Fisheries and Aquaculture
February 19, 2015

Supporting Fisheries Science Strengthens Industry

Provincial Government Contributes More Than $90,000 to Pursue Fisheries Research

Fisheries science research on three different species will be advanced with support from the Provincial Government. The Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today announced $92,850 through the Fisheries Research Grant Program to help the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research study mackerel, cod and halibut.

“Our government is committed to supporting fisheries research projects that enhance information about the species in our waters, which in turn helps the industry plan for the future. This investment of $92,850 will go towards a beneficial new survey of mackerel stock, and expand the province’s advanced tagging programs for cod and halibut that are providing valuable data on species migration patterns, distribution, habitat and behavior.”
- The Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture

Minister Granter noted the funding announced today will support three projects:

• $30,000 to investigate whether major spawning grounds of the Northwest Atlantic mackerel stock have shifted north, outside of the traditional survey area in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. The possibility of substantial spawning off the northeast coast of Newfoundland has never been investigated and should new spawning areas be identified, this will provide valuable new data for the assessment of mackerel in Atlantic Canada.
• $33,000 to further develop the cod satellite tagging program.
• $29,850 to enhance and expand Atlantic halibut tagging.

“The Marine Institute appreciates the Provincial Government’s continued support of fisheries science projects that play a vital role in managing the valuable fish resources off Newfoundland and Labrador’s coasts. These initiatives will develop far greater information about the status of mackerel, cod and Atlantic halibut, which can inform future management decisions for these stocks.”
- Glenn Blackwood, Vice President of Memorial University (Marine Institute)

The field work on projects will commence in the spring and conclude in the fall of this year with results expected to be available in early 2016.

QUICK FACTS

• Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Vaughn Granter announced $92,850 today to support the Marine Institute’s Center for Fisheries Ecosystems Research in pursuing new research on mackerel stock as well as cod and halibut tagging.
• Since 2010, the Provincial Government has committed $15.1 million to the Marine Institute’s Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, which conducts research into the health of various species, climate change impacts, and fishery sustainability.
• Contributions toward cod and Atlantic halibut tagging are expansions to ongoing research projects that have been previously announced.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

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

Leslie Earle Public Relations and Communications Officer Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland 709-778-0677, 330-3918 leslie.earle@mi.mun.ca

2015 02 19                              1:10 p.m.