Government Supporting a Variety of
Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Initiatives 

Today, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture announced that it is moving forward in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation, with projects that will further develop the province�s fishing industry.  The Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced that government is supporting a number of fisheries and aquaculture development initiatives that will be carried out during 2007.  

Funding to the tune of $140,313 has been made available for the projects and work will be carried out in partnership with the CCFI.  Other industry representatives will be involved in various capacities. 

�The fishing industry continues to be a key economic driver for our province,� said Minister Rideout.  �These funds will be used to conduct research in all areas of the fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, including the harvesting, processing and marketing sectors.  The projects will include exploratory resource surveys, examination of new fishing and processing technologies and other product development activities aimed at diversifying and strengthening our fishing industry.� 

All initiatives will be funded through the Fisheries Development Program of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.  In Budget 2006, an additional $250,000 was committed to this program for each of the next five years.  The total investment each year will be $700,000. 

Gabe Gregory, chair of the CCFI, said, �We are very pleased that government has made these funds available to us as we proceed to carry out these very worthwhile initiatives.  We are very optimistic that these projects will be highly beneficial to the fishing and aquaculture industries in our province, and we look forward to further collaboration with government as we continue to move forward.� 

�There is a clear need for increased research and enhanced science initiatives for the fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador,� said Minister Rideout.  �This is particularly true as the industry continues to evolve.  To that end, our government is pleased to be a partner in these projects, and we will continue to support any initiatives that are intended to generate new opportunities for the industry.  This is consistent with our government�s commitment to the fishery and to rural Newfoundland and Labrador.� 

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Media contact:
Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 690-8403
oatesll@gov.nl.ca