July 2, 1998
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

Exploratory fishing aimed at identifying near-shore shrimp resource for small inshore vessels

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is undertaking a major exploratory fishing project to identify near-shore shrimp resources that can be accessed by vessels of around 35 feet, and additional exploratory work is being done using beam trawls and shrimp pots.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister John Efford said the department will soon advertise to charter an otter trawl vessel between 55 and 65 feet to begin exploratory fishing for northern shrimp in August on the south coast of the province, along the southern shore, the northeast coast and southern Labrador.

"The exploratory fishing will take place within 20 to 25 miles from shore in areas where small vessels can take part in a shrimp harvest if the resource is available," Mr. Efford said. "The vessel will help us determine where in those areas northern shrimp would be accessible to small inshore vessels. We have already proven that vessels between 45 feet and 65 feet can participate in harvesting inshore shrimp. We feel confident that smaller vessel owners, if exploratory fishing identifies the resource for them, will also be able to participate."

It wasn't until 1997 that any inshore vessels were able to participate in harvesting shrimp along the northeast coast. Most of a significant increase in the '97 northern shrimp quota was for the inshore sector. The quota was increased again this year, and again the inshore sector received virtually all of the increase.

"Inshore harvesters now have access to approximately 33,000 tonnes of northern shrimp. Two years ago their share was zero," Mr. Efford said.

Along with chartering a vessel to identify near-shore shrimp resources, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is also continuing exploratory work with beam trawls and shrimp pots.

Beam trawling will take place until October in most regions of the province. Groups providing operational funding for this initiative are the Fogo Island Co-op, the Labrador Fishermen's Union Shrimp company, St. Anthony Basin Resource Incorporated, and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers. The department is participating with those agencies by providing beam trawls and technical expertise.

The department has also ordered 350 shrimp pots. Up to 250 of the pots will be used is various regions on a rotating basis, and others are being made available to the agencies involved with the beam trawl experiments. Advertisements calling for proposals from harvesters have already been placed, and a decision will be made soon on which harvesters will take part in the exploratory work.

The exploratory work is funded directly from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture budget, supplemented by funding provided by the Canada-Newfoundland Economic Renewal Agreement.

"This year, we should have a shrimp fishery worth $100 million," Mr. Efford said.

It is anticipated that this year, approximately 1,000 harvesters and 1,000 plant workers will be employed in the harvesting and processing of shrimp as new shrimp processing facilities begin operations.

The private sector has invested substantially in plant conversions or expansions in places such as Anchor Point, Port Union, St. Joseph's, Clarenville, Charlottetown in Labrador, Old Perlican and Bay de Verde to take advantage of new opportunities that northern shrimp is providing.

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

1998 07 02                     2:35 p.m.