The Provincial Government has established a Seafood
Market Review Panel that will carry out a comprehensive analysis of the
options for establishing a seafood marketing council, including
identification of key marketing challenges, as well as approaches for
addressing the challenges and determining options for the mandate and
administrative operation of the council. A total of $3 million has been
allocated for this initiative over three years.
The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is also in
the process of working with the Fish Harvesters Resource Centre to
establish a voluntary pilot fish auction. It is expected that an
independent auction house will be established with a board of directors
who will finalize the specifics of how the auction will operate. The
board will include representation from both the harvesting and
processing sectors, while Provincial Government representatives will act
as advisors to the board. A total of $1.5 million has been allocated for
this initiative over a three-year period.
The Provincial Government has also been moving forward
on Occupational Health and Safety in the fishery. Preliminary analysis
has been completed on safety issues in the Newfoundland and Labrador
fishing industry. The province is pursuing the establishment of a
Fishing Industry Safety Council. The focus of the council will be
research, education and training. A total of $750,000 has been allocated
for this initiative over a three-year period.
The Provincial Government has established a new
fisheries research and development program entitled the Fisheries
Innovation and New Technologies Program at a cost of $6 million over
three years.
Changes have also been made to the Fisheries Loan
Guarantee Program, as was promised when the Federal and Provincial
Governments made the announcement last April. The enhanced loan
guarantee program could require an additional $100 million in loan
guarantees from the province.
"Our government continues to work with the Federal
Government and chartered banks on the issues of using licences as
security and the financing of combining licences," said the minister. "
I
am aware that efforts are being made on the part of the Federal
Government in this area and I have been assured that we can anticipate a
resolution to these matters in the near future."
A total of $2,550,000 over a three-year period has
been allocated for fisheries workforce adjustment. This program is
designed to assist displaced workers in the event of a permanent fish
plant closure.
"When we announced the Fishing Industry Renewal
Strategy earlier this year, we said that we envisioned a rational,
self-sustaining and stable fishery that could engage and attract young
workers," said the minister. "At the same time, we wanted to enable
those with a long-term attachment to the industry to have an opportunity
to continue their careers. These are still our goals. Bringing stability
to communities that depend on the fishery is a priority for our
government. The Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy will enable us to do
that," said the minister.
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Media contact:
Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733,
690-8403
oatesll@gov.nl.ca
2007 11 08
12:50 p.m.
