Canada's Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) has investment plans amounting to CAD14 million (US$13.2 million) that will boost the province's long-term fisheries science capabilities.

 

The announcement made by Premier of NL, Danny Williams includes CAD5.25 million (US$4.9 million) to charter an offshore fisheries research vessel. This is the first time that NL will fund and deploy a fisheries science vessel on its own.

 

"Eighteen years ago today, our province was forever changed by the implementation of the moratorium on northern cod," Williams said. "No longer will we exclusively rely upon the research of others to guide the fishery into the future. Today, we once again take control of our destiny."

 

Moreover, the provincial government will invest in 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 made the announcement at the Fisheries and Marine Institute, and 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 RV Celtic Explorer from the Marine Institute in Ireland has already been secured for a Northern cod winter acoustic survey to be conducted early next year.

 

From the funding allocated, the provincial government will provide CAD11.75 million (US$11.1 million) to establish the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystem Research at Memorial University's Fisheries and Marine Institute. This funding will provide CAD6.5 million (US$6.1 million) to go to the human resources and operating costs of the centre through 2015.

 

Also, CAD5.25 million (US$4.9 million) will be used to charter large vessels, such as the RV Celtic Explorer, for offshore research.

 

The provincial government also announced CAD2 million (US$1.9 million) to fund CCFI and another CAD200,000 (US$188,182) for a highly sophisticated inshore fisheries research vessel, the RV Gecho II. This vessel will enable research to take place in coastal bays with unique habitats, inshore spawning and nursery habitats and allow the province to better keep an eye on inshore and offshore species migration.

 

Canada's Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife (COSEWIC) declared the northern cod endangered earlier this year. Fish Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) president Earl McCurdy said his union is fine with decisive action on preservation of the resource if it is truly necessary.