Scott Canton, media spokesman for the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) admits that the government is working diligently towards a rollout in the fall to aid lobster industry. It is told that the federal and provincial governments has earmarked more than $75 million to assist the industry that’s been hard hit by market conditions because of the global economic meltdown.
The funding includes $15 million in immediate, short-term support to assist lobster-dependent harvesters, to be implemented as soon as possible following the 2009 fishing season. Canton explained that the short-term transitional contributions will compensate for a portion of lost income resulting from the decline in the value of lobster landings.
Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Sterling Belliveau said that they are getting so many calls we’ve started a list of the people inquiring when the program is going to be rolled out and the particulars. An additional $50 million in longer term financial assistance, to support the industry in developing and implementing sustainability plans to restructure and build a self-reliant and flexible lobster sector, was also announced by federal Fisheries Minster Gail Shea.
Canton also told that the Department is now consulting and engaging with the lobster industry in developing optimum criteria for these Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures (ALSM). In addition, a joint government/industry lobster steering committee is being struck to oversee proposals made for the $10 million in Community Adjustment Funding (CAF) from the federal and Atlantic Canada provincial governments for lobster marketing, innovation and product development.
