Government of Canada helping fisheries and aquaculture businesses adopt clean technologies

ST. JOHN'S, NL, March 11, 2019 /CNW/ - Investments in clean technology that support more sustainable fishing and aquaculture sectors protect our environment while helping businesses remain competitive in the global trade market. Taking action to make our Canadian businesses stronger and more competitive by making targeted investments in clean solutions will help us grow and sustain a vibrant coastal economy.

Today, the Member of Parliament for Avalon, Ken McDonald, on behalf of the Minister of Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced more than $1.5 million in funding from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program (FACTAP) to support clean economic growth in Atlantic Canada. The provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island together contributed more than $260,000 to these FACTAP projects.  

Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, Christopher Mitchelmore from the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, joined MP McDonald in making this announcement, $1.2 million of which will go toward a clean technology project for the off-shore fishing industry sector in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program provides $20 million over four years to help businesses incorporate new, clean technologies into their day-to-day operations, accelerating the use of more sustainable and efficient tools, practices and techniques.

Commercial fisheries and aquaculture from coast to coast to coast contribute significantly to the Canadian economy. These sectors generate $4.5 billion annually in gross domestic product and provide thousands of good middle class jobs, many in Indigenous, rural and coastal communities.

The projects announced today will help fisheries and aquaculture businesses adopt greener practices that will improve energy efficiency, reduce waste and reduce climate change causing carbon dioxide emissions. Projects include; $52,032 in funding to Bill and Stanley Oyster in NS; $1,200,000 over two years to support Ocean Choice International in Newfoundland; $75,000 over two years for the Abegweit Conservation Society in PEI; $113,000 for l'Étang Ruisseau Bar in New Brunswick; and $88,177 for Clarke and Sons Fishing in Newfoundland. Combined, these projects will help Atlantic Canada businesses take steps to incorporate clean technologies, processes and sustainable practices into their day-to-day operations and keep them competitive in a global trade market

Quotes

"By making significant investments in finding innovative clean technologies to improve the sustainability of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, we are growing our economy and creating good middle class jobs for communities from coast to coast to coast. To fight against climate change, we are supporting these projects under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program, to help businesses reduce their own environmental impact through incorporating innovative clean technologies in the work they do."

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

"Commercial fisheries and aquaculture are important contributors to the Canadian economy. These sectors contribute $4.5 billion annually in gross domestic product and have provided thousands of jobs across the country for generations—many in Indigenous, rural and coastal communities.

These new investments in innovative green technology help Canada's fishing and aquaculture sectors transition to a clean-growth economy to further protect our environment."

Ken McDonald, Member of Parliament for Avalon, Newfoundland and Labrador

"Supporting innovation through clean technology adoption ensures that our companies remain globally competitive.   Our government recognizes that the fishing and aquaculture industries are integral to our provincial economy, and today's announcement by the Federal Government will help businesses adopt greener practices, improve energy efficiency and reduce waste and emissions."

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, Newfoundland and Labrador

"We know the importance of our fisheries sector here in Nova Scotia, what it means to our communities and how crucial preserving the environment is to ensure sustainable harvesting. The government of Nova Scotia is pleased to help support Bill and Stanley Oyster Company Inc, in helping them buy new equipment that will make their operations more efficient and help reduce their greenhouse gases, carbon emissions and impact on the environment. "

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

"This investment demonstrates our commitment to capitalize on New Brunswick's natural strengths and build our blue economy. Fishing, aquaculture and seafood processing are a $2 billion industry and the main engine for our rural, coastal and aboriginal communities. Through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program, we are helping to ensure our fisheries and aquaculture businesses are environmentally sustainable, efficient and well-positioned for growth."

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

"Environmental sustainability is fundamental to the future success of the commercial fisheries and aquaculture industry which employs thousands of people in rural communities on Prince Edward Island. We are pleased to support FACTAP projects such as the PEI Abegweit Conservation Society to help improve energy efficiency and clean technologies, while reducing environmental impact."

The Honourable Robert Henderson for Fisheries and Oceans, Prince Edward Island  

Quick Facts

The funding will directly support:

• Bill & Stanley Oyster in NS - $52,032 to support upgrading capacity containers to reduce engine hours and highway transport, as well as replacing a gasoline-powered forklift with an electric bin tripper to reduce fuel requirements and emissions.
• Ocean Choice International in NL - $1,200,000 over two years to support the installation of a new electrical winch trawl system and other new devices to use cutting edge technology to make the vessel the most energy efficient "green" trawler in Newfoundland in generations.
• L'Étang Ruisseau Bar in NB - $113,000 to support the purchase and installation of new energy efficient photobioreactors which will allow them to double biomass production resulting in significant energy savings and improving efficiency.
• Clarke & Sons Fishing in NL - $88,177 to install Notus sensors on a fishing trawler to reduce sea floor impacts, reduce fuel consumption and maintain proper catch levels.
• Abegweit Conservation Society in PEI - $75,000 to install solar panels in an existing energy system to fully offset electricity consumption from the grid, thereby reducing the ecological footprint of their hatchery. 
• Provincial partners contributed more than $260,000 to these projects: $216,557 from Newfoundland and Labrador; $15,459 from New Brunswick; $10,345 from Nova Scotia; and $20,000 from Prince Edward Island.

Associated Links

• Apply to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program
• Projects funded by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program

Stay Connected

• Follow the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
• Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada

For further information: Jocelyn Lubczuk, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, 343-548-7863, [email protected]; Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca