April 26, 2016 – Petit-de-Grat, N.S. – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Nova Scotia is Canada's largest exporter of fish and seafood, exporting approximately 125,157 tonnes of the delicious east coast delights each year. Parliamentary Secretary Rodger Cuzner was in Isle Madame today to announce that the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), will invest $801,215 to support research and development in the seafood sector in two rural Cape Breton communities.
After years of research, NovaCan Live Seafood has developed a technology capable of storing live snow crab for extended periods of time, allowing the company to export to new markets further afield. The design represents new technology as there are no live snow crab storage operations in existence. ACOA is supporting this expansion with a $500,000 Business Development Program (repayable) contribution to assist with the construction of this new and innovative live snow crab storage system. Upon completion, the facility will be capable of holding up to 150,000 pounds of live snow crab.
While the fishing industry continues to thrive in Atlantic Canada, many companies that process the daily catches struggle to stay competitive and face new challenges such as, attracting and maintaining a qualified workforce. The Université Sainte-Anne campus in Petit-de-Grat sees the effects of this increasing competitiveness in rural communities every day. With assistance from ACOA's Business Development Program, the Université Sainte-Anne – Marine Research Center will establish a mobile seafood processing unit that will serve as both a resource for the fishing industry as well as a training facility to help address demographic, geographic, competitive, and resource challenges. Ultimately, this project will work to alleviate labor shortages in the fishing industry and create a seamless pathway between education and employment. The Government of Canada is contributing $301,215 (non-repayable) in support of this pilot program.
Quotes
"Atlantic Canada is recognized internationally for its wide variety of high-quality seafood products. The industry is a major employer in many rural and coastal communities across the region. The Government of Canada is committed to working closely with all levels of government, and our educational partners, to promote Atlantic Canadian seafood with the goal of increasing exports that help create and sustain jobs and foster economic growth across the region."
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
"The seafood industry is a key economic driver here on Cape Breton Island, particularly for our rural communities. The federal investments announced today will work to support research and development initiatives to ensure our workers are ready and our products are of the highest quality as we export them to tables around the world."
- Rodger Cuzner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso
"Université Sainte-Anne is committed to contributing to Nova Scotia's economic growth. We are very proud of the industry leading innovative research and development projects conducted at our Marine Research Center located in Petit-de-Grat, and we are very grateful for the support we receive from all levels of government, which allows us to continue this important work."
- Kenneth Deveau, Vice-President Academic and Research, Université Saint-Anne
"From Arichat to the World. These are words we have and will continue to live by as we get to share the best and freshest wild seafood that comes out of Isle Madame waters with Canadians and nations abroad. We are thankful for the partnerships we have established since our inception in spring 2012 and I am proud of our energized team that is skilled and ready for the challenges that lay ahead."
- Andrew Burch, General Manager, NovaCan Live Seafood
Associated Links
Contacts
Alex Smith
Director of Communications and Outreach, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Phone: 902-426-9417 / 902-830-3839 (cell)
E-mail:
Andrew Burch
General Manager NovaCan Live Seafood
Phone: 902-631-3181
Email:
Michelle Theriault
Director, Marine Research Center Université Sainte-Anne, Petit-de-Grat Campus
Phone: 902-226-3922
Email:
Background
In its earliest years, NovaCan Live Seafood focused mainly on research into improved methods of handling, storing and shipping live snow crab. During that time they worked closely with the Université Sainte-Anne – Marine Research Center to refine harvesting, handling and storage protocols in order to develop a method to store live snow crab for longer periods of time and to ship them further afield to relatively untapped markets. Specifically, the intent is to double the size of the existing structure. It will be expanded by 4,000 square feet and water chillers, water pumps, bio-filters, heat plate exchangers and holding tanks will be installed.
The project being undertaken by the Université Sainte-Anne – Marine Research Center will establish a mobile seafood processing unit that will serve as a training facility. The unit will contain a freezer section, a cooker, a processing section, a wash down sanitation station, a laboratory, waste water storage and a generator. In addition to being utilized to train participants, the unit will be available on a rental basis to the fisheries sector for development and processing for test markets as well as the evaluation of new equipment and technologies.
The Business Development Program (BDP) is in place to assist with the start-up, expansion or modernization of businesses located or looking to locate in Atlantic Canada. Focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises, the BDP provides access to capital in the form of interest-free repayable assistance. The BDP also provides financial support in the form of non-repayable assistance to not-for-profit organizations that provide support to Atlantic businesses.