Canada’s government has provided tens of millions of dollars to improve the countries fisheries and harbors.
Much of the funding is coming from the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund, which was created in order to aid businesses and industries affected by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund, which will pay out CAD 42 million (USD 33.3 million, EUR 28.4 million) in grants to support the country’s fish and seafood sector, is part of the larger Atlantic Fisheries Fund, a program funded jointly by the federal, provincial, and territorial governmentsof Canada with the goal investing CAD 400 million (USD 317.6 million, EUR 270.2 million) over seven years to support Canada’s fish and seafood sector.
Among the projects already approved for funding are eight non-profit fish and seafood industry associations, which collectively will receive CAD 8.5 million (USD 6.8 million, EUR 5.7 million). The Lobster Council of Canada has received CAD 662,400 (USD 526,000, EUR 448,000) in CFSOF funding for activities to support the implementation of a generic marketing and promotional strategy for Canadian lobster in domestic and export markets and to support industry capacity development in relation to market research and intelligence to manage ongoing and emerging market access issues. Additionally, the Atlantic Groundfish Council will receive CAD 4.2 million (USD 3.3 million, EUR 2.8 million) for the to conduct market research to develop and implement a market diversification strategy in China, Europe, and the United States for redfish.
Another big winner from the funding is Saint John’s, Newfoundland-based Ocean Choice International Inc., Its subsidiary, 12150484 Canada Inc. will receive CAD 10.3 million to (USD 8.2 million, EUR 7 million) support the upgrade of its retail packing plant and cold storage distribution center with state-of-the-art processing and packaging equipment to help it conduct value-added, secondary processing, with the goal of pursuing new market opportunities in North America, Europe, and Asia.
"Our new retail packing plant will introduce production capacity for market-ready retail and foodservice products for our suite of species, including scallops that are harvested off the coast of Nova Scotia,” Ocean Choice CEO Martin Sullivan said. "This investment in the Halifax region makes strategic sense for Ocean Choice – it will create increased value which we will reinvest in our existing processing facilities and vessels; It will allow us to penetrate further down the value chain with consumer-ready products; It will bring us closer to global markets, including overnight delivery to central Canada and [the U.S.] Northeast; And it will allow us to produce more value-added products in Atlantic Canada."
The facility “will provide a showcase within the fish and seafood sector related to advanced processing equipment,” according to Canadian Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard Bernadette Jordan. It will also provide 30 to 50 new jobs in Nova Scotia, she said.
“Canada's fisheries are the backbone of many coastal communities and a driving force in our national economy. At the same time, the seafood sector is a rapidly shifting environment – competition is intensifying and consumers are looking for sustainability and quality,” Jordan said in a press release. “That is why the government of Canada and the province of Nova Scotia are making strategic investments in the fish and seafood sector – to help ensure the sector can continue to meet these changing demands and to capitalize on the industry's tremendous growth potential.”
In Nova Scotia, more than CAD 2.8 million (USD 1.1 million, EUR 946,00) for two projects focused on the implementation of updated technologies, equipment, and processes to improve lobster holding, handling, and processing, including improvements to be made to on-board holding practices. The Inverness South Fishermen's Association will use CAD 1.1 million (USD 873,000, EUR 743,000) from the Atlantic Fisheries Fund to undertake modifications to its members' vessels that incorporate new equipment and technologies to improve holding practices, water quality, and aeration. Improvements to onboard holding practices will help to maintain lobsters in the best possible condition, improving quality, vitality, and value. The Atlantic Fisheries Fund will also be used to provide the Northumberland Fisherman's Association with CAD 1.4 million (USD 1.1 million, EUR 946,00) to assist its members with upgrading their equipment and technology to improve on-board vessel lobster holding and harvesting practices. The remainder of the funds, around CAD 330,000 (USD 262,000, EUR 223,000) will go to the Harbor Authority of Point Aconi, which will also assist its members with the adoption of equipment and technology which will improve the harvest, handling, and holding of live lobsters on vessels.
"Canada is known for its world-class fish and seafood, and we want to make sure that sector can continue to grow,” Jordan said. “When the pandemic hit, we relaunched The Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund to help our partners in the industry to access new markets at home and around the world. The projects we're investing in today will help create more opportunity and greater stability for the hard-working women and men of Canada's seafood sector."
Canada’s harbors will also receive significant investment from the federal government – estimated at CAD 300 million for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, with around CAD 90 million (USD 71.5 million, EUR 60.8 million) dedicated toward improving small-craft harbors. Of that total, around CAD 70 million (USD 55.6 million, EUR 47.3 million) will be invested in projects for repairs, maintenance, construction, and dredging. British Columbia’s port of Steveston Prince Rupert, Gibsons, Fairview, and Rushbrook will receive at least CAD 50 million (USD 39.7 million, EUR 33.8 million), and Nova Scotia’s ports of Wedgeport, Centreville, Dennis Point, Hampton, Meteghan, and Parker's Cove, Sandy Cove East, and Little River (Digby Neck) have also received around CAD 22 million (USD 17.5 million, EUR 14.9 million) in funding for infrastructural improvements.
"Canada's seafood sector brings in over seven billion dollars each year,” Jordan said. “Canada's blue economy and its future growth depend on the sustainable use and management of our ocean resources. A blue economy strategy will enable us to protect and revitalize the health of our oceans while taking advantage of emerging economic growth opportunities throughout ocean sectors.”
Photo courtesy of Greenseas/Shutterstock
