Atlantic Fisheries Fund provides $460,000 to Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association Inc.

Contribution will help improve the sustainability of the fish and seafood sector

ST. ANDREWS, NB, Aug. 13, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick announced $460,000 to improve the effectiveness, quality and sustainability of the fish and seafood sector. The contribution derives from the $400 million Atlantic Fisheries Fund, jointly funded by the federal, provincial and territorial governments, focused on growing opportunities and increasing market value for sustainably sourced, high-quality fish and seafood products from Atlantic Canada.

This project will assist Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association Inc. with the purchase, installation and collection of data from two real-time monitoring buoys equipped with a suite of sensors. This data will be collected from the Passamaquoddy Bay and will provide real-time information that will be used to support decision making for both the aquaculture industry as well as other marine users such as fishers and tourism operators.

The Atlantic Fisheries Fund will continue to invest in projects over the next seven years. The commercial fisheries and aquaculture industry, Indigenous groups, universities and academia and industry associations and organizations, including research institutions, may apply.

Eligible projects must focus on:

• Innovation – to support research and development of new innovations that contribute to sustainability of the fish and seafood sector, and to create partnerships and networks that aim to promote and encourage innovations in the sector;
• Infrastructure – to adopt or adapt new technologies, processes, or equipment to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the fish and seafood sector;
• Science Partnerships – fisheries and aquaculture industry based partnerships with academia and institutions to enhance knowledge and understanding of the impacts of changing oceanographic conditions and sustainable harvesting technology.

Quotes

"Innovation in this sector, which is integral to the Canadian economy, means more job opportunities for hundreds of small coastal and Indigenous communities across not only Atlantic Canada, but the country. I am so proud that we are delivering on our mandate to protect our fisheries and ensure that they remain healthy for future generations."

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

"Investing in technology like real-time monitoring buoys in the Bay of Fundy is an important part of our commitment to the long-term sustainability of our seafood and aquaculture industries. The success of this sector is a direct result of the hard work, innovative people and companies behind it. Demand for New Brunswick's seafood is at an all-time high and we will continue to work with our aquaculture and fisheries sectors to find new ways to thrive, generate jobs and contribute to our economy."

The Honourable Rick Doucet, Minister of Aquaculture and Fisheries, New Brunswick

"In New Brunswick Southwest, many residents make their living from, or on, the sea. Whether fisheries, aquaculture, or tourism, marine science research plays a critical factor in decision-making and planning. The  announcement to invest in real-time environmental buoys in the Bay of Fundy is an investment in the future of our coastal communities and the future of all Canadians."

Karen Ludwig, Member of Parliament, New Brunswick Southwest

Associated Links

• Atlantic Fisheries Fund home page: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/initiatives/fish-fund-atlantic-fonds-peche/index-eng.html
• Atlantic Fisheries Fund application: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/initiatives/fish-fund-atlantic-fonds-peche/sip-science-innovation-page01-eng.html
• Atlantic Growth Strategy: http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/ags-sca/Eng/atlantic-growth.html
• Toll-free program contact: 1-844-795-9718

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SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maritimes Region

Laura Gareau, Director of Communications, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard, 613-992-3474, [email protected]; Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected]; Mary-Anne Hurley-Corbyn, Communications Officer, Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Association Inc., New Brunswick, 506-453-5949, [email protected]; Susan Farquharson, Executive Director, Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers, 506-755-3526, [email protected]