N.L. government supports fishing vessel energy efficiency initiative

FOR THE SOU’WESTER

The Telegram/Transcontinental Media

The Newfoundland and Labrador provincial government has announced it will provide $99,000 toward a new fishing vessel energy efficiency initiative for the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry.

“This is a particularly important project for the harvesting sector at a time when energy prices are high,” said Trevor Taylor, acting Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “The industry advises our government that soaring fuel prices have drastically impacted profitability of the harvesting sector in this province.”

This funding will be provided by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program. The initiative is being carried out in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI) and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers’ (FFAW) union.

A team is in place to guide the initiative including members of the provincial government, CCFI, the FFAW, the Marine Institute, Memorial University, the National Research Council, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

This committee was formed earlier this year to design a strategy in terms of short, medium and long-term measures that can be implemented to assist the harvesting sector address fuel efficiency issues.

“CCFI has spearheaded a wide range of initiatives in recent years to mitigate the impact of rising fuel costs,” said Carey Bonnell, managing director of the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation. “The key output from this project will be the delivery of eight regional workshops throughout the province, focused on an immediate and measurable reduction in fuel consumption.”