Quality Compliance and Enforcement Program Produces First Graduates

Eight inspection staff with the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture recently became the first graduates of a specialized training program designed to enhance knowledge and skills with respect to compliance, enforcement, and quality assessment. The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, congratulated each of these staff today for achieving Advanced Diplomas in Quality, Compliance and Enforcement from College of the North Atlantic.

“This government developed a comprehensive training program to ensure our staff are using the best approaches to compliance and quality control, as they play a vital role in protecting Newfoundland and Labrador’s reputation as one of the finest suppliers of seafood in the world,” said Minister Dalley. “I commend all graduates for their hard work and commitment, and I am confident their program of training is providing significant benefits to our fishing and aquaculture sector.”

The Quality, Compliance and Enforcement Program provides advanced training in numerous aspects of fish inspection and regulation enforcement, including legislation and licensing, inspection techniques, criminal law, and law enforcement ethics. The program comprises 17 modules, with students receiving training through classroom and hands-on exercises. Program modules were administered in partnership with College of the North Atlantic, the Marine Institute, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canadian Coast Guard. When it was developed in 2007, the Quality, Compliance and Enforcement Program was a unique initiative unlike any other in the country.

As part of the Provincial Government’s commitment to fostering success in the fishery, more than 3,000 inspections are carried out annually in Newfoundland and Labrador on the harvesting, processing, handling, transportation and storage of seafood products.

- 30 -

Media contact:
Jason Card
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 699-0470
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca 

2013 08 13                                   11:10 a.m.