Golden Shell Fisheries Limited, of Hickman's Harbour, is investigating the feasibility of developing a commercial fishery for Atlantic saury in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Atlantic saury is more commonly known as a billfish, which is a capelin-like species. This project is supported with an investment of $47,898 by the Provincial Government, through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program (FTNOP).

"The more information we can gather on the various fisheries, the better equipped our industry will be to develop and market new seafood products in the global marketplace," said the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "By conducting research on this fishery and its potential, we may be able to open new markets that will lead to more employment in both the harvesting and processing sectors in Newfoundland and Labrador. If this fishery is proven to be sustainable and viable, it could be very positive for the province's fishing industry."

The company has chartered a vessel to conduct an exploratory Atlantic saury fishery in Twillingate. The catch is being processed by Golden Shell Fisheries Limited and sent to buyers in Korea for review. The saury product is being processed as whole-round-frozen form. The Provincial Government will offset the cost of sending samples to buyers in Korea.

"Research like this is very important in terms of potentially diversifying the province's fishing industry," said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Business and MHA for Trinity North. "If a saury fishery is deemed to be economically sound, it could be a significant boost to local employment and would be great news for residents and businesses in the area."

This project will assist with addressing the knowledge gap on the biology, distribution and abundance of Atlantic saury in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Existing long-term marine monitoring programs are directed at other fish stocks and are not appropriate for sampling pelagic fish such as Atlantic saury. That makes this project particularly important to the development of a commercial Atlantic saury fishery.

"The present funding for the experimental harvesting and processing of Atlantic saury　is focused primarily on the harvesting element of the project with allowances for market samples being sent to countries that currently utilize Pacific saury," said Edgar Simmons, President of Golden Shell Fisheries Limited. "We are hopeful that, in time,　Atlantic saury will prove to be a superior or comparative product. We have taken the first step and have successfully landed and processed Atlantic saury in commercial quantities."

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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