P.E.I. fisheries department heading east

By Andy Walker

SOU’WESTER

The P.E.I. Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Communities will soon be on the move – literally.

Premier Robert Ghiz announced plans to move the department (the rural communities component was added the day before the spring session of the legislature opened) from Charlottetown to Montague in the Speech From the Throne.

The move 40 kilometres eastward will be phased in between now and 2010.

The department is one of the smallest in the Island government with a workforce of 30-35. While he admits the move was unexpected, the managing director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association doesn’t think change will have any major impact on how the association and individual fishermen interact with the department.

Ed Frenette said for his members in eastern P.E.I., the move could well mean easier access to department staff. He predicts there could be some challenges for government since the department shares some staff members with the Department of Agriculture. The two departments were under one minister during the previous Conservative administration.

The throne speech also pledged additional help for lobster fishermen, including enhanced resource monitoring and the development of "eco-certification" of Island lobster to help gain new markets.

The government plans to continue to make the case with Ottawa for a licence reduction in Northumberland Strait. Catches have been falling in the strait fishery in both the spring and fall– both the provincial government and industry have been pressing for a buyout package for some time. However, both the Stephen Harper government and its Liberal predecessor turned thumbs down on the idea.

The premier also promised assistance to the processing sector to look into problems surrounding labour shortages, improvements to automation and training. A government-industry roundtable will also be established "to ensure the views and concerns of the lobster industry are always front and center in policy discussion and decision-making."

Development of a coastal ocean policy for the province is also in the cards along with a new mussel aquaculture productivity initiative and an oyster development plan."