Fisheries and Aquaculture
August 15, 2013

Research into Key Species Receives Funding Boost
Support for vital research into the characteristics of cod, crab, and lobster populations will continue with funding support from the Provincial Government. The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced a total of $125,000 today to assist projects led by the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW).
 
“Engaging in fisheries science initiatives is key to maintaining a sustainable fishing industry,” said Minister Dalley. “The Provincial Government is pleased to provide $125,000 to the FFAW to support valuable research that is used when assessing fish stocks and deciding quotas, and also helps stakeholders understand the health, distribution, and migration of important species.”
 
Research projects that will be supported through this investment are:

• The Northern Gulf Cod science program, which involves studying the condition and reproductive potential of the fish and tagging them for monitoring purposes;
• A new cod tagging project in area 2J3KL to determine harvesting impacts, as well as migration patterns into neighbouring management areas;
• The Industry-DFO Post-Season Snow Crab Survey, which helps determine the biomass and harvesting prospects for snow crab in all areas off Newfoundland and Labrador; and,
• The Lobster Science Logbook and At-Sea Sampling initiative, which involves data collection during the harvesting season to monitor the catch and fishing effort by area, as well as the abundance of the resource.

“The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union is committed to supporting responsible stewardship within the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery, and our research initiatives play a key role in delivering on that commitment,” said David Decker, Secretary-Treasurer of the FFAW. “We appreciate the Provincial Government’s support and look forward to continuing this important research on behalf of the industry.”
 
Since 2010, the Provincial Government has committed more than $12 million toward fisheries science to support studies that monitor the status of various fish stocks, as well as the ocean environment and ecosystem that they inhabit.
 
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Media contacts:

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

David Decker Secretary-Treasurer Fish, Food and Allied workers 709-576-7276 ddecker@ffaw.nfld.net

 
 
2013 08 15                                        10:55 a.m.