Fisheries and Aquaculture
August 22, 2013
Funding Provided for Research into New Shrimp Trawl Technology
The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI) will study innovative
trawl technology with assistance from the Provincial Government. The
Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced
$70,054 through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities program to
help compare the harvesting capacity of this new trawl equipment to
traditional gear that is used to harvest shrimp.
“The Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program plays a central role
in improving the equipment and practices used in our billion dollar fishing
and aquaculture industry,” said Minister Dalley. “This financial
contribution of more than $70,000 will help test new technology that could
significantly enhance the way we harvest one of the most valuable species in
our waters.”
The objective of this project is to assess the harvesting effectiveness of a
trawl with footgear that is more seabed friendly in comparison to a trawl
with traditional footgear. The new footgear features less contact points
with the seabed than traditional equipment.
“This project has the potential to benefit the provincial fishery from both
an economic and environmental perspective,” said Robert Verge, Managing
Director, Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation. “We appreciate the
Provincial Government’s financial support for research that could
potentially benefit shrimp enterprises throughout this province.”
The project is being developed in collaboration with the Marine Institute’s
Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources (CSAR), which will undertake sea
trials of the new equipment under standard inshore shrimp fishing
conditions. The project complements ongoing research by CSAR to minimize the
seabed impacts of fishing activity.
Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future included a $2.2 million
investment in the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program, which
has promoted innovation in the province’s billion dollar fishing and
aquaculture industry by assisting more than 200 research and development
projects since 2008.
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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 |
Robert Verge
Managing Director
Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation
709 778-0517
ccfi@mi.mun.ca |
2013 08 22
3:20 p.m.