February 19, 2008

The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, today toured the world-class facilities of the Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) of Memorial University.

Partnerships between educational institutions, private sector enterprises, and the Provincial Government are resulting in ground-breaking, innovative advancements in the province. MI is playing a leading role in these areas by engaging in activities designed to better observe, measure and manage ocean activities.

"The Marine Institute has earned a global reputation for excellence in education, training, applied research, and industrial support for ocean industries," said Premier Williams. "As the international marine industry grows, I am confident that the institute�s reputation will grow as well. It is developing highly-skilled professionals in a variety of fields while its applied research and development facilities are enabling improved offshore safety, advanced simulation and modeling, smarter fishing, and enhanced aquaculture practices."

MI has three schools � the School of Maritime Studies, School of Fisheries, and the School of Ocean Technology which was established with a $1 million investment from Budget 2007. While the majority of the institute�s 1,377 full-time students originate from Newfoundland and Labrador, students from across Canada and around the world are attracted to MI�s specialized training and applied research programs.

"The Marine Institute has long been successful for producing highly-skilled graduates and facilitating a greater understanding of opportunities and careers in the province�s ocean technology sector," said Minister Taylor. "There are tremendous opportunities for youth as the cluster of world-class institutions and companies continues to grow. It is these individuals that will enable the province�s ocean technology sector to realize its fullest potential."

Provincial Government support has enabled MI to increase its research capacity and deliver new programs. These efforts have led to the opening of MI�s School of Ocean Technology, which has increased its capacity in such areas as Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operations, ocean instrumentation and marine information and communications technology; committed $400,000 annually to expanding and operating the Stephenville-based Safety and Emergency Response Training (SERT) Centre and an additional $473,250 to facilitate military training; provided $89,500 towards establishing an advanced Command and Control Centre to receive live broadcasts from international ocean exploration projects; facilitating continued military training; and allocated $1.1 million to the MI to purchase a vessel that enables students to secure international national sea training requirements, as well as offering training and applied research opportunities for researchers and industrial clients in ocean technology industries.

"The Provincial Government, in particular the Departments of Education, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, have been instrumental in making the Marine Institute the largest, most comprehensive marine institute in Canada," said Glenn Blackwood, Executive Director of the Marine Institute. "This support will enable our students to take advantage of the of the enormous career opportunities flowing from the major developments recently identified by the province in the marine transportation, and oil and gas sectors."

MI has established relationships with post-secondary institutions, along with public and private partnerships in Ireland and the United States. In Ireland, projects have included seabed mapping, professional development and curriculum development with Irish universities, fisheries research and student mobility programs. In the United States, it has worked extensively to expand its relationship with the New England states to ensure that full opportunities for its Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources and its flume tank are maximized.

MI also has a strong connection to the local ocean technology industry and it has been instrumental in assisting in the development of a number of private sector firms. MI regularly partners with Newfoundland and Labrador companies on applied research, technology demonstration and training projects.

"There are internationally-recognized technologies being developed in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Provincial Government is committed to supporting companies and organizations such as the Marine Institute position their world-class products and services on the global stage," said Minister Taylor.

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2008 02 19                                                        1:15 p.m.