According to Minister Shea the government of Canada is taking all necessary action to ensure smooth flow of funds to lobster program. In this context the Department of Fisheries and Oceans launched the Short-Term Transitional Measures program on September 22, 2009 to assist qualified low-income lobster licence holders who have experienced financial hardship due to the global economic downturn of 2007-2009. At the launch of the program DFO has distributed more than $4.8 million to almost a thousand lobster harvesters in communities throughout Atlantic Canada and Quebec.
The Honourable Gail Shea, federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, said that the department has been able to provide some short-term support to those lobster fishers most severely impacted over the past year. She further told that the long term program, the major focus of government’s investment is the development of a self-reliant and economically viable lobster sector.
She also added that it is encouraging to note that we have healthy and sustainable lobster stocks throughout Canada’s eastern shores that we can build on for the future. I am also pleased to note several recent developments, such as the founding of the Lobster Council of Canada, that signal a real sea change in the industry. Canada’s Atlantic lobster industry employs about 30,000 Canadians, while lobster exports generate more than $1 billion worth of revenue each year.
