Covehead, Prince Edward Island - With the longest coastline in the world, Canada's coastal communities rely on the fish and seafood industry as an integral contributor to local and regional economies. This is why the Government of Canada and the Province of Prince Edward Island are supporting companies in the province, through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF).
Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, and the Honourable Zack Bell, Minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture for Prince Edward Island, today announced a total contribution of over $7.6 million to 39 companies to help support innovation and infrastructure improvements in the provincial fish and seafood sector. Recipients are adopting new technologies, and improving product quality, labour productivity and processing techniques.
Funded by the federal and provincial governments, the $400 million AFF focuses on increasing opportunities and market value for sustainably sourced, high-quality fish and seafood products from Atlantic Canada.
Eligible projects must focus on:
- Innovation - to support research and development of new innovations that contribute to sustainability of the fish and seafood sector, and to create partnerships and networks that aim to promote and encourage innovations in the sector;
- Infrastructure - to adopt or adapt new technologies, processes, or equipment to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the fish and seafood sector;
- Science Partnerships - fisheries and aquaculture industry based partnerships with academia and institutions to enhance knowledge and understanding of the impacts of changing oceanographic conditions and sustainable harvesting technology.
