Enhancing Sustainable Practices Supports Long-Term Prosperity

The Marine Institute's (MI) Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources (CSAR) will organize a two-day workshop with $19,941 of funding from the Provincial Government

Friday, December 13, 2013

The workshop, Technology in Support of a Sustainable Shrimp Fishery, will promote the use of ecologically-friendly approaches to shrimp trawling among harvesters by educating participants about recently developed technology.

“Sustainability and innovation are vital to the future of the province’s fishing industry, including the shrimp harvest. The Provincial Government’s investment of more than $19,000 will assist the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources with putting together a workshop to showcase new technologies that can enhance our approach to shrimp harvesting,” said The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

MI has completed extensive research into innovative trawl designs in recent years with funding support from the Provincial Government’s Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program. This includes designs that are more fuel efficient, twin trawls and trawls designed to minimize contact with the seabed. The workshop will provide demonstrations of this new technology, and will encourage discussions about how new technology can help harvesters enhance their current practices.

“To continue to have a stable fishery in the future, we must look at the most sustainable methods of harvesting, and we need to make that knowledge accessible to harvesters. We would like to thank the Provincial Government for its support for this workshop and the ideas and education it will produce," said Dr. Paul Winger, Director, CSAR.

Through sound fiscal management and responsible decisions, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is strengthening the business environment, encouraging the development of innovative industries, and building a vibrant economy.

QUICK FACTS

• The Marine Institute will receive more than $19,000 to help create a workshop about sustainable shrimp technology.
• Topics that will be covered include current issues impacting sustainability, emerging trends in gear development, results of at-sea evaluations of eco-friendly trawls, and future trends that may impact the shrimp industry.
• Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future included a $2.2 million investment in the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program, which has promoted innovation in the province’s billion dollar fishing and aquaculture industry by assisting more than 230 research and development projects since 2008.