NR-HQ-01-17E

Georges Farrah announces federal investment of $90,402 for Aquaculture Partnership Projects

March 12, 2001

Cap-aux-Meules, QC — Georges Farrah, MP (Bonaventure–Gaspé–Iles-de-la-Madeleine–Pabok) today announced, on behalf of Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and Yves Bastien, Commissioner for Aquaculture Development, a federal investment of $90,402 for two aquaculture projects under the Aquaculture Partnership Program (APP).

"The Government of Canada is committed to fostering a strong, sustainable aquaculture industry in Canada," said Mr. Farrah. "This significant investment will give members of this growing industry the tools they need to build partnerships among themselves, and work together on projects that will benefit the industry in the years to come."

Of the funding announced:

• the Regroupement des Mariculteurs du Québec received $10,000 in support of a colloquium on sea-farming held February 23–24, 2001, in Carleton, Que.; and

• the Université du Québec à Rimouski is receiving $80,402 to develop the tools and a process to efficiently evaluate the production potential of different species of marine invertebrates in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

"I commend the industry and those who support it for organizing the colloquium on mariculture, held in late February," said Mr. Bastien. "It was an excellent way for experts in the field to get together and share ideas on the future of this growing industry.

"There is considerable potential for diversification in aquaculture involving marine mollusc, crustacean and other invertebrate species. The projects being supported will help identify gaps in knowledge, guide research priorities and evaluate the production potential of marine invertebrates not currently in commercial production."

The Aquaculture Partnership Program (APP) is funded through the Office of the Commissioner for Aquaculture Development. Launched in April 2000, this three-year program was designed to help Canada’s aquaculture industry develop partnerships and work together on projects of national and regional significance. A total of $600,000 per year is available for projects under the APP. Proposals are accepted for consideration four times a year.

Aquaculture is the world’s fastest-growing food-production sector, with an overall annual growth rate of 11 per cent. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, global aquaculture production is about 40 million tonnes each year, with a value of $50 billion US Nearly one-third of the fish eaten globally is produced by aquaculture.