According to the press communiqué the main aim of this investment is to enhance lobster populations over the long term. The total value of the project will be approximately $157,000. It involves hatching and cultivating juvenile lobster for release in Placentia Bay. The project is a joint venture of the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI), the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW), and the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Clyde Jackman expressed that this project has the potential to benefit the Newfoundland and Labrador lobster fishery in many ways. He further added that this project will help to learn more about the lobster enhancement through technology transfer and fisheries research and development.
Jackman also said that this is a final phase of the project which will focus on the refining of skills involved with raising and disbursing lobster larvae, identification of best practices for the Newfoundland and Labrador environment, and identification of a site for a commercial hatchery in the Placentia Bay area.
CCFI Managing Director Robert Verge said that lobster is a valued species in markets throughout the world. He also told ensuring that the provincial fishing industry can continue to take advantage of the economic returns from those markets is a highly anticipated goal of CCFI’s participation in this research and development project.
FFAW Secretary-treasurer David Decker noted that harvesters across the province have been at the forefront of lobster conservation for years, but there are still times when you need intervention to have a sustainable resource. The lobster fishery represents a $30 million of the landed value of the fishing industry in the provincial economy. A lot of potential still exists with this project and the Marine Institute looks forward to working closely with our industry and government partners in pursuit of valuable and meaningful research into the lobster fishery.
