NL government is ready to invest USD 13.2 million that will importantly enlarge the province’s long-term fisheries science capabilities. Premier of NL Danny Williams has announced this which includes CAD 5.25 million (USD 4.9 million) to charter an offshore fisheries research vessel. He said that this investment will no longer make us to rely on research of others to guide the fishery into the future.
This investment will go for new fisheries science research programmes to include the founding of a new Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research. NL will collaborate with Memorial University and its Fisheries and Marine Institute to set up and implement these programmes. Williams was joined by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Clyde Jackman, President and Vice-chancellor of Memorial University Dr Gary Kachanoski, Executive Director of the Fisheries and Marine Institute Glenn Blackwood, CEO of the Research & Development Corporation (RDC) Glenn Janes, Managing Director of the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI) Robert Verge and Dr George Rose, well-known fisheries research scientist from the Marine Institute.
The press communiqué says that from the funding allocated, the Provincial Government will provide CAD 11.75 million (USD 11.1 million) to establish the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystem Research at Memorial University’s Fisheries and Marine Institute. This funding will provide CAD 6.5 million (USD 6.1 million) to go to the human resources and operating costs of the centre through 2015.
