Government Supports Quin Sea Fisheries R&D

This investment is another example of how the Provincial Government is supporting efforts to make our fishing industry more competitive and sustainable, said Minister Jackman.

The Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Programme was put in place to help foster an environment where businesses in the fishing and aquaculture industry not only succeed, but excel. Im pleased to see companies like Quin Sea Fisheries making use of the programme, and I look forward to seeing the results.

The Provincial Government is providing funding for two projects. A contribution of $13,080 will help the company investigate the potential for using automated spin sheller technology in the production of snow crab meat. Quin Sea Fisheries will conduct in-house trials at its Old Perlican facility to assess the yield, quality, and marketability of the product.

The Provincial Government is also providing $6,420 to help the company explore new options for the disposal of poly-woven bags used to store shrimp and whelk prior to processing. Quin Sea will use the funding to research ways to use the bags in a more economically and environmentally sound manner.

I am very pleased to see such exciting research and development work taking place in my area, said the Honorable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services and MHA for Trinity - Bay De Verde.

I wish Quin Sea Fisheries all the best as they work towards advancing the quality, efficiency, and environmental sustainability of processing practices.

The Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Programme was introduced in 2007 to make funds available for industry-led research and development projects. Since then, the program has created numerous opportunities for the Provincial Government to partner with companies to pursue new initiatives that can benefit the provincial fishing industry.

It is important for businesses involved in the fishing industry to pursue new and better ways of bringing products to market because we are facing unprecedented competition on a global scale, said Fred Hopkins, Managing Director of Quin Sea Fisheries.

We also have to be more responsive to environmental issues than ever before. Given these demands, we appreciate the Provincial Governments support as we explore ways to enhance our processing methods, and we look forward to seeing the results of these projects.

During the first three years of the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Programme, the Provincial Government invested approximately six million dollars to support a total of 127 industry-driven projects. The programme was continued for another three years with a total investment of $6.6 million through Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador.