Fisheries and Aquaculture
October 8, 2010
Provincial Government Charters Fisheries
Science Vessel
The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador is
chartering the fisheries science and oceanographic research vessel, the
RV Celtic Explorer from the Irish Marine Institute. This vessel is an
important component of the suite of fisheries science initiatives that
were launched on July 2 by the Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of
Newfoundland and Labrador. The vessel will conduct northern cod winter
acoustic surveys in February 2011 and research may be conducted on other
species in the future. The charter arrangements were signed at a meeting
in Galway. The meeting was attended by the Honourable Clyde Jackman,
Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture; the Honourable Brendan Smith,
Irish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and the Honourable
Sean Connick, Irish Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food. Also in attendance were Glenn Blackwood, Executive
Director of the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University,
and Dr. Peter Heffernan, Chief Executive of the Marine Institute of
Ireland.
"This is truly a historic time for
Newfoundland and Labrador that was made possible by the leadership of
Premier Williams on this important initiative," said Minister Jackman.
"For the first time, our province is chartering a fisheries science
research vessel. Newfoundland and Labrador has an excellent
international reputation for oceanographic and marine research. It will
enable our academic institutions to take their already world class
research to the next level and support a fishing industry that is based
on better science. This initiative will create many new immediate
opportunities for young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in conducting
fisheries science research and result in a more vibrant fishing industry
overall."
The RV Celtic Explorer is a 65-metre
state-of-the-art fisheries and oceanographic research vessel, capable of
conducting offshore fisheries surveys and other oceanographic work
throughout the season, in the waters off Newfoundland and Labrador. It
will be the most sophisticated purpose-built vessel ever used for
fisheries science research in this province. This vessel meets
international specifications required for acoustic surveys with respect
to equipment, distance and weather capabilities, and is compliant with
the minimum sound requirements needed for acoustic surveying. The vessel
is also equipped for scientific trawling.
"Both institutes have strong capabilities in
ocean technologies and research," said Minister Smith. "Through this
alliance, there is now an opportunity to bring the strengths of both
institutes to a greater level."
"The proposed European Union-Atlantic
Strategy, under the European Union Integrated Maritime Policy, and the
support for a joint programming initiative on healthy seas and oceans,
recently announced by Marie Geoghegan-Quinn, the European Commissioner
for Research, Innovation and Science, all highlight the increasing
importance of linking the scientific challenges on both sides of the
Atlantic," said Minister Connick.
The Provincial Government has allocated $14
million for fisheries science research. This funding is being used to
charter the RV Celtic Exploration and also for the creation of the
Centre for Fisheries Ecosystem Research (CFER) at the Marine Institute.
"Thanks to the support of our Provincial
Government, the Fisheries and Marine Institute is further positioned to
play a vital role in the future of the fishing industry in Newfoundland
and Labrador," said Mr. Blackwood. "Chartering the RV Celtic Explorer
and opening our new Centre for Fisheries Ecosystem Research has made the
institute a key player in fisheries science research in our province.
Research led by CFER and Dr. George Rose, conducted aboard this vessel,
will help develop a better understanding of the state of Newfoundland
and Labrador's fish stocks and the dynamics of our marine ecosystems,
providing new information to support better decisions."
"The strong alliance with the Irish Marine
Institute and the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University
will enable collaborative transatlantic surveys to be cost effective
during the anticipated survey activities over the next three to five
years," said Dr. Heffernan.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador,
and Fisheries and Marine Institute, through CFER, are also conducting a
thorough assessment of a purpose-built offshore fisheries and
oceanographic research vessel similar to the RV Celtic Explorer, for
long-term application after the charter arrangements of the next three
years. The charter agreement is for this season with an option for
extension into the following two years.
A declaration was signed by all parties
yesterday in Dublin. It provides for further cooperation between the
Fisheries and Marine Institute and the Irish Marine Institute. Minister
Jackman also took part in a tour of the new charter vessel today in
Galway, as well as a tour of the Irish Marine Institute.
- 30 -
Media contacts:
Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 690-8403
oatesll@gov.nl.ca
|
Helen Boles
Marine Institute
Ireland
091 387 200, 087 6492159
helen.boles@marine.ie |
Darcy MacRae
Public Relations-Communications Officer
Fisheries and Marine Institute
709-778-0677, 687-2205
Darcy.MacRae@mi.mun.ca
|
|
2010 10 08 10:25 a.m.
|