Fishing boats at dawn and low tide in Saint John Harbour New Brunswick.
The Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick have announced funding worth $38 million through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF) for projects in New Brunswick's fishing and seafood sector.
Fishermen and processors will be able to test new equipment and modernize their resources to improve productivity and increase environmentally friendly practices in the fishing and seafood sector.
The funded projects are divided into three key areas: processing (increase product quality to improve competitiveness), aquaculture (support the sustainable development of the oyster, salmon, and arctic char sectors), and harvesting (improve onboard handling, data collection, and monitoring).
"We are proud to contribute to innovative and new technologies to help make the sector more sustainable, and efficient, and ensure that our seafood is of the highest quality for the global seafood market," The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Diane Lebouthillier, expressed.
This contribution comes from the $400 million Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF), funded by the federal and provincial governments. The AFF was established in 2017 and is expected to continue operating until March 31, 2026.
The commercial fisheries and aquaculture industry, Indigenous groups, universities, academics, and industry associations and organizations, including research institutions, are eligible to receive funding.
Regarding this initiative, the Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Province of New Brunswick, Pat Finnigan, said: "The AFF enables fish harvesters and processors to modernize their operations, adopt innovative practices, and improve productivity. We are strongly committed to supporting the resilience and long-term viability of these sectors."