Fisheries and Aquaculture August 24, 2007 Government
Moving Forward with New aquaculture infrastructure on the province�s south coast will ensure increased expansion of the aquaculture industry and enable it to become more competitive in attracting international investment says the Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "A new aquatic veterinary diagnostic facility to be located in St. Alban�s and new wastewater treatment infrastructure for processing plants in the area are milestones that will strengthen the industry�s capacity to realize its vast potential, as well as generate new economic and employment growth in rural areas," said Minister Rideout, who was in St. Alban�s today to announce details of both initiatives. Funding for both was provided in Budget 2007 � $1.2 million toward the estimated $4.3 million cost of the aquatic veterinary diagnostic facility, and $1.9 million for wastewater treatment equipment for processing facilities in the south coast region. Along with other funding, this increased the department�s funding for aquaculture to in excess of $14 million.
"Through our strategic investments, the salmonid
industry on the south coast is seeing additional and substantial
investment from companies both within and outside the province," said
Minister Rideout. "The new investments for infrastructure will make the
industry even more competitive with other aquaculture-producing regions
and help ensure the industry�s long-term sustainability as well as that
of rural areas where aquaculture can grow and thrive." Minister Rideout said that since the funding for the
aquatic veterinary diagnostic facility was first announced, the
Provincial Government has issued a request for proposals to hire a
consultant to assist with site selection, planning and design work for
the facility. Submissions received are being reviewed, and a consultant
will be selected in time to enable construction of the facility to begin
in the spring of 2008, with completion expected in the same year. "This new facility will enable government ensure that
farmed seafood products in this province are kept in the healthiest
state possible," said Minister Rideout. "This is a critical part of
protecting the environment and ensuring the best margins for the
companies that choose to come here and set up aquaculture operations." The aquatic veterinary diagnostic facility will be the
regional office for the Provincial Government�s aquaculture staff, and
will house approximately 10 staff including development, aquaculture
health and inspection personnel. The Department of Fisheries and
Aquaculture is in the process of increasing its fish health capability
and hiring staff who will work at the new facility. "At present, some diagnostic samples must be sent out
of the province for various testing procedures and this not only extends
the time necessary for diagnosis, but makes it more difficult to manage
the health of the farmed fish in a timely manner," said the minister.
"The new facility will include laboratories to enable rapid diagnostic
testing of growing fish and enable government�s aquatic health personnel
to develop and use innovative diagnostic techniques that are currently
not an option." The facility will help the province ensure that its
aquaculture resource is protected over the long-term through effective
disease management while enabling producers to operate in an
environmentally-sustainable manner. "The new facility will meet federal and ISO
international standards," said the minister. "It will be a model for
aquatic diagnostics, effluent control and energy conservation. The
result of maintaining such high laboratory standards is that validated,
accurate diagnostic results will be achieved." There will also be opportunities for visiting
researchers and students to use the facility to complete work that will
maintain the province�s leading edge in aquaculture-related research and
development. Minister Rideout also provided an update on the
wastewater treatment infrastructure. He said the Department of Fisheries
and Aquaculture has requested and received proposals from companies
involved in seafood processing in the region, and the department is now
working with the industry to ensure that wastewater treatment equipment
is installed over the next six months. Funding for wastewater treatment systems will be
provided to the processing plants at Harbour Breton, Gaultois and
Hermitage, all of which are located in the salmonid culture zone. These
systems will allow all wastewater from fish processing activities to be
thoroughly disinfected before being discharged. This will ensure that
the water being released is free of any substance that could harm
aquaculture species. "This new infrastructure will give our province the
opportunity to position itself among aquaculture producing regions that
have the highest level of bio-security, fish health monitoring and
surveillance, and will ensure the long-term sustainability of our
industry," said Minister Rideout. "Our investments are putting the
Newfoundland and Labrador aquaculture industry in a more competitive
position relative to other salmon growing areas, in working to attract
investment from across the globe." The value of the aquaculture industry increased from
$33.5 million in 2005 to $53.5 million in 2006 � a 60 per cent increase.
At present there are 370 full-time equivalent positions in the
province�s aquaculture industry. -30- Media contact: BACKGROUNDER: Government Investment in Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry The Newfoundland and Labrador aquaculture industry is experiencing rapid growth in response to unprecedented investments by the Williams Government. This growth has come from investment by companies both within and outside the province. In Budget 2007 $12.5 million is allocated under the Aquaculture Capital Equity Investment Program to attract investment and grow the province�s aquaculture industry. The budget also allocated $180,000 for aquaculture industry support programs. This was in addition to the $1.2 million toward the aquatic veterinary diagnostic facility in St. Alban�s, which is anticipated to cost a total of $4.3 million, and the $1.9 million for processing plant wastewater treatment equipment. Government nearly tripled in the funding for aquaculture in Budget 2006, largely due to allocation of $10 million for the Aquaculture Capital Investment Program and funding for a cod demonstration farm. It is anticipated that these programs will add approximately 150 full-time jobs to the industry within the next two years, for a total of 350 new jobs in the aquaculture sector. Approximately 50 jobs have already been created to date. This investment made a significant contribution to attracting the $155 million project currently being carried out by Cooke Aquaculture on the south coast of the province. It is the single largest aquaculture project in Canada, and will add in excess of 200 jobs to rural areas of the province. Government has allocated $2 million over four years for the implementation of a cod demonstration farm. A request for proposals was issued this year and government is currently reviewing them. The value of the province�s aquaculture industry has increased from $33.5 million in 2005 to $53.5 million in 2006 � a 60 per cent increase in a single year. During that time the production value of the industry increased from 8,164 to 10,400 metric tons. 2007 08 24 11:25 a.m.
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