Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us

April 29, 1997
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

Changes for aquaculture leases announced

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister John Efford today announced some changes respecting aquaculture leases.

Making the announcement on behalf of the minister of Government Services and Lands, Mr. Efford announced four specific changes during his keynote address to the annual meeting of the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association.

First, development licences will be eligible for a maximum five- year licence to occupy a site, with no legal survey required. Second, commercial aquaculture sites will be leased for a 50-year period, with a legal survey required prior to the issuance of such licences. (Previously, a 15-year lease was in place.) Third, those who currently hold 15-year licences can convert to a 50-year lease by notifying the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture prior to the next anniversary date, with a survey required for such conversion. Four, annual lease fees are being decreased to $4 per hectare, down from $12 per hectare.

Mr. Efford also said that government will review survey specifications with the objective of reducing survey costs, while maintaining the legal integrity of such surveys.

He noted that changes are being made as a result of meetings he has had with industry stakeholders who had concerns about leases and other issues.

"I have had productive discussions with the ministers of Government Services, and Environment," Mr. Efford said, noting that officials of his department and Environment hope to resolve another issue raised by aquaculturists in the province. This issue concerns permits required from the Department of Environment. Aquaculture growers have questioned why they need a permit from Environment to use the water at a particular site, and another to occupy the water, if they already have similar permits from Fisheries and Aquaculture, Government Services and Lands, and the Canadian Coast Guard.

During his address to conference delegates, Mr. Efford gave a brief overview of the aquaculture industry in Newfoundland and Labrador:

• The farm gate value of the province's aquaculture products in 1996 rose to $6.1 million - almost double the 1995 value of $3.5 million.
• 210 aquaculture licences were issued in 1996, compared to 158 the previous year.
• This year, the mussel sector is expected to double its 1996 production of 310 metric tonnes.
• In the 1997-98 fiscal year, about $9 million is being provided for aquaculture under the Canada-Newfoundland Economic Renewal Agreement.

Contact: Josephine Cheeseman, (709) 729-3733.