Provincial Government strengthens Fishing & Aquaculture Sectors

Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, joined Robert Verge, Managing Director of the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation, at the Marine Institute to outline how investments are supporting projects aimed at enhancing harvesting, processing, and aquaculture activity, and improving approaches to marketing seafood

Monday, April 14, 2014

Innovation and continuous improvement are vital to gaining global competitive advantage in the fishing and aquaculture sectors. Through Budget 2014: Shared Prosperity, Fair Society, Balanced Outlook, the Provincial Government is investing $6 million over two years to promote gains in both areas. The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, joined Robert Verge, Managing Director of the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation, at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University today to outline how these investments are supporting projects aimed at enhancing harvesting, processing, and aquaculture activity, and improving approaches to marketing seafood.

“Through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program, the Provincial Government helps industry pursue new ideas, greater efficiency, improved product quality, and worldwide promotional initiatives. The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation has played an integral role in the success of many of these projects by providing vital expertise and resources. Through Budget 2014, we are continuing to help the provincial fishing and aquaculture sectors gain competitive advantage in foreign markets with an investment of $6 million.”

- The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation is a not-for-profit organization within Memorial University that is partially funded by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The centre has a mandate to apply fisheries related science and technology capability of universities and colleges to the benefit of the fishing industry, with the goal of making the industry more productive and profitable.

“To create maximum economic benefit for the rural communities that depend on Newfoundland and Labrador’s fishing and aquaculture industries, it is important that industry stakeholders are encouraged to continuously improve. The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation appreciates the Provincial Government’s continued funding support for vital innovation projects, and we look forward to being a continued partner with industry on research and development that makes the industry more profitable and successful.”

- Robert Verge, Managing Director, Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation

Innovations supported through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program include biodegradable twine that has made crab pots more eco-friendly; new trawls that are more efficient and eco-friendly; crab processing equipment that helps processors achieve improved efficiencies and better yield, quality, and financial returns for the crab sector; and promotional campaigns aimed at developing opportunities in international markets.

Quick Facts

• A Budget 2014 investment of $6 million for the next two years will help continue research and development that generate innovations in the fishery. Many of these innovations being displayed at the Marine Institute today.
• Uptake of the Provincial Government’s Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program was strong from 2007 to 2013. An investment of $12 million supported more than 240 research and development projects.
• In addition to the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation, the Marine Institute’s Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources and Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development has also provided facilities and academic support that have been invaluable to individuals and companies researching new innovations.