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NLIS 11 April 16, 2003 (Industry, Trade and Rural Development) $2 Million in government funding for new wharf and breakwater at Rocky Harbour Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Member of Parliament for Humber - St. Barbe - Baie Verte, and Judy Foote, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, announced a contribution of $2,084,014 to support new construction of a wharf and breakwater in the town of Rocky Harbour. The majority of the funding ($1,589,014) will be provided through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement (CEDA), which is cost-shared on a 70/30 basis with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The remainder ($495,000) will come from ACOA�s Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF). "A new wharf for Rocky Harbour and the accompanying breakwater will provide a vital economic boost for the community," said Minister Byrne. "The new wharf and breakwater will help support a growing tourism trade related to pleasure craft, as Rocky Harbour is located in the heart of Gros Morne National Park; and it will also greatly assist the local fish plant because raw material will now be able to be unloaded right at the wharf. Previously, fish had to be trucked to the plant, affecting the overall quality of the product. This initiative will greatly enhance the quality of the product being delivered to the fish plant in the community." The community fish plant, operated by Harbour Seafoods Ltd., employs about 72 people on a seasonal basis. The plant has fish landings valued at approximately $10 million. The major species landed and processed at the plant is lobster, with a landed value of more than $5.7 million. Other species processed at the plant include various groundfish, halibut, crab, scallops, mackerel, herring and seals. There are 58 long liners fishing in the Rocky Harbour area, and many of these vessels have been unable to use the present facilities at Rocky Harbour and have been forced to use alternate landing ports as far away as 20 to 50 kilometres up the coast, where the landed product is then trucked to the plant. "This new community wharf will help sustain the direct fishery related jobs as well as the many indirect jobs in the community and surrounding area that are affected by the increased economic activity in the region," Minister Byrne said. "There are new challenges in the fishing industry and we are pleased to be able to assist communities, businesses and individuals develop improved ways to bring the products of the sea to market." The Harbour Authority of Rocky Harbour (HARH) will be responsible for the management and maintenance of the harbour facilities. These upgrades and additions will increase the number of boats using both facilities and will increase revenues for the local harbour authority. "Improvements to the wharf and breakwater will be very valuable to sustaining and improving facilities for the fishing industry in the area but will also serve the growing number of tourists who arrive by pleasure craft to the Gros Morne National Park area every year," said Minister Foote. "Because of its central location in the national park, Rocky Harbour welcomes approximately 130,000 visitors each year, and an increasing number of these visitors are from the cruise ship and small pleasure craft markets." The funding for this project is being provided under the Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement (CEDA) as well as the Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF). SCIF is providing $135 million over five years to help communities in Atlantic Canada create an environment that encourages the development of strategic sectors. This fund, administered by ACOA, is a component of the $700 million Atlantic Investment Partnership (AIP). CEDA is a six-year, $94.99 million initiative designed to complement existing federal and provincial programs and Agreements. It is administered federally by ACOA, and provincially by the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development. For more information, please contact:
2003 04 16 2:55 p.m. |
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