Fisheries and Aquaculture
November 26, 2008 

Lobster Hatchery Pilot Project Funded for Placentia Bay

The Provincial Government is providing approximately $85,000 in funding for a lobster enhancement pilot project that will be carried out in partnership with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW), Marine Institute, and federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The purpose of the pilot project is to investigate options for seeding coastal waters in Placentia Bay with larval lobster, for the purpose of lobster stock enhancement.  The funding is being provided under the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program which is part of the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy.

�I am extremely pleased to see our industry pursuing a pilot project at a time when fish habitat enhancement is becoming more important across the globe,� said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.  �As the world demand for seafood grows, there is also an increasing demand for sustainable seafood sources.  That is why it is important for industry to continue pursuing such innovative solutions as this lobster enhancement project.  Such projects will also add to opportunities for coastal communities in our province.�

The concepts of lobster seeding and enhancement are not new. Lobster harvesters in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have spearheaded the development of lobster seeding and pilot hatchery facilities in each of those provinces. Lobster seeding has been carried out in New Brunswick since the early part of this decade and in Nova Scotia since 2006.

�Lobster harvesters throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have put tremendous effort into conservation over the past 10 years and it is clear those efforts have paid off in most areas in terms of having a healthy lobster resource,� said Fish, Food and Allied Workers Secretary-Treasurer David Decker.  �However, it is also clear that we have some specific areas, most notably in Placentia Bay, where there is a problem that requires active intervention to improve the resource.  This pilot project is a prime opportunity for everyone involved to take steps to address the problem in areas like Placentia Bay.�

The pilot project hatchery will be stocked with 20 gravid female lobsters that will be collected in Placentia Bay.  Information and technology will be transferred from the Northumberland Fisheries Museum and Lobster Hatchery in Pictou, Nova Scotia.  Once the lobster larvae have been successfully raised to stage four, they will be released into a suitable habitat in Placentia Bay.  This means that female lobster eggs spawn to larvae, swim around the tank and eat until they reach the size of a dime.  At this stage they actually look like miniature lobsters. This will be done several times so that the larvae will mature at different intervals.

�Research and development projects such as this one play a critical role in the future development of the fishery in our province,� said Minister Hedderson.  �That is why our government felt it was important to introduce the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program.  To date it has funded many cutting edge projects that can help our fishing industry move to the next level when competing in the global environment.  This is especially important at a time of focusing on industry renewal.�

The Provincial Government has allocated $6 million over three years for research and development projects under the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program. Budget 2008 allocated $2 million for this year.  To date, more than $1.6 million in project funding has been approved under the program.

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2008 11 26                                                     10:15 a.m.