March 22, 1999
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

Aggressive efforts to diversify and revitalize the fishery

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister John Efford says he is pleased that the 1999-2000 Budget will allow his department to continue with its work to create a more stable and viable fishing industry.

Mr. Efford said his department will maintain its aggressive program in fisheries diversification, including developing new species and commercializing underutilized species.

"There is a large world demand for underutilized species and we will do more exploring and resource assessments in this area. Doing more research and development of underutilized species will indeed be a priority for my department."

Mr. Efford said: "Our fishery has made great strides over the past year in new fisheries initiatives and we will continue our work to help diversify the fishing and aquaculture industries and maintain the momentum that we've achieved."

The minister pointed out that his department has undertaken a number of initiatives, including a major inshore shrimp development project using beam trawl and potting technologies and geared towards the under 45-foot fleet.

"We carried out shrimp surveys around the province and the results illustrated excellent potential in Trinity Bay, as well as reaffirmed the opportunities in Fortune Bay. Additional work will be undertaken to determine opportunities on the south coast, and we will continue to work with fishermen, processors and interest groups in this initiative."

Mr. Efford added that shrimp initiatives will continue during 1999. "We will undertake some exploratory activity in 3LNO and we have proposed that this be a cooperative effort between my department, the federal government and industry.

"It is proposed that several vessels in the 65-foot range will undertake scientific assessment work in the 3LNO area. We have to ensure that we have a full appreciation of the extent of the resource throughout the zone," said the minister.

Mr. Efford added that his department will continue to work diligently on its quality assurance program and that this year's budget will ensure the program is effectively delivered during 1999-2000.

"We have made great strides in quality assurances initiatives and we will continue to build on our efforts in this area. We now have a trained force of inspectors deployed around the province and our regulations have been strengthened to ensure the landing and production of only premium products."

The minster is also pleased that his department will continue its initiative to revitalize and further develop the sealing industry.

"I am pleased that a full harvest is anticipated this season, which will be of tremendous benefit in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, employing about 4,000 fisherman and upwards of 300 seasonal plant workers," Mr. Efford added.

Efforts to divest government-owned fisheries infrastructure, such as marine service centres, fish plants, community stages and slipways will be maintained said the minister.

He added that over the last several years, his department divested itself of more than 200 facilities and will continue its work towards the divestiture of the remaining 120 facilities.

"With the reduction of government-owned facilities, there is also a reduction in the cost to maintain these facilities, and therefore we have re-allocated this funding to grants to community agencies helping them maintain essential community-based fisheries infrastructure," said Mr. Efford.

Mr. Efford said work will continue in the area of market intelligence and promotion.

"Increasing our department's market intelligence capability will assist in facilitating a new collective bargaining model as recommended by the Task Force on Fish/Crab Price Settlement Mechanisms. Indeed, a sound collective bargaining environment will create a more stable fishing industry."

Meanwhile, Mr. Efford said the two-year pilot project on fish prices will be completed during 1999 and support for the test price model will continue through budget funding.

Media contact: Sonia B. Glover, Communications, (709) 729-3733.

1999 03 22