News from around the region

Improvements announced for L'Anse-au-Loup, Labrador



Fish harvesters in the Labrador Straits will have access to safer, more modern harbour facilities thanks to federal investments announced by the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

The fish harvesters at L'Anse-au-Loup require a safe service area to work on their gear. A project to improve the multi-use service capacity of the harbour will take place this year. This work will entail reinforcing the seaward face with armourstone, grading the area and finishing with asphalt.

This project will be implemented by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as part of its Small Craft Harbours Program, in cooperation with the local harbour authority that manages and operates the facility for the benefit of the local users.



Gaultois, N.L. plant back in business, processing redfish



Redfish will be processed at the Gaultois, N.L. plant. Production was slated to start around mid-March.

G.B. Seafoods has partnered with Ocean Choice International (OCI), according to Andy Sullivan of OCI, to bring in redfish from 3PS and begin filleting in Gaultois. Sullivan said that OCI has transferred 3PS redfish from its 2007 quota to the Gaultois Investment Corporation (GIC). The redfish quota is in the whole 3PS zone with the exception of area 3PSD (closed because of the large cod bycatch) and is part of the quota that OCI bought from Fisheries Products International.

The Gaultois plant can produce a big volume of redfish in a day, but if the volume coming in from 3PS is too heavy, the Hermitage plant, which can process between 20,000 to 30,000 daily, may be asked to do some of the filleting and packing.

Meanwhile, salmon from aquaculture company Long Island Resources is already being done at Gaultois. The expected three-quarters of a million pounds will provide work for one or two days a week, a good supplement to the work coming with the redfish.

(Wesley Harris, the Coaster, Transcontinental Media)





North Rustico Harbour in P.E.I. to see improvements



The federal government has announced funding for improvements at North Rustico fishing harbour in Prince Edward Island.

North Rustico is a busy fishing harbour on the north shore of Prince Edward Island. The harbour relies on the breakwater to provide protection from heavy seas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The breakwater also directs tides into the harbour basin to maintain water depth for fish harvesters and their vessels.

The breakwater has settled over time, and armourstone has been added to raise its profile, ensuring its service to the harbour for many more years. Other work included in the $100,000 project at North Rustico involves repairs to the cross braces, fenders and wales on the finger pier wharf.

This project is implemented by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as part of its Small Craft Harbours Program, in cooperation with the Harbour Authority of North Rustico that manages and operates the facilities for local users.