Program to support commercial fishing and aquaculture innovation and development

This document was prepared with the information on the ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec’s Web site.

The “Support for innovation and development in the commercial fishery and aquaculture sector” program supports the goals of Quebec’s fisheries and aquaculture policy and aims to develop this sector through the growth of its companies from the perspective of sustainable development.

This program has two components:

Component 1: Support for innovation and development;
Component 2: Support for marketing.

Eligibility Criteria

• The project must be in line with the goals of Quebec ’s fisheries and aquaculture policy;
• Entrepreneurs must demonstrate they have the human, technical, and financial resources needed to carry out the project;
• For the marketing of emerging species or fish stocks, MAPAQ recommends an integrated approach combining capture, processing, and marketing, i.e., a project involving:
  • One or more fishermen and
  • One or more processing firms and
  • One or more marketing firms or consortia.
• The project must not create undue competition with companies carrying out similar activities in Quebec or result in the shifting of activities from one part of Quebec to another;
• The specific terms for the financial assistance and the obligations of the parties involved are laid down in a financial assistance agreement.

Eligible Activities

COMPONENT 1: SUPPORT FOR INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

• The consolidation of marketing activities;
• The marketing of a new product;
• The improved marketing of a processed aquaculture or marine product insofar as the project targets the development and/or realization of a comprehensive marketing strategy.

COMPONENT 2: SUPPORT FOR MARKETING

• Marine product processing and marine biotechnology companies;
• Aquacultural companies that themselves market products for human consumption.

Summary

Component 1: Innovation and development support

The MAPAQ offers eligible applicants financial assistance of $500,000 per project in the following areas: experimentation, pilot testing and commercial implementation.

Experimentation

(Technology transfer or investigation or systematic scientific or technology research through trials or analysis with a view to creating new products and/or methods or improving existing ones).

• Maximum MAPAQ contribution: 60%;
• Company’s contribution: 10%;
• Cumulative amount (total from all government sources): 90%.

Pilot test

(The purpose of the pilot test is to compile the technical/economic data required to demonstrate the financial feasibility of an innovation).

• Maximum MAPAQ contribution: 50%;
• Company’s contribution: 25 %;
• Cumulative amount (total from all government sources): 75%.

Commercial implementation

• Maximum MAPAQ contribution: 35%;
• Company’s contribution: 35%;
• Cumulative amount (total from all government sources: 50 %.

Note: For on-land commercial fish farming implementation projects, the proportion of assistance allocated to water and waste treatment equipment is increased to 50% in keeping with environmental stewardship and sustainable development objectives.

Component 2: Marketing support

The financial assistance is spread over 2 years and covers 35% of the costs of implementing a product marketing strategy:

• Minimum assistance: $15,000;
• Maximum assistance: $500,000;

For more information, consult the Web site at http://www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/Fr/Peche/md/Programmes/innovationpeche.htm

Quebec Contact(s):
Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec
200 Ste-Foy Avenue
Québec, Quebec  G1R 4X6
Telephone: 418-380-2110
Toll-free (information): 1-888 222-MAPA (6272)
E-mail: info@agr.gouv.qc.ca