Government of Canada and Province of Nova Scotia invest in projects for new technology and trade in the fish and seafood sector

Press Release

From: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia — With the longest coastline in the world, Canada’s coastal communities rely on the fish and seafood industry as an integral contributor to local and regional economies. In Canada about 350,000 jobs rely on sustainable fisheries. This is why the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia today announced funding support to several local enterprises through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund.

Alongside provincial representatives, Minister of Rural Economic Development Bernadette Jordan announced a total contribution of more than $1 million under the Atlantic Fisheries Fund, investing in 14 businesses with projects focused on the adoption of new technology and partnership that will improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the fish and seafood sectors.

Among the approved projects are:

Herring Science Council to conduct an extensive tagging study of major spawning populations of herring in the Bay of Fundy, which will help to support the efforts to rebuild the stock.

North Nova Seafoods Limited to acquire equipment and training to enhance seafood testing methods to ensure high-quality, safe products for export.

J. K. Marine Services Limited and Victoria Co-operative Fisheries Limited to each upgrade their current in-house paper data entry system into one integrated entry system that would facilitate enhanced traceability and ensure supply chain transparency.

The contribution derives from the $400 million Atlantic Fisheries Fund, jointly funded by the Government of Canada and provincial governments. The Fund focuses on increasing opportunities and market value for sustainably sourced, high-quality fish and seafood products from Atlantic Canada.

The Atlantic Fisheries Fund will continue to invest in projects over the current seven-year life of the program. 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

“The adoption of new technology in the Atlantic Canada fish and seafood sector is becoming increasingly important to ensure the sustainability of our enterprises and to maintain our products’ strong positon in the global marketplace, while also creating opportunities for partnership and research. This funding will support the overall competitiveness of this sector that is so important to Canadians in small coastal and Indigenous communities.”

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

“Many Nova Scotians rely on the sea as a way of life and as a source of income. These projects funded by the Atlantic Fisheries Fund will help maximize returns for fish and seafood products and, in turn, will strengthen the economy and Nova Scotia’s rural communities.”

The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development, and Member of Parliament for South Shore—St. Margarets (Nova Scotia)

“Our fish and seafood sector provides quality jobs for Nova Scotians and economic opportunities in our coastal communities. With our partners in the Atlantic Fisheries Fund we are helping the sector to develop a culture of innovation that will lead to increased productivity, competitiveness, quality and sustainability.”

The Honourable Keith Colwell, Nova Scotia Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture

Quick facts

• The Atlantic Fisheries Fund will invest over $400 million over seven years to support Canada’s fish and seafood sector.
• For the fund, Atlantic provinces will cost share on projects with the federal government on a 70/30 basis over the life of the program.
• The fund aims to help Canada’s seafood sector transition to meet growing market demands for products that are high quality, value-added, and sustainably sourced.
• Details on all funded projects can be found in the accompanying Backgrounder.

Associated links

• Atlantic Fisheries Fund
• Atlantic Fisheries Fund application
• Atlantic Growth Strategy
• Toll-free program contact: 1-844-795-9718
• Backgrounder: Government of Canada and Province of Nova Scotia fund projects to support the adoption of new technology and partnership in the fish and seafood sector

Contacts

Jocelyn Lubczuk
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
343-548-7863
Jocelyn.lubczuk@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-990-7537
Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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