Prince Edward Island’s fishing and aquaculture sectors have received a number of investments through the federal government.
The first, a $7.6-million fund will be made available to 39 separate P.E.I. companies to adopt new technologies, or improve product quality, labour productivity and processing techniques. The eligible companies must focus on innovation, infrastructure or science partnerships.
Companies or projects focusing on innovation must support research and development of new ways to contribute to “sustainability of the fish and seafood sector and to create partnerships and networks that aim to promote and encourage innovations in the sector.”
Projects focusing on infrastructure must adopt or adapt new technologies, processes or equipment with sustainability of the sector in mind.
Funding for science partnerships must enhance the industry’s understanding of the impacts of changing conditions in the ocean or focus on sustainable harvesting technology.
The government is also investing $4.2 million for two new wharf projects on the island. The first, totalling $3.25 million, will be used to design and construct a new landing wharf on Keir’s Shore for mussel boats to offload their catches. Currently, the navigational channel leading to Malpeque Harbour and Darnley Basin present a safety concern for loaded aquaculture vessels, as the channel regularly fills with shifting sand. This new landing will allow vessels to load and offload before navigating the channel, lowering the risk of accidents in the region, where 25 per cent of all P.E.I. mussels are harvested. Work is expected to be completed in Spring 2025.
The second, making up the remaining $965,865, will provide the Harbour Authority of Covehead to rebuild infrastructure such as bait sheds to allow commercial operations to continue in the region.
“The fishing industry has long been an economic engine for the Island. It is an iconic part of our culture, our cuisine, our landscape and a favourite backdrop for thousands of visitors every year,” said Heath MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Malpeque.
“As the tools of the trades, the processes and the needs of the industry continue to evolve, government support for fishing and aquaculture is vital to ensure they remain central to the Island’s future.”
The following 39 recipients received funding through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF):
Acadian Supreme Inc.
$94,306
For the adoption of new lobster processing equipment to meet market requirements
Alberton Fisheries Limited
$84,859
For the adoption of new equipment to establish a bait freezer for local lobster harvesters
Aqua Bounty Canada Inc.
$99,949
For the adoption of new equipment to gain efficiency and increase production of the salmon hatchery incubation system
Bait Masters Inc.
$56,686
For the adoption of new equipment to support the ongoing development of new technologies
Bill & Stanley Oyster Company Ltd.
$715,500
For the adoption of new equipment to increase oyster production to help meet market demand
Brackley Bay Oyster Company Inc.
$96,682
For the adoption of new equipment to support automation and increase productivity
Champion Oyster Ltd.
$99,330
For the acquisition and installation of an automated vision grader for oysters to improve labour productivity and product quality
Colville Bay Oyster Co. Ltd.
$13,408
For the acquisition and installation of an automated oyster counter to improve labour productivity and increase processing capacity
East Cape Oyster Company Ltd
$99,856
For the adoption of new equipment to increase oyster production
East River Shellfish Inc.
$99,767
To acquire new mussel processing equipment to improve efficiency and productivity
Five Star Shellfish Inc.
$42,038
For the adoption of new oyster processing equipment
Future Seafoods Inc.
$99,330
For the purchase of oyster grading equipment
$77,306
To purchase oyster processing equipment to improve productivity
Getson’s Mussel Farms Inc.
$99,940
For the acquisition and installation of an automated vision grader for oysters to improve labour productivity and product quality
Hardy Boys Oyster Company Inc.
$97,020
For the acquisition and installation of an automated vision grader for oysters to improve labour productivity and product quality
J.P. Oysters Ltd.
$99,835
For the acquisition and installation of an automated vision grader for oysters to improve labour productivity and product quality
Kendall John Ramsay
$99,568
For the adoption of an oyster vision grader to improve efficiency and productivity
Machon’s Point Fishermen’s Co-operative Limited
$99,530
For the acquisition of freezer equipment to provide increased bait freezing capacity to the lobster harvesting sector
Malpeque Bay Oyster Farms Ltd.
$98,063
For the adoption of an oyster vision grader to increase productivity and improve quality
Murphy Mussel Farms Ltd.
$99,919
For the adoption of an oyster vision grader to improve efficiency and productivity
North Lake Fisheries (2013), Inc.
$686,000
For the adoption of new equipment for the automation of lobster processing operations
Ocean Echo Shellfish Ltd.
$67,760
For the adoption of new technology to improve the sustainability of mussel aquaculture operations
Ocean Trout Farms Inc.
$1,428,800
For the adoption of a new and innovative recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) to increase production of juvenile steelhead trout at its land-based aquaculture facility
One Tuna Inc.
$90,000
For the adoption of new equipment to improve quality of landed seafood products
Prince Edward Aqua Farms Inc.
$99,917
For the adoption of new equipment to improve productivity and reduce the amount of product lost during processing
