Newfoundland aquaculture production on par

Tor-Eddie Fossbakk In a press release, provincial Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Tom Rideout, said the key reasons why the fishery was so lucrative in 2007 was that the fishery started on time with no major price disputes and landings were up 5.7 per cent over 2006 due to an increase in shellfish (e.g. snow crab) and in pelagic species (e.g. mackerel). "Snow crab has been a very important species for our province's fishery ever since the decline in groundfish. It is extremely positive that our province was able to benefit from both the higher price and increased landings for snow crab last year," said Minister Rideout. "This species makes an important coastal contribution in rural areas of the province." The province's 2007 aquaculture industry remained on a par with 2006. The aquaculture production value is expected to show a marginal decline in 2007 due to the rise in the Canadian dollar. Seven new aquaculture sites, mostly salmon sites, were developed and stocked last year, which should have a positive impact on future production levels. Although employment in the fishery was down about three per cent, approximately 25,000 people continued to be employed in the province's traditional fishery. However, employment increased by 10 per cent in the aquaculture industry in 2007.