Fisheries diversification projects receive support

The province�s fishing industry has received $524,046 for eight projects that will assist in its ongoing diversification and revitalization. John Efford, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced the funding today which is provided under the Fisheries Diversification Program (FDP) and will assist the following initiatives:

• A $175,000 contribution has been granted to undertake exploratory fishing for porcupine crab in deep water off the east coast of the province. The work is being carried out by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture in conjunction with Daley Brothers Limited of St. Mary�s and Orion Seafood Group of Canada. Various kinds of crab pots and baits will be used over a six month period to help determine the potential for future development of this new fishery.

• Quality Bait Services of Canada Inc. of Harbour Grace will receive $95,040 to manufacture bait from fish wastes. This bait is new to the industry and consists of unique characteristics that enable it to last longer in fishing gear. This FDP initiative will also strengthen ongoing efforts to fully utilize fish by-products.

• Atlantic Marine Products Limited of Catalina will receive $62,400 to purchase new equipment designed to improve tanned seal pelts. The equipment is essential to improving final product quality and allowing the company to compete with Norwegian tanneries.

• Green Seafoods Limited of Winterton, Trinity Bay will develop new products from underutilised species including rock, toad and spiny crab to be sold in the United States. The FDP funding of $59,880 will be used for research and development, pilot processing, market analysis, and eventual commercial processing of a variety of secondary shellfish products.

• Grand Bank Sea Treasures Incorporated will receive $47,609 to develop a new line of value-added secondary seafood products. The company will work with the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland to develop secondary crab products.

• Fish harvester Larry Donahue of Joe Batt�s Arm, Notre Dame Bay will receive $37,242 to install a new slush ice/sea water spray cooling system onboard his 55-foot vessel. The state-of-the-art system is designed to improve the quality of landed crab and shrimp and reduce resource waste.

• The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union of St. John�s will receive $36,750 to evaluate the effectiveness of an auction system for the lobster fishery on the west and southwest coast of the province. This initiative will assess the parameters under which a pilot auction system could be implemented.

• The Aquaculture and Seafood Development Centre of the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland will receive $10,125 to ensile salmonid and shrimp waste for use in animal feed and fertilizer. This initiative will help move the industry forward in achieving full utilization of fish products which has considerable economic potential.

These projects are examples of ways in which we can diversify the fishing industry and create new opportunities that will strengthen our coastal communities," said Minister Efford. "We must continue to focus on initiatives that have considerable economic potential and play an integral role in our ongoing efforts to revitalize and diversify our fishery."

He added that the initiatives will also increase an awareness of the need to produce superior quality seafood products and help search out new markets for our fishing industry.

The Fisheries Diversification Program is a $10 million program of the $81.25 million Canada-Newfoundland Agreement on the Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative announced in August 1999. The main thrust of the FDP is on industry-wide research and development and demonstration initiatives which reflect strategic economic development priorities of Regional Economic Development Boards throughout the province.

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

2000 10 10 11:55 a.m.