The Canada-Newfoundland Agreement on the Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative (EDC) is contributing $25,000 towards a study into marine transportation needs for the Community of Gaultios. The study will be overseen by the Gaultois Investment Corporation (GIC), a not-for-profit organization formed in 1991. GIC is the owner of the fish processing facility and equipment in the community of Gaultois. Employing more than 100 people in the community, GIC has a groundfish quota of more than 3500 tonnes.

GIC will hire a consultant to review the current commercial and passenger marine transportation operations, and identify the community’s requirements. The consultant will examine the marine transportation service, the shore-based infrastructure required, and assess alternatives to accommodate the identified marine transportation needs of local establishments.

Marine transportation is a significant element in the operations of fish processing businesses. All previous private sector operators have described the need to address the transportation of product into and out of the community as essential to ensuring the transport of high quality products to international markets.

Terms of Reference for the study have established the framework to achieve a detailed overview and analysis, and to provide source documents for interested stakeholders in industry and government. The consultant will meet with interested stakeholders, review services and capacity, and cost the marine transportation service options and alternatives currently available.