Government of Canada and Province of New Brunswick fund an innovative project in the snow crab sector

From: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

News release

Serge Cormier, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Acadie-Bathurst
Serge Cormier, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Acadie-Bathurst

May 21, 2019             

Shippagan, New Brunswick - 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. This is why the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick today announced funding support to the Association des Crabiers Acadiens Inc. (ACA) through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund.


The funding—a total contribution of more than $2 million over three years—is already supporting the implementation of a series of initiatives to explore and test technologies to reduce the risks of right whale entanglements with fishing gear. These initiatives are also raising awareness and knowledge among snow crab harvesters regarding the impacts of snow crab fishing gear on the right whale environment. Ultimately, these initiatives will propose technologies to help protect right whales.


The funded initiatives are done in collaboration with the Association des Pêcheurs Professionnels Crabiers Acadiens and the New Brunswick Crabiers du Nord-Est, who will support the ACA with developing and testing the new technologies.


The contribution derives from the $400 million Atlantic Fisheries Fund, jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments, and 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 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

“Innovation in the Atlantic Canada fish and seafood sector is essential. With the 2019 fishing season underway, we put forward measures to strike the vital balance between the protection of the North Atlantic right whale while also supporting the work of thousands of fish harvesters, their families, and communities who rely on the sea for their livelihoods. The technologies developed and tested through this project are helping the seafood industry move towards greater sustainability. I am so proud that we are delivering on our mandate to protect our fisheries and ocean environment, and ensure that they remain healthy for future generations.”

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

“This funding is great news for the fishing industry and our coastal communities. This project will help identifying new fishing technologies to maintain an active fishing industry while reducing the risk of whale entanglements with fishing gear. It is imperative to be able to adapt to change to ensure the healthy sustainability of our industry, respect for our marine environment and also to protect the jobs generated by the fishing industry.”

Serge Cormier, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Acadie-Bathurst

“I would like to commend the Association des crabiers acadiens Inc. for using innovative technology that will help snow crab fishermen carry out their work, while at the same time protecting the endangered North Atlantic right whales. This project is exactly what was intended by the Atlantic Fisheries Fund to drive innovation and improvement and bring our fish and seafood sectors to a new level.”

The Honourable Ross Wetmore, Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Province of New Brunswick

“It is imperative to balance preservation of this endangered species with the social, cultural and economic importance of the snow crab fishery in this region. Many families and communities depend on the snow crab fishery for employment. Co-existence with minimal impact to the North Atlantic right whale population must be achieved.” – The Honourable Robert Gauvin, Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, Province of New Brunswick and Member of Legislative Assembly for Shippagan-Lamèque-Miscou.”

The Honourable Robert Gauvin, Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, Province of New Brunswick and Member of Legislative Assembly for Shippagan-Lamèque-Miscou

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.

Associated links

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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