Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
Fisheries and Land Resources
May 26, 2017
Minister Byrne Announces Funding for the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association
The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, was at Northern Harvest Smolt Ltd. in Stephenville today to announce $396,551 under the Labour Market Partnership Program for the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association to assist in the development of a human resource plan for the aquaculture industry in our province.
The Labour Market Partnership Program is used to encourage, support and facilitate labour force adjustments and human resource planning activities.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s aquaculture industry is helping meet the growing global demand for healthy and sustainable seafood. The total value of aquaculture production in 2016 was $276 million, up an impressive 25.5 per cent from the previous year.
In The Way Forward: A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Government committed to growing the aquaculture industry by doubling salmon production and more than doubling mussel production. Another Way Forward initiative, the Cabinet Committee on Jobs, is partnering with the aquaculture industry to stimulate new business activity and foster private sector jobs, including in rural and remote areas.
Quotes
“Aquaculture in our province is a growing industry, providing economic opportunities for residents in rural parts of Newfoundland and Labrador. With today’s strategic investment, we are collaborating with our stakeholders to strengthen human resource capacity in the industry.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
“Our seafood industry continues to be a substantial contributor to our provincial economy reaching over $1.4 billion in production value in 2016. The aquaculture industry played a significant role in this record high and has tremendous potential for economic diversification. The Way Forward outlines our plan to grow our lucrative aquaculture sector in this province, and this initiative supports that commitment.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
“Diversifying the economy in rural parts of our province is key to ensuring the long-term viability of our communities. I am pleased to see this investment in the aquaculture industry, which is a growing field capable of providing many jobs and increasing the economic resilience in Newfoundland and Labrador's coastal regions.”
John Finn
MHA for Stephenville - Port au Port
"One of the limiting factors to future growth of the aquaculture industry in Newfoundland and Labrador is access to a skilled labour force. Having an aquaculture human resources plan that clearly identifies labour challenges and an Aquaculture Attraction and Retention Strategy that outlines initiatives to overcome those challenges, will be a critical tool to enable farmers of the sea to grow their business; supplying the world with premium farmed seafood”
Mark Lane
Executive Director, Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association
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Learn more
The Way Forward - thewayforward.gov.nl.ca/ 
The Economy 2017: Fishery and Aquaculture - www.economics.gov.nl.ca/E2017/Fishery.pdf 
Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @AESL_GovNL
Media contacts
Ryan Crocker
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
709-729-1795, 725-9595
RyanCrocker@gov.nl.ca
Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-729-3733, 682-6593
VanessaColmanSadd@gov.nl.ca
Mark Lane
NL Aquaculture Industry Association
709-754-2854
mark@naia.ca
2017 05 26 12:25 p.m.