August 20, 1998
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

Surveys, experimental work dedicated to developing an inshore small-boat shrimp fishery

Diversifying the operations of small inshore fishing vessels is the goal of experimental work spearheaded by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to develop new inshore fisheries, says Minister John Efford.

"We fully recognize that small-boat harvesters, if they are to earn a decent income from the sea, must diversify and become multi-species oriented. That is why my department has dedicated money and resources this year to experimental work to develop the shrimp fishery in inshore bays. About $700,000 in government and industry funding is dedicated to this effort. Never before has such developmental work been undertaken to such a degree," he said.

Mr. Efford said that the extensive development work being done with shrimp, in partnership with industry, is for the long-term benefit of small-boat harvesters.

"This is directly the opposite of impressions left by FFAW representative Bill Broderick that would lead a person to believe that inshore harvesters have been abandoned," he said. "In fact, with the FFAW being one of our industry partners in this work, I can only assume that Mr. Broderick may not be aware of what is being done, and is unaware of how inshore harvesters have benefited from other experimental work to date."

Experimental work being done this year to develop the inshore shrimp fishery for small-boat harvesters includes a survey in bays to identify shrimp resources that may be accessible to vessels less than 35 feet; work involving beam trawls at many locations around the province: and ongoing experiments involving shrimp pots. In addition to the FFAW, industry partners are the Labrador Fishermen's Union Shrimp Company, the St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. (SABRI), the Cain Corporation, the Fogo Co-op, as well as individual harvesters contracted as the result of tender calls. The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is providing $129,000 in its regular budget toward the work, as well as cost-sharing another $255,000 with the federal government under the Economic Development Agreement. About $300,000 is being provided by industry partners.

With its funding, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is providing such gear as beam trawls and pots, as well as technical expertise and advice to gear users. Some of the funding has been used to charter a vessel the MV Draggin' Lady for 50 days to do survey work within 20-25 miles from shore. The survey will help identify where shrimp is available in inshore areas. Further work using beam trawls and shrimp pots will help determine if the shrimp is available in commercial quantities. Federal permits for the exploratory and experimental harvesting are issued in the name of the department.

"I don't expect instant positive results, but I am very encouraged by the results of some similar work done to date, especially with beam trawls," Mr. Efford said.

The minister pointed out that a commercial inshore shrimp fishery being conducted with beam trawls in Fortune Bay this year is the result of experimental work undertaken by the department using that gear. Six commercial shrimp harvesting licences have been issued for that area, and other harvesters have expressed an interest in this fishery, particularly those with vessels less than 40 feet in length.

"These 35 to 40 foot vessels would never have been able to participate in this new commercial inshore fishery were it not for the development work initiated by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture," Mr. Efford said.

He also noted that similar work completed by harvester Alonzo Bailey in Trinity Bay this past spring indicates that that area "also has potential as a commercial shrimp fishing area."

Mr. Efford further noted that development work for other species is also paying off for small-boat harvesters. Approximately 200 inshore harvesters, for example, are involved in a commercial sea urchin fishery that has developed as the result of experimental work on this species that was not fished at all in this province until recent years.

"But our work doesn't stop with this success," Mr. Efford emphasized. He pointed out that his department is also involved with ongoing initiatives to develop a sea urchin fishery in Labrador and this fall will be providing financial and technical assistance for similar work in the Northern Peninsula area.

Another species that has development potential for the inshore sector is whelk. Assisted in part by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, there is already a commercial whelk fishery in the Northern Peninsula area, as well as some commercial activity in Conception Bay and St. Mary's Bay. To illustrate how the commercial fishery has developed, Mr. Efford said that the 1996 whelk landings of 120 tonnes almost doubled in 1997, reaching 220 tonnes.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has purchased 650 whelk pots that will be used this year in additional developmental work to complement an additional 100 pots the department has already begun using in experimental work. The minister noted that the new pots the department has purchased will outfish the five-gallon bucket that had been used by a ratio of 2.5 - 1. The department is working with the private sector on the Northern Peninsula to further develop the whelk fishery in that area by introducing the "new and improved" pot, and will do further developmental work in Labrador, Fortune Bay, Placentia Bay, Hermitage and Harbour Breton areas, White Bay, Green Bay, Trinity Bay North and on the Southwest Coast.

"The only way that small boat harvesters can earn a reasonable income is to be able to fish as many different species as possible where there is potential. I agree with Mr. Broderick's comment that small boat harvesters are earning less that large vessel owners. That's only logical, because smaller boats don't have the same mobility and holding capacity as larger inshore vessels. My point is that by harvesting as many species as possible, inshore harvesters can improve their incomes. By taking advantage of opportunities offered by shrimp, whelk, sea urchins and other species such as toad crab and rock crab, harvesters can enhance incomes they receive from more traditional species such as lobster, capelin, blackback, herring, lump, squid and snow crab," Mr. Efford said.

"My message to those who share a negative view that the fishery is at a standstill is this: There will be and must be fewer harvesters participating in the fishery of the future. But those who will continue to participate will earn a better living by diversifying their operations and becoming more multi-species oriented. This will only occur, however, if everyone with a vested interest in the fishery can adopt a positive attitude that this is possible."

Contact: Josephine Cheeseman, Communications, (709) 729-3733.

1998 08 20                8:30 a.m.