With assistance of $32,500 from the Newfoundland and Labrador Green Fund, Northern Seafoods Ltd. of Conche will install a salt water cooling system to cool crab after it has been cooked. This system will improve the energy efficiency of the cooling tank in the crab cooking process, thereby reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

"Whenever greenhouse gas reductions can be realized, it is beneficial to our province," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "We understand the inherent link between these emissions and climate change, as well as the responsibility of each individual, company and community in reducing these emissions. The salt water cooling system is certainly one such responsible approach."

The cooling process for crab normally requires the use of a conventional refrigeration system. In this case, a standard refrigeration system would be powered by a diesel generator that would consume approximately 34 litres of fuel per hour. The new salt water cooling system will utilize pumps and piping to cool the crab with cold water from the ocean, after it is cooked, and will reduce the fuel consumption to an estimated 6.8 litres of diesel per hour. This will equate to a reduction in GHG emissions of up to 58,227 kilograms annually.

"I am pleased with the announcement of funding from the NL Green Fund for Northern Seafoods Ltd. of Conche," said the Honourable Trevor Taylor, MHA, the Straits and White Bay North. "Using a salt water cooling system instead of a mechanical refrigeration system in the fish plant will not only prove to be friendly to the environment, but will also reduce the operating cost of the facility. I congratulate Derek Green for working towards making his operation environmentally friendly, and I wish him every success in his endeavour."

"This project fits our aim of lessening our environmental impact and creating economic efficiencies within our operation," said Derek Green, President of Northern Seafoods Ltd. "This method has the potential to remove a substantial amount of energy and GHG from our operations, and I am happy that we are receiving support from the Newfoundland and Labrador Green Fund to get this system in place."

Northern Seafoods Ltd. is a producer of snow crab, whelk, groundfish, pelagics, value added mussels and sea urchin roe and has operated the Conche location since 1980. It is a subsidiary of E.J. Green and Co. Ltd. which was incorporated at Winterton, Trinity Bay, in 1934.

Funding for the project comes from the Newfoundland and Labrador Green Fund, a three-year, $25 million program which is supported by both the federal and provincial governments. This funding is to support projects geared toward environmental sustainability and real reductions in GHG emissions.

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