June 28, 1996
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

Funding announced for commercial mussel growers

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister John Efford announced today that a total of $100,000 is being provided to 18 commercial mussel growers towards the cost of purchasing spat collection gear and mussel seed.

This is the fourth consecutive year that $100,000 has been allocated for that purpose under the Mussel Production Incentive Program.

"Our goal is to increase production in the mussel industry by up to one million pounds per year overall. The Mussel Production Incentive Program is the principal means of achieving that goal. Increasing mussel production is important, because this province's farmed mussels have done exceptionally well in the marketplace and suppliers have found it difficult to keep up with the demand," Mr. Efford said.

The incentive program provides 75 per cent of the cost of purchasing new spat collection gear. The gear purchased is incremental to that normally set by the growers.

The funding announced today will result in 120,000 additional spat collectors.

Production of farmed mussels in 1995 was 450 tonnes - an increase of 10 per cent over the 1994 level.

Contact: Josephine Cheeseman, Director of Public Relations (709) 729-3733.