The Marine Institute�s Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development (CAS-D) has received $42,690 to assist with the installation and testing of an onboard mechanical sorting system for use in the whelk fishery. This funding is being provided through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program, which is part of the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy.

"The development of new technology is extremely important to the further growth of our whelk fishery," said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "Our government is pleased to support the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development with this innovative project that will enable our fishing industry to become more competitive."

The sorting system developed through this project will remove undersized landed whelk and improve the survival rate for whelk that are returned to the sea. The vessels used in the whelk fishery are typically less than 45 feet. Therefore, CAS-D and Fab-Tech Limited designed the flat bed size-sorting table system for smaller vessels.

"One of the main issues with this emerging fishery is the amount of undersized animals being landed," said Heather Manuel, Director of CAS-D. "Over the past three years, the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development has worked with the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation and participants in the whelk fishery to address this problem. The goal of the current project is to improve the functionality and effectiveness of the whelk size sorter machine and to make the information available to harvesters prior to the start of the 2010 fishery. We anticipate that the use of this machine will greatly improve the efficiency of the whelk fishery in the province."

The whelk fishery is growing, with approximately 65 licensed whelk harvesters participating in the fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador. The whelk fishery is worth $6.5 million in landed value and provides 5,900 tonnes of raw material. The volume of whelk being processed in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has been steadily increasing in recent years.

"It is essential that we support the operational efficiency and sustainability of this emerging sector," said Minister Hedderson. "One of the key components of the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program is working toward continued diversification of our province�s fishing industry."

During the testing stages of this project a CAS-D technologist will accompany a whelk harvester on a fishing trip. The technologist will videotape the system in operation onboard the vessel, collect data on the effectiveness of the sorting table, identify damage to the product and make recommendations to improve deck layout.

The Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program is a critical component of the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy. Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation allocated $2 million for this program which was designed to support the harvesting, processing and marketing sectors, and ultimately increase the overall viability of the province�s fishing industry.

- 30 -

Media contact:

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