Fisheries and Aquaculture
July 14, 2011
Premier Opens New Aquaculture Wharves in Hermitage-Sandyville and Pool’s Cove
The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today opened two new aquaculture wharves on the province’s south coast. The wharves are located in Hermitage-Sandyville and Pool’s Cove, which are strategic locations for the development of the province’s growing aquaculture industry.
Joining the Premier was the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture; Tracey Perry, MHA for Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune; Jennifer Woodland, President of the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA); Douglas Rose, Mayor of Hermitage-Sandyville; and Melvin Perham, Mayor of Pool’s Cove. A total of $9 million has been allocated over three years for the construction and upgrade of aquaculture wharves in the province, including $5.7 million for the wharves at Hermitage-Sandyville and Pool’s Cove.
“The dedication of these wharves today marks a significant milestone for the aquaculture industry and for the Coast of Bays region,” said Premier Dunderdale. “Our province’s aquaculture industry has been growing at a very rapid pace, more than doubling in production value in recent years. These new wharves are an important component of our government’s plan to support a fast-growing industry in making its mark in the global marketplace. Having the appropriate infrastructure will also ensure that our industry develops in a sustainable and biosecure manner that will ensure the continued health of our marine environment, farmed fish products and consumers.”
“With the construction of these wharves, our government is adopting a global best practice for the aquaculture industry of providing inflow wharves,” said Minister Jackman. “This means that smolt and feed delivery will be conducted on separate wharves than those that are used for the harvest of fish and removal of nets. This decreases the risk of spreading any contaminants between aquaculture sites and provides for a more biosecure industry overall.”
In 2008, the Provincial Government conducted a marine infrastructure study which identified Hermitage-Sandyville and Pool’s Cove as areas that were well suited as locations for biosecure wharves. In 2009, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture awarded tenders for the construction of wharves in these towns.
“These major infrastructure improvements were absolutely necessary to relieve our stressed marine facilities and ensure that our growing aquaculture industry remains both strong and economically viable,” said MHA Perry. “I am so pleased with this investment by our government and with the benefits it brings to the region.”
“As the aquaculture industry grows, so does the need for infrastructure to support it,” said Ms. Woodland. “We applaud the Provincial Government for making this investment that is so critical to biosecurity and best practices. The establishment of these new wharves is a necessary building block in the further development of a sustainable aquaculture industry for Newfoundland and Labrador.”
The aquaculture industry in Newfoundland and Labrador has been experiencing a period of unprecedented growth over the last five years in response to the high level of investment by the Provincial Government, which has been focusing on developing aquaculture infrastructure that allows for the sustainable development of the industry. Belleoram and Harbour Breton have also been identified as sites for aquaculture wharf construction in 2011.
There has been a total investment of $22 million in aquaculture infrastructure over the last five years. As well, there have been repayable investment attraction programs, valued at $35 million, through the Aquaculture Capital Equity Program and the Aquaculture Working Capital Loan Guarantee Program, which have leveraged a total of $350 million in private sector investment in the province’s aquaculture industry.
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Media contacts:
| Glenda Power Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3960 glendapower@gov.nl.ca |
Milly Brown Press Secretary Office of the Premier 709-729-4304, 631-8477 millybrown@gov.nl.ca |
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Lori Lee Oates Director of Communications Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 709-729-3733, 690-8403 oatesll@gov.nl.ca |
Donna Ivey Communications Manager Government Members Office 709-729-0898, 697-1424 donnaivey@gov.nl.ca |
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Jennifer Woodland NAIA 709- 885-5067 jennifer.woodland@cookeaqua.com |
2011 07 15 12:05 p.m.