Department of Fisheries and Oceans
News Release

print this article email to a Friend

click here to close this window and return to the Media Room

Released: 29 March, 2001

Dhaliwal Announces Funding For Atlantic Projects Under The Aquaculture Partnership Program

March 29, 2001

OTTAWA --The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and Yves Bastien, Commissioner for Aquaculture Development, today announced federal support totalling $37,904 for two projects under the Aquaculture Partnership Program (APP).

Â"This support is for projects carried out through partnerships within the aquaculture sector on matters of regional and national significance,Â" Minister Dhaliwal said. Â"The Aquaculture Partnership Program clearly demonstrates our commitment to developing CanadaÂ's aquaculture industry in an environmentally sustainable manner.Â"

Under the APP:

• The New Brunswick Salmon Growers Association is receiving $22,904 to test 16 disinfectants for their effectiveness in minimizing the transmission of the Infectious Salmon Anaemia Virus; and
• the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland is receiving $15,000 to help organize the Fourth Open Ocean Aquaculture Symposium, being held June 18Â-19 in St. Andrews, New Brunswick.

Â"The first of these projects will advance knowledge about how to deal with Infectious Salmon Anaemia, a major challenge facing the East Coast salmon-farming industry,Â" said Yves Bastien. Â"And the second project Â- the international symposium Â- will examine the feasibility of carrying out aquaculture activities on the open ocean, in highly exposed sites some distance from shore. Both projects will be valuable not only for Canada, but also internationally.Â"

Funded through the Office of the Commissioner for Aquaculture Development, the APP is designed to help CanadaÂ's aquaculture industry work collaboratively on projects relevant to the industry. Proposals for funding under the APP are accepted four times a year. A total of $600,000 per year is available for APP projects.

Aquaculture is the world's fastest-growing food-production sector, with an overall annual growth rate of 11 per cent. In 1999, all aquaculture production in Canada accounted for close to 23 per cent of the dollar value of the country's total harvest of fish and shellfish.

- 30 -

FOR MORE INFORMATION: