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Thank you, Nell.
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Good evening ladies and
gentlemen, Ministers Hearn and Aylward, board members and chair of the
Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, senior officials from the
Government of Canada and provincial governments from across the country
and industry representatives nationwide.
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I would like to begin by
extending my sincere appreciation to Mr. Dave Rideout, Executive
Director of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, for your kind
invitation to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to speak to
this extremely important aquaculture summit.
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Unfortunately, Premier
Williams could not be here this evening. He sends his regrets and best
wishes. Aquaculture development is certainly a key issue for our Premier
and our government as a whole. So it gives me a great deal of pleasure
to be here on his behalf tonight.
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It is also a pleasure to be
back in the beautiful province of New Brunswick, which some have called
the aquaculture capital of Atlantic Canada.
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This summit, in this
province at this time has certainly been a great opportunity to interact
with members of the aquaculture sector from across our great nation and
discuss issues pertaining to this increasingly important and vital part
of our seafood sector.
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Only a few months ago Cooke
Aquaculture provided myself and my Deputy Minister with the opportunity
to fly over this beautiful province to view the great things that are
happening in New Brunswick�s aquaculture sector. I must say that I was
very impressed with what I saw at that time.
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Indeed, as I travel around
New Brunswick and hear about and see the tremendous growth of the
aquaculture sector in this province, I can definitely see the
opportunities that present themselves within this incredible industry.
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Some of you may remember
that I also occupied my current portfolio from 1985 to 1989. One of the
things that strikes me since returning to the department last November
is the prominent role that aquaculture has come to play within the
seafood sector as a whole. But I was also struck by the critical role
that aquaculture must play in economic and business development in rural
regions of my province and our country.
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The world is becoming
increasingly urbanized and there are precious few development
opportunities left for rural areas. However, aquaculture in particular
is a shining star in the prospects for rural development. In fact, it
has been determined that each job on a fish farm provides an additional
4 to 5 jobs in aquaculture processing and the supply and service
sectors.
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That is why this summit is
so important. At this point in the development of the aquaculture
sector, it is critical to bring together members of the aquaculture
industry from across the country.
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It is important that we
share information of best practices and lessons learned so that we can
all move forward together in developing our respective areas and
building recognition for the sector as a whole.
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Furthermore, this summit
highlights the importance of the industry on the national scene and
demonstrates Canada�s true potential to become the most prominent
producer of farmed seafood worldwide.
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To that end, I offer my
sincere congratulations to the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance
for organizing this conference and I commend you for continuing to be a
very strong national and international voice for the aquaculture sector
in Canada.
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You do a tremendous job in
representing all aquaculture products throughout this nation, from the
mussels and salmonids of Newfoundland and Labrador to the clams and
oysters of British Columbia.
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Unfortunately, conferences
on aquaculture haven�t always been as prominent or as common as they are
today. As I mentioned earlier, I was the Minister of Fisheries for
Newfoundland and Labrador two decades ago.
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Consequently, I can attest
to the first hand growth of the aquaculture sector and the increased
recognition that has come to the sector during that time.
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Twenty years ago my title
wasn�t Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. It was Minister of
Fisheries. Aquaculture wasn�t even a branch of the department until it
was established during my time in the fisheries portfolio in the 1980s.
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Furthermore, our provincial
Aquaculture Act was introduced in our provincial legislature in 1987,
also during my time in the department. But what a difference twenty
years can make.
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The increased profile of the
aquaculture sector became particularly apparent to me during my recent
visit to the International Boston Seafood Show. I was amazed with the
representation from aquaculture companies at North America�s most
prominent seafood event.
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It is becoming more and more
clear that the world�s seafood processing sector is increasingly reliant
on aquaculture products.
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But it is certainly true
that for many years, the aquaculture industry didn�t receive the
recognition it deserved.
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But now it is clear that
aquaculture is an idea whose time has finally come in Newfoundland and
Labrador, Atlantic Canada, and indeed the world.
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And nowhere is this more
evident than here in New Brunswick.
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This province has seized the
opportunities available in the aquaculture sector and you have become
the flagship of the industry in Canada. So it is quite appropriate that
this summit is being held right here in New Brunswick.
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The province has taken a
lead role in demonstrating to the world that Atlantic Canada is a great
place to be involved in the aquaculture business.
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I am pleased to say that
right now in Newfoundland and Labrador we are actively working to
develop the aquaculture potential and follow in the footsteps of New
Brunswick.
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Right now in Newfoundland
and Labrador there are over 50 companies performing salmonid and
shellfish aquaculture operations, and these companies are currently
occupying over 150 sites.
