MARCH 20, 2012–Senator Elizabeth Marshall, on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, and the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie, today announced more than $4 million for aquaculture projects in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“This investment supports the development of an innovative and competitive aquaculture industry in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Senator Marshall. “The $4 million we are announcing today will support jobs and help to ensure a brighter future for rural and coastal communities throughout the province.”

The goal of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program is to improve the competitiveness and market value of the Canadian aquaculture industry by encouraging an aquaculture sector that adopts innovative technologies and management techniques to enhance its competiveness and environmental performance.

ACOA’s Business Development Program is designed to help set up, expand or modernize a business.  Focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises, the Business Development Program provides access to capital in the form of interest-free, repayable contributions.

Below is a detailed list of funding contributions to companies located across the province:

Allen’s Fisheries Ltd. – $596,000

  • $96,000 to increase vacuum packaging efficiencies in blue mussel processing through the Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program.
  • $500,000 in repayable assistance from ACOA to improve productivity, efficiency and quality of its blue mussel operation in Benoit’s Cove.

Newfoundland Aqua Services Ltd. – $595,500

  • $112,500 to purchase and install innovative equipment to improve efficiency and environmental performance in the cleaning of nets to prevent marine growth through the Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program.
  • $483,000 in repayable assistance from ACOA to acquire technology components required for a land-based, net-washing pilot project designed to improve biosecurity and environmental protection measures in the local industry.

Northern Harvest group of companies – $2.3 million

  • $500,000 to Northern Harvest Smolt Ltd. for the development of an innovative biosecure recirculation facility for the production of high quality smolt through the Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program.
  • $1.8 million in repayable assistance to the Northern Harvest group of companies through the Business Development Program to expand its Atlantic salmon farming operation in Bay d’Espoir, to establish new sites in Rencontre East, and to acquire equipment for its Atlantic salmon hatchery in Stephenville.

Gray Aqua Group -$500,000

  • $500,000 in repayable assistance from ACOA to expand its salmon farming operation in the Bay d’Espoir area.

Notre Dame Bay Mussel Farms Inc. – $50,000

  • $50,000 in repayable assistance from ACOA to to hire a marketing manager who will develop a focused strategy designed to increase awareness and help the company become more competitive.

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CONTACT: Doug Burgess, Director, Public Affairs, ACOA Newfoundland and Labrador. 709-772-2935