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NLIS 12 April 16, 2003 (Industry, Trade and Rural Development) $1.6 Million for wharf improvements in New Ferolle 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 $1,672,359 to support improvements and major reconstruction of the wharf facility in the town of New Ferolle. "The wharf at New Ferolle supports one of the major fishing operations on the Great Northern Peninsula," said Minster Byrne. "The new facility will have the additional capacity which will speed up the offloading process and enhance the quality of the product being delivered to the fish plant in the community." The majority of the funding ($1,177,359) 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 Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The remainder ($495,000) will come from ACOA�s Strategic Community Investment Fund, (SCIF). The Doyle Group of Companies operates the community fish plant, which employs approximately 200 people on a seasonal basis. The plant has fish landings valued at approximately $5 million. The major species landed and processed at the plant is lobster with a landed value of approximately $1.8 million. Other species processed include various groundfish, halibut, capelin, crab, scallops, mackerel, lumpfish roe, flatfish, and herring. "The improvements and additions to the community wharf will help sustain the direct fishery related jobs as well as the many indirect jobs in the community and surrounding area," Minister Byrne said. "There are currently about 150 vessels fishing out of New Ferolle, so it is not hard to understand the importance of improving the landing capabilities of the wharf, particularly as the region prepares for new fisheries opportunities beyond the regular dependence on traditional species." "This is an important addition and contribution to the economy of the Great Northern Peninsula," said Minister Foote. "The plant in New Ferolle buys product from fishers from as far south as Cow Head all the way around the tip of the peninsula to Raleigh in the north. Plant workers come from as far south as Castor River and as far north as Black Duck Cove. The initiative therefore supports a significant portion of the population of the Northern Peninsula and is another example of how the economic development agreements between the province and the federal government have benefitted particular regions of our province." The New Ferolle Harbour Authority (NFHA) will be responsible for the management and maintenance of the harbour facilities. The NFHA will derive operating revenue from users through berthage fees, electricity handling fees, storage fees, fish landing fees, wharf licences and diesel suppliers licences; and use the revenue generated to maintain the facility. 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 3:00 p.m. |
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