The Government of Canada Invests $18.5 million in seven Small Craft Harbours across Labrador

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Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada

Aug 17, 2018, 12:00 ET

CHARLOTTETOWN, NL, Aug. 17, 2018 /CNW/ - Coastal communities across Canada are supported by small craft harbours that provide the commercial fishing industry with safe and accessible facilities. With approximately 44,000 Canadians employed in this sector, the Government of Canada is making investments to renew its network of small craft harbours and work with municipalities and other stakeholders where investments and divestitures can enhance local communities.

Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced that the Government of Canada is investing $18.5 million in seven small craft harbour improvement projects across Labrador.

Charlottetown (Labrador) Harbour

  • The main fishermen's wharf in the vicinity of the shrimp plant in this NunatuKavut community will be expanded to ensure that fishers have safe berthing and offloading facilities within the harbour.
  • The work is scheduled for completion by 2020.
  • About Charlottetown (Labrador) Harbour
    • The harbour is used by 39 transient vessels used primarily to harvest shrimp, turbot, and cod.
    • Landings in 2017 represented 3.9 metric tonnes valued at over $10.9 million.
    • The Charlottetown processing facility produces up to 5,400 tonnes of shrimp annually and employs 125 people during peak periods. 

Cartwright Harbour

  • The main fishermen's wharf in this NunatuKavut community will be extended to ensure that fishers have safe berthing and offloading facilities within the harbour.
  • The work is scheduled for completion by 2020.
  • About Cartwright Harbour
    • The harbour is home to 8 vessels and used by 25 transient vessel harvesting primarily crab, turbot and whelk.
    • Landings in 2017 represented 579 metric tonnes valued at over $4.7 million.
    • The Cartwright fish plant produces about 583 tonnes of snow crab annually and employs up to 75 people during peak periods.

Mary's Harbour

  • A breakwater in this NunatuKavut community will be constructed to protect the harbour's small boat basin to ensure safe berthing for users of the floating docks.
  • The work is scheduled for completion by 2019.
  • About Mary's Harbour
    • The harbour is used by 19 homeport vessels and 33 transient vessels that harvest primarily crab, shrimp, cod and turbot.
    • Landings in 2017 represented 853 tonnes valued at over $7.2 million.
    • The local crab processing plant was rebuilt in 2014 and employs up to 80 people during peak periods.

Cape Charles (Lodge Bay)

  • A dilapidated slipway will be demolished and removed.
  • The work is scheduled for completion by late 2018.
  • About Cape Charles (Lodge Bay)
    • Cape Charles, the most easterly point in mainland North America, is seasonally occupied primarily by residents of nearby Lodge Bay.
    • Only remnants of the original slipway remain, which has rendered it unsafe to use. The preferred option is to clean up the site and return it to its natural state.

Battle Harbour

  • Funding will go to completing a two-year project to reconstruct the wharf in this historic fishing community.
  • Scheduled completion by October 2018.
  • About Battle Harbour
    • Located on Labrador's southern coast.
    • Battle Harbour is a popular tourist destination in Labrador.

Makkovik Harbour

  • The marginal wharf and a portion of the finger pier in this Inuit community is being reconstructed to ensure that fishers have safe berthing and offloading facilities within the harbour. 
  • Another component of the project involves the construction of a protected small boat basin with a parking area, treated timber head blocks, and floating docks.
  • The work is scheduled for completion by the end of 2018.
  • About Makkovik Harbour
    • The harbour is utilized by 12 fishing vessels harvesting primarily crab and turbot.
    • Landings in 2017 represented 467 metric tonnes valued at $3.1 million.
    • The Makkovik fish plant produces about 170 tonnes of snow crab annually and employs up to 35 people during peak periods.

Red Bay Harbour

  • The wharf will be repaired in preparation for the transfer of the Small Craft Harbours site to the Town of Red Bay for use primarily as a cruise ship destination.
  • About Red Bay
    • The community is the site of the Red Bay Basque Whaling Station UNESCO World Heritage Site and is frequented by cruise ships during the summer tourist season.

Quotes

"I'm pleased to announce this investment in Labrador's small craft harbours. Investing in the local infrastructure helps not just the commercial fishing industry, but the communities in Labrador as a whole. I am proud that we are investing in people, promoting inclusive growth and building stronger communities. The work carried out will not only renew and maintain the infrastructure that is essential to the region, but also stimulate job opportunities that will benefit fishermen and support our local communities."

Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador

"Investments that help improve communities are a priority for our Government. When we invest in Labrador, Canadians and the Canadian economy benefit. Small Craft Harbour investments demonstrate the federal government's commitment to local economies. We are proud of this investment to support the Labrador fishing industry—part of a larger economic sector that helps support coastal communities across the country.

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

Quick Facts

  • The Government of Canada is investing $250 million over two years to renew its network of small craft harbours and work with municipalities and other stakeholders to enhance local communities, economies and foster job creation.
  • This is in addition to $100 million that will be invested in 2018-19 for repairs, maintenance, construction, and dredging at core commercial fishing harbours across Canada.
  • The mandate of the Small Craft Harbours Program is to keep harbours critical to the commercial fishing industry open and in good repair.
  • Small craft harbours provide critical support to the commercial fishing industry, which had landings valued at almost $3.4 billion in 2017.
  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada supports more than 1000 harbours across Canada with more than 5000 volunteers from harbour authorities.
  • Harbour restoration projects are undertaken in cooperation with the local harbour authorities that manage and operate facilities for local users.

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SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada

For further information: Danica Garner, Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, 613-992-3474,[email protected]; Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected]

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