NEW FISHERIES SUPPORT PACKAGE FOR QUEBEC

New fisheries support package for Quebec. Canada’s fish and seafood sector is a large part of the economic and social fabric of a lot of the coastal communities across Quebec. For that reason the Government of Quebec and the Government of  Canada are both working to modernize the sector.

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, the Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, as well as the Premier of Quebec, Mr. François Legault, and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec, Mr. André Lamontagne, announced the forthcoming launch of the Quebec Fisheries Fund (QFF), which is a five-year program that will bring $42.8 million in funding to the sector. The federal government will contribute $30 million, and $12.8 million will be provided by the government of Quebec.

The QFF will focus on growing opportunities and increasing value for sustainably sourced, high quality fish and seafood products. Investments flowing from the QFF will position the fish and seafood sector in Quebec for long-term sustainable growth.

Eligible projects must focus on:

• Innovation – to support research and development of new innovations that contribute to the sustainability of the fish and seafood sector, and to create partnerships and networks that aim to promote and encourage innovation in the sector;
• Infrastructure – to adapt new technologies, processes, or equipment to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the fish and seafood sector; and
• Science Partnerships – fisheries and aquaculture industry based partnerships with academia and institutions to enhance knowledge and understanding of the impacts of changing oceanographic conditions and sustainable harvesting technology.

In the coming weeks and months, the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec will engage with a broad range of industry representatives, Indigenous peoples, non-government organizations, and the science and academic communities in Quebec. This engagement will continue throughout the life of the program in order to inform investment priorities and identify opportunities and potential partners.