Numerous companies and academic institutions that are involved in the fishery and aquaculture industry throughout the province are benefiting from more than $263,000 in recent investments under the Provincial Government�s Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program.

"Our government is very pleased with the tremendous response received to date for this particular program," said the Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "Many companies are coming forward with new and innovative projects that will certainly help to diversify the seafood industry and increase its overall viability and competitiveness. To that end, we are pleased to announce another $263,000 under this program for various initiatives throughout the province."

Ten proponents from across the province are benefiting from this particular allotment of funding. They are: Quinlan Brothers Limited of Bay de Verde, Memorial University�s Biochemistry Department, Allen�s Fisheries Limited of Corner Brook, Northern Seafoods Limited of Conche, the Marine Institute, Cooke Aquaculture Incorporated in Harbour Breton, Furlong Brothers Limited of Plate Cove, Cape Mariner Enterprises of Saint Mary�s Bay, Badger Bay Mussel Farms Limited of Triton, and inshore harvesters Alton Rumbolt of Mary�s Harbour and Baxter Stokes of Pinsent�s Arm.

The Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program was created under the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy to foster innovation and diversification in the province�s fishery. The province has allocated $6 million over three years for this initiative, including $2 million in Budget 2008. This is part of a $140 million undertaking by the Provincial Government for the various programs and provisions that are part of the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy.

"This program is a clear demonstration of our government�s commitment to the fishing and aquaculture sectors, and to rural Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Rideout. "We will continue to make strategic investments into our seafood sectors and encourage all industry participants in our province to take advantage of them."

-30-

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

Development and Marketing of New Mackerel Cake - $67,844

Funding has been approved to assist the company with the acquisition of the equipment necessary to produce mackerel cakes and to assist with the marketing of the product both locally and internationally.

Training of Staff for Shrimp Processing - $2,275

Funding has been approved to assist the company with enrolling two staff persons in a shrimp processing school in New Orleans such that these individuals have the necessary training to ensure that the highest product quality possible is achieved.

Preliminary Processing and Marketing of Extracted Mussel Meats - $9,240

Funding has been approved to assist the company in its efforts to investigate the processing of whole cooked extracted mussel meats and to assess market development opportunities for such products.

Blue Mussel Marketing Initiatives - $42,000

Funding has been approved to allow the company with the hiring of a marketing consultant to assist with its marketing efforts throughout North America and Europe.

Seal Oil Research Efforts - $10,000

Funding has been approved to assist with research on Omega-3 fatty acids in seal oils and with the development of potential new products and markets for the sealing industry.

Product Development of Lumpfish Carcasses - $17,190

Funding has been approved to assist the company with product and market development initiatives on the utilization of lumpfish carcasses for food consumption, primarily in Asian markets.

Northern Shrimp Sensory Analysis Short Course - $19,720

Funding has been approved to assist the CASD with the development and delivery of a shrimp sensory analysis short course for shrimp processing plant workers. This course was requested by industry in response to UK quality requirements which require shrimp importing plants to have personnel trained in sensory analyses.

Fish Meal Development Feasibility Study - $16,410

Funding has been approved to allow the company to investigate the possibility of establishing a fish meal operation to ensure utilization of 100 per cent of its landings.

Conducting a Hook and Line Test Fishery for Turbot - $43,280

Funding has been approved to assist the proponents with determining the viability of harvesting turbot with hook and line inside the 2J Hawke Channel in Labrador.

Training Assistance, Harbour Breton Processing Facility - $35,000

Funding has been approved to allow the company to send workers to New Brunswick for processing training, and for those individuals to return to the province to conduct a training program for all workers at the Harbour Breton facility.