Oyster fishing boats and traditional oyster barns on Prince Edward Island.
Photo: Cihat Ozdol / AdobeStock.
The Government of Canada, in collaboration with the Province of Prince Edward Island, has unveiled over CAD $68 million in investments aimed at strengthening the province’s fish and seafood industry while enhancing critical coastal infrastructure, specifically the province's small craft harbours.
These initiatives, announced during November, are intended to drive innovation, sustainability, and resilience across Prince Edward Island, reinforcing its position as a leader in Canada’s maritime economy, Canadian government sources said.
As part of the $400 million Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF), which will see investments in Canada's fish and seafood sector over a period of seven years, the Government of Canada and Prince Edward Island have now jointly announced over $7.6 million in funding to 39 seafood companies in the province.
The investment is intended to support adoption of cutting-edge technologies, improve product quality, and boost processing techniques in the fish and seafood sector. The funding also supports the AFF’s broader goals of fostering sustainability and expanding market opportunities for high-quality seafood products from Atlantic Canada, the government said.
"One of the goals of the Atlantic Fisheries Fund is to encourage modern and innovative ways to harvest, process and deliver high-quality, sustainably-sourced fish and seafood from the region’s commercial fishery and aquaculture sectors,"said Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, in a press release.
"By investing in innovation, infrastructure and science, we can improve the quality, sustainability and marketability of our fish and seafood, and improve the sector’s capacity to access new markets," he added.
At the same time, recognizing the vital role small craft harbours play in Prince Edward Island’s coastal communities, the Government of Canada also announced an investment of over CAD $61 million over three years to repair and maintain harbour infrastructure.
The funding, part of the federal Budget 2024 allocation of CAD $463.3 million for small craft harbours across Canada, includes reconstruction and shoreline protection work at Covehead Harbour and other key sites.
Small craft harbours are considered essential for Canada’s commercial fishing industry, which supported landings valued at $4.7 billion in 2022 and provides over 45,000 jobs, according to Canadian government figures. These investments, the government said, aim to ensure harbours are safe, resilient, and equipped to withstand the increasing challenges posed by climate change.
“Small craft harbours are the backbone of our vibrant fishing communities from coast to coast to coast, including here, in Prince Edward Island," said Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
"As the nation with the longest coastline in the world, we must invest in resilient harbour infrastructure capable of facing the climate challenges of today and tomorrow. This is not only a question of economic development, but also of food security. With Budget 2024, we’re giving ourselves the means to achieve our ambitions, by equipping our harvesters with modern harbours where their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will carry on our finest maritime traditions," she added.
