P.E.I. provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan has announced that $100,000 from the provincial budget would go towards a Future Fishers program> he added that this new program will assist new fishers with costs, training and marketing when entering the fishing trade. It is told that the program is not an entirely new idea; the Future Farmers program was established several years ago to aid farmers entering into the field with coaching, skills assessments and business planning.
According to Sheridan this fishers program has similar goals for new entrants, such as advice in finance, marketing, management and access to the science and biology aspects of the trade. Before entering this program the fishermen were offered low-interest loan programs – introduced in the fall of 2007 – to help those struggling with low lobster landings and high costs.
Fisheries Minister Neil LeClair said that although loosely associated with the loans, this new program will hopefully serve as a mentoring plan for new fishers. LeClair also told that it is a tough industry, certainly wasn’t what it was (years) ago. LeClair said the program offers interest relief on a start-up basis for new fishers and added he thought it was a great idea for young fishers.
