Fisheries and Aquaculture
August 22, 2013
The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI) will study innovative trawl technology with assistance from the Provincial Government. The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced $70,054 through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities program to help compare the harvesting capacity of this new trawl equipment to traditional gear that is used to harvest shrimp.
“The Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program plays a central role in improving the equipment and practices used in our billion dollar fishing and aquaculture industry,” said Minister Dalley. “This financial contribution of more than $70,000 will help test new technology that could significantly enhance the way we harvest one of the most valuable species in our waters.”
The objective of this project is to assess the harvesting effectiveness of a trawl with footgear that is more seabed friendly in comparison to a trawl with traditional footgear. The new footgear features less contact points with the seabed than traditional equipment.
“This project has the potential to benefit the provincial fishery from both an economic and environmental perspective,” said Robert Verge, Managing Director, Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation. “We appreciate the Provincial Government’s financial support for research that could potentially benefit shrimp enterprises throughout this province.”
The project is being developed in collaboration with the Marine Institute’s Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources (CSAR), which will undertake sea trials of the new equipment under standard inshore shrimp fishing conditions. The project complements ongoing research by CSAR to minimize the seabed impacts of fishing activity.
Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future included a $2.2 million investment in the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program, which has promoted innovation in the province’s billion dollar fishing and aquaculture industry by assisting more than 200 research and development projects since 2008.
Media contacts:
| Jason Card Director of Communications Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 709-729-3733, 699-0470 jasoncard@gov.nl.ca |
Robert Verge Managing Director Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation 709 778-0517 ccfi@mi.mun.ca |
2013 08 22 3:20 p.m.