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| Last updated at 11:46 AM on 07/05/08 |
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A crowd sits on a lecture about the current status and future opportunities for salmon and mussel markets in the EU with Richard Stead, seafood councillor at the Canadian Embassy, Belgium.
Photo submitted by NAIA |
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How will the money be distributed? 
NAIA expecting big announcement soon
MATTHEW MOLLOY
The Coaster
Miranda Prior, the executive director for the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Assoc-iation (NAIA), as well as everybody else associated with NAIA, are expecting to hear how the Federal government will distribute the $70 million that was announced in the budget back in February.
The Federal government announced $70 million over the next five years for development of Canada's aquaculture industry.
"Throughout April the Federal government have been finalizing the plans for the monies announced in the budget and have prepared a submission to the Treasury Board on how this will be distributed. It is my understanding that we should hear about this in the next month or so," said Ms. Prior. "Industry representatives from throughout Canada were asked for input into how the funds would be used to help develop the industry throughout Canada. Such things as streamlining of provincial and federal regulations, monies for innovation and certification will all help to foster the long term viability of the products produced here in Newfoundland and Labrador."
Once the announcement is made, Ms. Prior said that the companies involved in farming on the south coast would be able to access any programs or funds made available by the Federal government.
"The industry is growing faster in Newfoundland and Labrador than in any other province of Canada so for certain it is hoped that innovation monies could be used to ensure biosecurity protocols are established in the region, infrastructure monies for both on-land and marine facilities would be available, as well innovation monies could help drive the development of a cod aquaculture industry in the province, etc."
Where Ms. Prior will be when the announcement is made is anybody's guess. The executive director spends a lot of time in and out of the province, in and out of the country and in and out of the continent attending many different functions.
She recently travelled to Chile for an Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) for a rather large tradeshow.
"NAIA recently lead an ACOA sponsored mission of industry representatives from throughout Atlantic Canada to Chile to participate in AquaSur, the largest aquaculture tradeshow event in the Southern Hemisphere, March 25 - 28, 2008. There were representatives from industry associations, mussel farmers, salon farmers and service supply representatives in attendance," said Ms. Prior. "It was a great experience to learn and see up close the Chilean aquaculture industry. In the 10 and 11 region of Chile, where aquaculture is focused, they farm many species of salmonids, but primarily Atlantic salmon. And they also farm a tremendous amount of Blue mussels. In total the industry is worth $2 billion dollars to the economy of their country."
Although the trip was business focused, Ms. Prior was able to spend a little time in and around the South American country.
"In Southern Chile, where we were, the climate is very similar to the west coast of Canada and they were going into their fall season so the weather was quite comfortable," she said. "The Andes Mountains separate Chile from Argentina and there were many active volcanoes in the region. On one day a group of people decided to take a bus tour of one of the volcanoes and another group opted to take a white-water rafting trip the wound through one of the rivers around the volcanoes."
Earlier in March, before she left for Chile, Ms. Prior was also involved in NAIA's annual conference and tradeshow in Gander.
"NAIA held its annual conference and tradeshow event entitled "Cold Harvest 2008 - Focus on Sustainability" in Gander March 11 - 14, 2008. There were over 250 participants at this year's event, despite the blizzard that descended on Gander. It was a great opportunity for anyone who has an interest in the aquaculture industry in this province to get together, share ideas about what is happening in the industry, discuss our challenges and to celebrate our many successes over the past year," she said. " The focus of this year's event was on establishing and maintaining a long term, viable industry for Newfound-land and Labrador. There were sessions on marketing in both North American markets and European markets, technical sessions, communications sessions and a fully booked industry tradeshow event.
"This year also included an opening reception, nightly hospitality suites, an industry curling fun-spiel at the Gander curling club, a silent auction for the Dr. Joe Brown Scholarship fund and a seafood banquet featuring many farmed products from throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Minister Rideout was invited as the speaker for the banquet event but could not attend due to weather, so Deputy Minister, Alastair O'Rielly gave a speech to the delegates on his behalf."
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06/05/08
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