According to the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the government is ready to invest $4.7 million in funding this year for the Canadian aquaculture industry to help create jobs and stimulate growth in rural communities. Minister Shea express that investing in aquaculture is investing in a brighter future and stronger economy for Canada’s rural and coastal communities.
She told that the government is supporting Canada’s aquaculture industries growth to create and protect jobs and support the livelihoods of coastal Canadians. Shea informed that the government has already funded one project in Newfoundland and Labrador through the Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP).
She also told that Newfoundland Aqua Services Ltd. received $400,000 for the development and evaluation of a land-based net washing technology. This funding helped to leverage an additional $250,000 from other sources. These projects are said to offer growth opportunities for Canadian aquaculture operations. In addition to the funds being announced today, two previous rounds of AIMAP funding totaling $9.4 million have been made available over the past two years to fund innovative aquaculture projects that contribute to the industry’s growth, through sustainable production, increased diversification and/or green technology.
As per Minister Shea AIMAP funding is intended to leverage investments from a variety of public and private sector sources, promoting collaborative efforts in Canada’s aquaculture industry and minimizing the duplication of effort.