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Salmonid aquaculture is
steadily expanding with the involvement of local, national and
international companies and there is continued interest from external
companies in establishing in our province.
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The salmonid aquaculture
sector reached a production level of over 5,000 MT in 2005, for a value
of approximately $27 million of product.
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Mussel aquaculture is also
steadily expanding and it is one of the core commercial species targeted
for expansion. In 2005, mussel production reached 3,157 MT for a value
of over $7 million.
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We have certainly
demonstrated the sustainability of the aquaculture sector in
Newfoundland and Labrador. For instance, the St. Alban�s region on the
province�s Connaigre Peninsula has become a major centre for
aquaculture, with facilities producing aquaculture products year round.
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These products supply a fish
processing facility and create secondary processing jobs year round.
This is happening at a time when wild water fish quotas are being cut
and our province continues to recover from the impacts of the northern
cod moratorium.
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Some might say that it is in
the St. Alban�s region where fish growing began in Newfoundland and
Labrador. Aquaculture activity in this community has kept over 200
individuals employed year round.
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Without question, the
success story of St. Alban�s illustrates the true potential of this
industry in our province, and bodes well for other areas of rural
Newfoundland and Labrador, and for Atlantic Canada as a whole. However,
this is only the beginning of the story.
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Indeed, with the aquaculture
sector having reached an enormous stage already in New Brunswick, and
with provinces such as Newfoundland and Labrador moving quickly forward
with aquaculture, we in Atlantic Canada have a massive opportunity to do
something big collectively in this sector.
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Aquaculture is good for
Newfoundland and Labrador, for New Brunswick, for PEI, for Nova Scotia,
for Quebec and for Atlantic Canada as a whole. It is good for coastal
areas throughout Canada and the world.
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We have the opportunity to
compete with the likes of Chile and Norway in the global marketplace,
with products that are second to none.
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Atlantic Canada is at the
doorstep of one of the largest seafood markets in the world, that being
the United States. This proximity is particularly clear right here in
St. Andrew�s, as we can look across the harbour to Maine.
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Much of the aquaculture
product grown in Newfoundland and Labrador is already being exported
into this market. We send the majority of our mussels and salmon into
the Northeastern United States. These important international trading
relationships are already established.
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Newfoundland and Labrador is
the gateway to Europe and indeed we are already exporting some
aquaculture products to Europe.
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The cooperation of Atlantic
Canadian provinces in moving forward can be instrumental in reaching
this region�s full potential. I am here to tell you tonight that our
government is fully willing to work with the other Atlantic Canadian
provinces in moving the aquaculture sector forward.
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We believe this makes sense.
It�s a good strategy and it can work to the benefit of the region as a
whole.
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Our respective governments
have had many successes to date in this area. For example, the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of New
Brunswick are both working on various aspects of a Cod Genomics Program.
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In fact, half of this work
is being completed at Memorial University in Newfoundland while the
remainder is being performed right here in St. Andrew�s at the Huntsman
Marine Laboratory.
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This is a very important
program that will establish Atlantic Canada as world leader in cod
genomics, and also in the application of genomics technologies to
aquaculture. It will bring about very significant economic benefits
throughout our region, as we believe that cultured cod will become the
next great aquaculture export for our region.
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As well, the Atlantic
provinces have cooperated on a joint submission to the federal
government on the importance of the aquaculture industry to eastern
Canada, as well as its challenges and opportunities.
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Last November, ministers
responsible for aquaculture from the four Atlantic provinces, together
with representatives of Quebec and British Columbia traveled to Ottawa
for meetings with MPs of all three political parties to further promote
the potential and importance of the industry as a vital part of our
seafood sector and a key economic driver for our rural and coastal
communities.
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As we move forward we have
the potential to turn this cooperation into something massive for
aquaculture development throughout our great country.
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And development is
happening. In Newfoundland and Labrador, we have seen renewed interest
by investors in our aquaculture industry. Two Norwegian companies have
invested in our province in the past two years.
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Our traditional seafood
processors have also begun to view the aquaculture sector as a great way
to expand their existing seafood interests. This is true of the Barry
Group, one of Canada�s most prominent seafood processing companies.
Similarly, Allen�s Fisheries, a processing company on the province�s
west coast, has expanded its operations to include the processing of
mussels. Traditionally, this company was only engaged in the processing
of wild fish.
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Both companies have made
tremendous contributions to the aquaculture sector.
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Cooke Aquaculture Inc. of
New Brunswick is a further example of the renewed interest in our
province�s aquaculture opportunities and what we can accomplish when we
work cooperatively.
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Our government has entered
into discussions with this company regarding potential aquaculture
operations in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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We feel that there are great
opportunities in our province for the company and they have expressed a
deep interest in pursuing aquaculture development in Newfoundland and
Labrador.
