Fishing Industry Standards Focus of New Project with
Seafood Processors Association

The Provincial Government is working with the Seafood Processors Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (SPNL) to develop a Pelagic Quality Information Booklet. A total of $22,800 will be provided for this project through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program (FTNOP). The booklet will focus on handling practices, as well as the processing and marketing of capelin, herring and mackerel. It will also provide general information on these fisheries and a focus of technical procedures considered to be best practices for the industry.

"Having a comprehensive booklet on providing quality pelagic products is invaluable to our province's fishing industry," said the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "While our industry already produces some of the best quality seafood products in the world, this is a tool that will help ensure that our products are as competitive as possible in global seafood markets. It will provide a consistent standard for our fishing industry and help them to maintain the quality that international buyers expect. It will also ensure that our fishing industry is producing a consistent product across the board."

There will be information included in the booklet on the product as it goes through the various stages from harvesting through shipment. It will provide information on raw material handling, processing controls and buyer specifications for sizing and quality. This will ensure that all sectors of the industry are working together to provide a high quality product.

"Our association is pleased with the Provincial Government's support of this initiative," said George Joyce, Executive Director of SPNL. "We look forward to working on further proactive initiatives with the province as we promote our seafood products around the world."

Approximately 1,000 copies of the pelagic information booklet will be printed and made available to the province's fishing industry. SPNL prepared an educational booklet in 2009 for inshore whelk. Feedback on the booklet, from both harvesters and processors, was very positive.

FTNOP is an important component of the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy. Of the $6 million allocated to the program since its launch in the spring of 2007, the program has invested approximately $5.1 million in industry-driven projects. A total of 118 projects have been funded since the program was created. Investment in FTNOP has leveraged an additional $16.3 million from the industry and its partners. The program has generated a total of $21.4 million for fishing industry research and development in the province.

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2010 11 01                                                    9:35 a.m.