Atlantic Fisheries Fund provides $2.4 million to Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association

Contribution will help improve the sustainability of the fish and seafood sector

Pooles Corner, Prince Edward Island – The Government of Canada and the Province of Prince Edward Island announced today $2.4 million through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF) to the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) to improve the effectiveness, quality and sustainability of the fish and seafood sector. The federal and provincial governments combined contributions to this fund will amount to over $400 million in investments across Atlantic Canada, which will help generate opportunities and increase the market value for sustainably sourced, high-quality fish and seafood products.

The $4,608,000 project with the PEIFA involves infrastructure and equipment investments to improve the effectiveness of the PEI lobster harvesting industry.

With this project, PEI lobster harvesters will be able to install new storage and handling equipment on their vessels to keep the lobsters fresher and healthier. This, will result in a higher quality product landing at our docks and on our dinner tables, of equal importance to fishermen and consumers. Lobster harvesters will pay 50 percent of the cost of the equipment with matching funding by the Atlantic Fisheries Fund up to a maximum of $3,000 per harvester.

The AFF will continue to invest in projects over the next seven years, and commercial fisheries and aquaculture industry, Indigenous groups, universities and academia and industry associations and organizations, including research institutions, may apply.

Eligible projects must focus on:

• Innovation – to support research and development of new innovations that contribute to sustainability of the fish and seafood sector, and to create partnerships and networks that aim to promote and encourage innovations in the sector;
• Infrastructure – to adopt or adapt new technologies, processes, or equipment to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the fish and seafood sector
• Science Partnerships – fisheries and aquaculture industry based partnerships with academia and institutions to enhance knowledge and understanding of the impacts of changing oceanographic conditions and sustainable harvesting technology.

Toll-free program contact: 1-844-795-9718

Photos legend:

Top right:
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announces $2,4 M through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF) to the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA).

Below:
From left to right: Mr. Ian MacPherson, PEIFA representative; the Honourable Robert Henderson, PEI Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries; the Honourable Wade McLauchlan, PEI Premier; the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard; Mr. Bobby Jenkins, PEIFA representatives; the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; and the Honourable Wayne Easter, MP for Malpeque pose for a picture following the announcement.