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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.

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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.

 


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