Strong support for aquaculture in parts of Canada
As news broke a week or so ago that the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is accepting applications for the moderate and orderly expansion of the aquaculture industry in British Columbia, the regular suspects came out of the woodwork and made their disapproval known through the use of an ignorant media eager to bounce on another controversy. And while the B.C. government has largely been happy to remain outside the spotlight since the regulatory regime for the business of aquaculture was transferred to DFO a few years ago, other provinces make no excuse for their active support of the aquaculture and fishing industries.
Case in point; According to an article in The Coaster by Clayton Hunt, the Newfoundland and Labrador member of the provincial legislature Tracey Perry recently said that she will continue to work hard for her constituents in the New Year, and that “there are a number of key issues that she will be strongly advocating over the coming months”. Among them, she ...talked about the 2014 outlook for the aquaculture industry in the Coast of Bays. She said, “The aquaculture industry remains a high priority for the government and our support remains very strong. “With regards to Cooke’s processing operation at Harbour Breton, I have met with officials from Cooke Aqua and the Barry Group and everyone is very committed to ensuring that the Cooke processing operation remains in Harbour Breton. “I will continue to meet with company officials and the new council in the community to continue working on this important issue. “Hopefully Gray Aquaculture can straighten out their issues in the New Year and that the industry, as a whole, will survive and be strong and better once we’re through this particular period.”
Perry said that 2014 should also be the start of a new era for the province’s traditional fishery. She noted that Canada’s Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Europe will open the door to new and better market conditions on that continent.
Those new markets and the ending of tariff barriers on fish products could add as much as $100 million (~€ 67.3 million) to the Canadian fishing industry. Perry also noted that 2014 will usher in a federal-provincial $400 million enhancement package for the fishery which will go towards research and development, exploring new market opportunities and for new fisheries science. “2013 posed some challenges for us in the marine industry sector. However, those challenges highlighted the importance of the traditional and aquaculture industries to this region. This government will work toward ensuring that the fishery and aquaculture sectors remain key employers for decades to come. “We’re optimistic about the future and are very committed to ensuring that our jobs and our economy and our future in the Coast of Bays is staple and secure.”
With regards to the importance of the aquaculture industry to the province, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture said on January 2 that the province’s aquaculture industry is expected to set a record in 2013 with a projected total production value of more than $180 million (~€121 million) for farmed finfish and shellfish. Perry noted that tenders for a new aquaculture wharf in Milltown closed on January 13 and that government will also work on seeing a new aquaculture wharf for Belleoram become a reality.
