The contribution will help improve the sustainability of the fish and seafood sector
Rivière-au-Renard, Quebec - The governments of Canada and Quebec are announcing close to $500,000 to improve the efficiency, quality and sustainability of the Quebec fish and seafood sector. The federal government will contribute $342,656 to these five projects, while the Quebec government will contribute $146,853.
For five years, the Quebec Fisheries Fund (QFF) will support local projects in the areas of innovation, scientific partnerships and commercial fisheries, aquaculture and processing infrastructure, helping to increase the value of high-quality fish and seafood products from sustainable sources, as well as to position Quebec's fish and seafood sector for continued long-term growth.
The combined contributions of the federal and provincial governments amount to $42.8M in investments in the QFF, which will create opportunities and increase the market value of high-quality fish and seafood products from sustainable practices in Quebec.
Quotes
"Canada's seafood sector is a rapidly shifting environment - competition is intensifying, and consumers are increasingly emphasizing sustainable practices. With the Quebec Fisheries Fund, we're making sure the women and men of this sector have the tools they need to meet these growing demands. We want our Quebec fisheries to be innovative, to have the latest technology, and to be able collaborate with scientists, marketers, and other institutions, so they can keep producing high-quality, sustainable products."
The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
"The five projects benefitting from investments under the Quebec Fisheries Fund will stimulate and transform innovation in the province's fish and seafood sector. I am proud to be able to contribute to the growth of local businesses, which will support the protection and sustainability of Quebec's fishing industry."
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue
"The fisheries and aquaculture industry operates in a highly competitive business environment, both in domestic and export markets. To remain competitive, companies in the sector must constantly innovate in order to adapt to consumer needs and to the demands of markets and society, particularly in terms of sustainable development. In this regard, the joint funding of innovative projects that we are announcing today, is a fine example of fruitful collaboration between Quebec, Canada, and stakeholders in the fisheries and aquaculture industry in carrying out innovative projects."
André Lamontagne, Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Quick facts
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Four of the five projects announced involve the purchase and installation of an "Echo Trawl" control system on a shrimp trawl. This is a new technology used to improve fishing efficiency and environmental sustainability. The recipients, from Rivière-au-Renard and Matane, are Les Pêcheries Guillaume Synnott Inc., 9080-6100 Québec Inc., Pêcheries Réal Bond Inc. and Cantin navigation Ltée.
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The fifth project, which will be conducted in Rimouski by NutrOcéan plus, will address the technical and technological challenges in the design of a large scale photobioreactor for the production of microalgae, intended, among other things, for the aquaculture market.
