The Atlantic lobster industry received a major boost Thursday with the announcement that more than $2 million in funding has been earmarked for new processing technology and product development by ACOA, the province and the P.E.I. Atlantic Shrimp Corporation.
Funding details were announced at a news conference in Charlottetown that attracted wide representation from both the fishery and the processing sector.
Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, acting on behalf of ACOA Minister Keith Ashfield, announced a federal investment of $1.6 million.
Provincial Fisheries Minister Neil LeClair committed another $500,000, while Bob Johnston, president of the Atlantic Shrimp Corporation, announced a corporate contribution of $95,000.
The P.E.I. Seafood Processors Association will invest the $2.2 million in two projects.
Funding for the first project will enable industry leaders to work with the Food Technology Centre and Holland College to develop four to six new products over the next year that will benefit the entire Atlantic lobster industry.
The second project, geared towards the needs of lobster processors, will focus on innovation in processing techniques and equipment and is aimed at lowering production costs and increasing labour productivity.
Shea said Ottawa's financial support for these initiatives was a reflection of Ottawa's commitment to the lobster industry.
"Our government continues to listen to the concerns of the lobster industry and to support projects that will provide long-term solutions to the challenges caused by the global economic downturn," said Shea. "Our commitment of $1.6 million to these projects will support product innovation and the development of new processing technology that will deliver benefits for the entire Atlantic lobster industry."
The minister said Canada's Economic Action Plan, through the Community Adjustment Fund's $8-million lobster initiative, supports projects in new product innovation, identification of new markets, and research and development to provide a productive and sustainable future for the region's lobster fishery.
Provincial Fisheries Minister Neil LeClair said the development of new products and technologies is key to increasing the lobster industry's competitiveness and improved returns to fishers and processors.
"One of the objectives of the provincial government's five-point lobster plan is to improve the marketability of our lobster products," LeClair said.
The provincial funding announced by LeClair falls under government's Rural Action Plan, which supports the development of the primary industries and economic opportunities in rural communities.
Bob Johnston, president of the P.E.I. Atlantic Shrimp Corp., said the company's contribution to these two projects is in keeping with the company's objective of furthering the development and maintenance of the seafood processing industry.
The development of new products and improving processing efficiency relate directly to this objective, Johnston said.
Olin Gregan, executive director of the P.E.I. Seafood Processors Association, said the association was pleased to receive funding for both projects.
"We are pleased to have funding for new product innovation for Atlantic Canadian lobsters, and new innovation for lobster processing techniques," said Gregan. "These two projects will help a great deal with the future of the Atlantic Canada lobster processing industry."
Gregan said the funding has major significance for the industry which has experienced a tough year.
"We're trying to get over a number of humps and hurdles," Gregan said.
He said the association has been working closely with both the federal and provincial governments to address a number of issues.
Lobster industry receives $2.2-million funding boost
Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea announces major federal funding for two new projects designed to benefit the lobster industry Thursday. Looking on is Olin Gregan, executive director of the P.E.I. Seafood Processors Association. Ottawa is contributing
- Published on Febuary 19th, 2010
- Published on June 19th, 2010
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Staff ~ The Guardian
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Comments
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- Hillbilly
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:42:41
Harpo's PEI lapdog - Gail - is at it again, trying to buy up some more votes. Where is all this money supposed to be coming from...for a dying industry no less?
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- Harvey
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:29:24
Gail Shea is the best thing the fisheries has ever had case closed .
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- Dave
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:27:10
Island Fisher
Gail is at it again nothing for the fishermen she represents but fill the pockets of the consultants.
And look who in the background the crook himself Olin -
- Country_Dude
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:02:03
In all the time I've asked it, no one has ever given me a decent answer.
Everyone wants to let the primary industries in the area fail, but no one will come up with a good answer to what we will replace them with.
Do people think the economy will just run on fine on Wendy's and Walmart? Something needs to bring in the money into the community to get spent there.
No one wants to give an answer to what they think that something will be. -
- Petr
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:57:36
Come on Fisherman...lets all here you whine about this too.......
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- cmon
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:45:10
to bob from pei if the processors are making all this money you claim how come the local fishmart in tignish was selling finished product so cheap.
alot of the processors are owned by fishers and they didn't make much last year.
face it the u.s. dollar is week and it reflects on everything,.the problem with this industry is the government helped it to much when it didn't need it and the fishers got a pretty big piece of the pie. -
- BOB
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:37:13
maybe one of these times they will do something for the fishermen and not the processers.they seem to make all the money.TO PETR WITH OUT FISHING AND FARMING ON THIS ISLAND YOU WHOULD NOT HAVE A JOB.
