Tomorrow the Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will welcome delegates to the Ocean Innovation 2006 Conference and Exhibition in St. John�s. Approximately 200 delegates from Europe, Canada, South America and the United States are expected to attend the two-day conference the theme for which is Managing Maritime Emergencies. The Premier will address the forum at 8:30 a.m., October 26, at the St. John's Convention Centre.

"Newfoundland and Labrador�s history, culture and economy are all inextricably connected to the ocean," said Premier Williams. "For more than 500 years, we have survived, and indeed we have thrived, with a strong reliance on the sea. The ocean has always been an integral part of our economy, and it continues to be a growing source of our wealth, as marine industries account for almost a third of our economic activity.

"In addition to our economic reliance on the ocean, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians also have a great respect for the sea," added the Premier. "We know that beyond its extraordinary beauty, there is also an overwhelming power and inherent danger. That is why it is so important to focus on developing new and innovative ways to mitigate the risks of working in ocean industries. That will be an important part of the agenda of this conference."

The Premier said that given the ocean�s considerable relevance to our province, it is very appropriate that Newfoundland and Labrador was chosen to host this event, especially during Ocean Industries Week. Ocean Innovation 2006 runs from October 25-27 and is organized by the Canadian Centre for Marine Communication (CCMC). This is the fourth year the event has been held and the second time it has been held in St. John's. The Provincial Government is a major sponsor of the conference.

Ocean Innovation 2006 is one of many activities designed to further enhance the province�s burgeoning ocean technology sector. The City of St. John�s, along with Marine Institute and various research institutions and government partners, has organized a number of events throughout the city this week to highlight ocean industries, including workshops and lectures.

"With the number of companies almost doubling over the last several years, Newfoundland and Labrador�s ocean technology sector is growing at an impressive pace," said Premier Williams. "There is no doubt this industry is on the move. We need to capitalize on that expansion by showing the rest of the world that we are leaders in the field. As a government, we play an important role in making that happen."

On October 30, the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, will address an ocean technology forum in Tampa, Florida. The forum is a Team Canada Atlantic initiative aimed at promoting the region's growing ocean technology industry. Minister Taylor is accompanying eleven Newfoundland and Labrador companies on the Team Canada Atlantic multi-sector trade mission to Florida.

"Since 2001, revenues from the ocean technology industry have nearly doubled to $230 million," says Minister Taylor. "More than half of the products and services of these companies are exported and trade missions are an important means of helping companies find new markets for their products."

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