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In fact, the company has
already begun to set up some operations on the Connaigre Peninsula as
they have been approved for nine licenses in the Fortune Bay area, a
major coastal area in our province.
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This has been an extremely
positive thing for our province at a time when we are fighting the tide
of out-migration.
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Based on our discussions
with Cooke and our positive experiences in aquaculture to date, I would
now like to take this opportunity to say that Newfoundland and Labrador
is certainly open for business in the aquaculture sector.
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While I mentioned earlier
that over 50 companies currently occupy over 150 sites in Newfoundland
and Labrador, less than 10 per cent of our province�s potential
aquaculture space is currently being utilized.
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Right now, Newfoundland and
Labrador has some of the last remaining areas available for aquaculture
development in Eastern Canada. Aquaculture potential is indeed the best
kept secret in our province. In fact, it is almost impossible to put
into words how much potential aquaculture development holds for
Newfoundland and Labrador.
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So to the aquaculture
developers in the audience tonight, we welcome you to our province, and
we are willing to work with any company wishing to discuss potential
aquaculture operations in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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I also extend an invitation
to any investor to visit our province to see what we have to offer. I
guarantee you, you won�t be disappointed.
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In order to put our money
where our sentiment is, in Budget 2006 our government allocated a full
$5.94 million for aquaculture. This represented an increase of
approximately 230 per cent over our budget for aquaculture last year.
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In recognition of the fact
that new capital investment is required to further progress the
aquaculture sector, key among our investments was the establishment of
Aquaculture Capital Equity Investment Program to foster the development
of aquaculture in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Under this program, $10
million will be provided over three years to companies farming mussels
and/or finfish species.
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This program will assist in
increasing the production of commercial aquaculture products in the
province, thereby increasing employment and spin-off opportunities in
the processing, manufacturing, supply and service sectors.
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In fact, it is estimated
that 150 full-time jobs will be added to the industry within the next
two years.
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The program will provide a
matching equity investment in new and existing farm operations. This
will support the establishment of new operations. It will also enable
the purchase of equipment and other capital assets to boost production
capacity and enable rapid expansion of the industry.
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Newfoundland and Labrador
has proven its reputation as a leader in this industry. For example, our
government recognizes that cod is developing as a major farm species in
the North Atlantic. It is a high priority in Newfoundland and Labrador
and has a significant level of potential for rural communities
throughout Atlantic Canada.
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We have the technology,
expertise and the right biophysical conditions to take advantage of this
opportunity, and our government is doing everything possible to assist
in its further development.
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We have already completed a
review of the commercialization of cod aquaculture and have developed a
business plan for a commercial-scale cod aquaculture demonstration farm.
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We believe that our province
and all of Atlantic Canada has many competitive advantages to make us an
international leader in cod aquaculture. This is the time now when we
must take the next step to commercialize the industry through the
establishment of a demonstration farm.
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Our government has invested
$500,000 to help further the progress of this initiative, and we will
match this investment over the next three years, for a total of $2
million.
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Furthermore, the Co-chair of
the Aquaculture Task Group of the Canadian Council of Fisheries and
Aquaculture Ministers, Brian Meaney, hails from our province and this
group has been actively pursuing the concept of an Aquaculture Framework
Agreement.
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Brian is here with me this
week and he has been with our province�s aquaculture branch since my
tenure in the department in the 1980s. He is our Assistant Deputy
Minister of aquaculture now and I am sure that anyone interested in
pursuing aquaculture development in our province will find him quite
helpful.
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And with that, I would like
to stress the importance of continued cooperation between all provinces
in this region. We must continue to impress upon the federal government
the importance of this industry and all initiatives that will have a
hand in moving it forward.
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For example, an Aquaculture
Framework Agreement will provide funding at the federal level for the
purpose of development, among other very significant initiatives.
Together with my colleagues from across this country, we have committed
to work with the federal government to see the Aquaculture Framework
Agreement become a reality as soon as possible.
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Our Premier has promoted
this initiative at the national level by naming it as a high priority
for Newfoundland and Labrador in a letter to the three federal party
leaders prior to the last federal election. And we must all continue to
lobby the federal government on important issues related to aquaculture.
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We all have a role to play.
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In closing, I would like to
congratulate the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance for organizing a
tremendous event and thank you for the very kind invitation to speak to
you here this evening.
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It is clear that we all have
the same overall goals for aquaculture, and that is to see it gain
recognition as the flagship sector that we in this room all know that it
has the potential to become. I look forward to working with industry and
our provincial and federal partners to have this vision fully realized.
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Thank you again and I wish
you all the best in the future.
