The Department of Fisheries and Oceans in partnership with the Nova Scotia government announced a major investment in Atlantic Canada’s fisheries Monday morning.
The funding will help Nova Scotian seafood organizations provide high-quality seafood products and modernize amid COVID-19. It will also produce local economic benefits and help grow the Nova Scotia economy.
“Nova Scotia’s seafood quality is world-renowned and this support for our fishery sector will enhance equipment, innovation, productivity and COVID-19 protections,” said Keith Colwell, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “It will help our seafood industry remain safe and sustainable and provide top-quality seafood products to the world. We are excited to join with our federal partners in making these important investments.”
Funding will be spread across 11 projects that benefit seafood processors and associations;
- $4,466,089 for Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia to maximize the productivity of shellfish sites
- $6,166,547 for Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association to create functioning live wells on lobster vessels for improving quality
- $1,262,400 for Canso Seafoods to provide innovative equipment for new product lines
- $3 million for Cape d’Or Sustainable Seafoods to help expand capacity of land-based certified organic salmon farm
- $3,081,830 for Coldwater Lobster Association for lobster quality enhancement projects, as well as holding and aeration
- $14,453,234 for Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance to support equipment and innovation activities for members
- $1,795,650 for Perennia Food and Agriculture to support COVID-19 response in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors
- $1,178,550 for Perennia Food and Agriculture to help expand export markets for premium quality seafood
- $3,750,000 for Scotia Harvest Inc. to help provide a new processing facility for groundfish processing
- $4 million for Sustainable Fish Farming (Canada) Ltd. to help expand capacity to 1,000 metric tonnes of land
- $1,562,244 for Victoria Co-Op Fisheries to help provide modernization of processing facilities and equipment to achieve British Retail Consortium certification
Nova Scotia’s fish and seafood industry supports about 18,000 direct jobs and was last valued at $2.3 billion, representing 38 per cent of the province’s exports.
The announcement was made virtually by Colwell and Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan due to restrictions surrounding COVID-19.
At the announcement, Jordan said, “Innovation in the seafood sector is critical to the ongoing growth and success of our fisheries and coastal and Indigenous communities across Atlantic Canada. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented our fisheries with unique challenges and the Atlantic Fisheries Fund is well-positioned to help industry respond to these challenges and move forward.”
More details are expected to be released about the individual projects in the months to come.
