The Prince Edward Island Aquaculture and Fisheries Research Initiative Inc. has been established by the Department of Fisheries and Environment to provide aquaculturalists, fishers, industry organizations and processors with increased access to research to address priorities and opportunities within their industries. The establishment of the Initiative signals a desire on the part of government to invest in research in order to maintain the competitiveness of the industry in the global market.
"The major objective of the Initiative is to encourage the conduct of short term applied and developmental research related to the aquaculture sector, to the lobster fishery and to fish processing in Prince Edward Island" said Kevin MacAdam, Minister of Fisheries and Environment. "The Initiative will also serve to enhance the knowledge based economy within the province by promoting the creation of expertise that will be available to the industry."
The Initiative will support research not presently mandated under existing federal and provincial programs and will assist in strengthening partnerships between industry and research agencies in the province.
Mr MacAdam said that the Initiative was established with an initial commitment of $800,000 from the provincial government. Additional contributions of up to $100,000 annually will be made by the Department of Fisheries and Environment. The Research Initiative will also be looking to the private sector for financial support.
The Initiative is administered by a Board of Directors representing government, research agencies and industry. The directors are: Lewie Creed, Dr. Ian Dohoo, Roy Drake, Marjorie Henderson, Blair Ramsay, Hank Scarth, and Roger Townsend.
The deadline for submitting a proposal to the Initiative is February 15, 1997. Further information on the Initiative is available by contacting the Department of Fisheries and Environment at 368-5251.