisheries' facilities and strengthen the company as well. Preliminary research of brook trout undertaken by SCB Fisheries since 1995 has had better than expected results. The initiative announced today will build on that preliminary research by concentrating on the over-wintering period from November to May which is the most critical time for survival of species cultured in the area. The project will create four full-time positions initially and is expected to create many additional employment opportunities once the research phase is concluded. "The cultivation of brook trout will add a new commercial species to aquaculture production in Newfoundland," said Mr. Tulk. He noted that fishout ponds in Newfoundland have proved popular with the public but at present all stocks must be imported from Prince Edward Island or Ontario. "A ready commercial supply of trout could reduce stocking costs for pond operators and encourage the growth of the industry. There is also a potential market for brook trout in the restaurant trade, particularly in Quebec. This project will lead to new business opportunities and help diversify our economy," said the minister. The Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement is a 70:30 cost-shared agreement between the federal and provincial governments. The agreement is administered federally by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and provincially by the Department of Development and Rural Renewal.
|
||
|
