Efforts to preserve and protect the fisheries heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador were assisted with the announcement today of $60,000 in grants for the Fisheries Heritage Preservation Program (FHPP). The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, was joined by George Chalker, Executive Director of the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (HFNL), to announce the funding that is part of a multi-year commitment by the Provincial Government.

As part of today�s announcement, HFNL also launched a new Web site www.fisheriesheritage.ca and a new brochure entitled Conserving Our Fisheries Heritage. The Web site is devoted to the promotion and preservation of Newfoundland and Labrador�s fisheries buildings and structures. The brochure details the importance of conserving the province�s fisheries buildings, how to begin a conservation project and the recommended standards and guidelines for conservation work.

"These new tools will contribute to conserving the fisheries buildings in Newfoundland and Labrador and provide practical, easy-to-apply advice for projects," said Minister Hedderson. "The fishery is an essential part of our cultural heritage and this government is pleased to provide this funding from Budget 2007 to assist in the important work to preserve this vital piece of our history, which is a key component of our cultural plan. The ingenuity and craftsmanship of these pieces say a lot about the character of the men and women who built and used these items. These fisheries structures � stages, stores, rooms and the like � help define our cultural identity."

HFNL developed the FHPP in order to preserve the unique buildings on the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador. In recent years, the existence of these once common structures has been threatened. As the economics and demographics of communities change, so does the demand for these fisheries structures which were most often built to be temporary in nature.

"The Fisheries Heritage Preservation Program has proven to be one of our most popular and successful programs," says George Chalker, Executive Director, HFNL. "The transformations happening through the work of the program are indeed impressive and enhance the shorelines of communities across this province. We want to recognize the simple design of the fisheries buildings which have withstood the rigors of an often harsh environment, a testament to the craftsmanship of our vernacular builders."

The goal of FHPP is to provide funding to individuals, municipalities, community and/or non-profit groups to restore stages, stores, flakes, lofts and other buildings associated with the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery. These structures are being lost to weather, waves, sea ice and time, and the loss is changing the landscape of our coasts. Under this program, assistance will be provided for restoration of heritage features using original materials. Funding will be approved to a maximum of $2,000 per structure and to a maximum of $10,000 for community-based projects on multiple structures.

The deadline to submit an application for FHPP is Friday, June 8, 2007.

Download guidelines and an application form at www.fisheriesheritage.ca or phone 1-888-739-1892 ext 2.

-30-

Media contacts:

2007 05 11                                      10:00 a.m.