Canada: Bright Future for Harbours in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, yesterday announced that the Government of Canada will invest $1.3 million in projects at small craft harbours in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2013-14. This is in addition to the $16.6 million announced previously for projects at small craft harbours in the province this fiscal year.

“Our Government is committed to providing safe and functional harbours to support the commercial fishing industry,” said Minister Shea. “These investments in small craft harbours help ensure that harbour facilities meet the needs of commercial fishers. They help create jobs and contribute to economic growth in Canada’s coastal communities.”

– Additional funding announced yesterday will support the following projects:

– Basin dredging to help provide safe navigation for vessels approaching the wharf at Old Perlican;

– Reconstruction of a marginal wharf at Port de Grave, to be carried out over two years;

– Armour protection repairs at Savage Cove to address storm damage;

– Wharf repairs and deck replacement at Hermitage;

– Channel redredging at Branch; and

– Slipway repairs at Lourdes.

“These investments come at a right time with the Canada European Union trade agreement that will have significant benefits for our country’s fishing industry,” added the Minister. “It will give Canadian industries access to a very lucrative market, which will benefit hard-working Canadians, particularly in coastal communities through more jobs, higher wages, and long-term prosperity.”

The work announced today is in addition to a $63 million investment, announced on September 3, 2013, to support over 100 major repair, construction, maintenance and dredging projects at small craft harbours across Canada this year as well as a large number of minor repair and redredging projects to be carried out throughout the country. Of this funding, $16.6 million was allocated to projects at core fishing harbours across Newfoundland and Labrador.

Major projects in Newfoundland and Labrador that have been funded this year include:

– Maintenance and repair

– Continuation of wharf reconstruction at Long Cove;

– Rubble mound breakwater construction at La Scie and Valleyfield;

– Finger pier reconstruction at Arnold’s Cove and Brig Bay;

– Wharf construction, to be completed over two years, at Fermeuse;

– Wharf, small boat basin, and launchway construction to be completed over three years at Mary’s Harbour;

– Shoreline rubble mound protection at Carmanville and Codroy;

– Rubble mound breakwater repairs to address storm damage at River of Ponds;

– Wharf construction at Branch;

– Electrical system installations at Black Duck Cove, Fogo, Greenspond and Hant’s Harbour;

– Completion of wharf construction at Rencontre East, Pinsent’s Arm, and Torbay;

– Wharf repairs at Jerseyside, Port de Grave and St. John’s (Prosser’s Rock);

– Completion of wharf improvements at Old Perlican;

– Wharf improvements at Burin;

– Slipway repairs at Black Duck Brook;

– Dredging at Daniel’s Harbour and Harbour Grace;

– Upland improvements at Southern Harbour; and

– Floating dock reconstruction at Catalina and François.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada undertakes such projects in cooperation with the local Harbour Authorities that manage and operate facilities for local users. Close cooperation between the Department and Harbour Authorities allows the federal government to continue to provide an operable system of harbours and facilities throughout Canada in support of the commercial fishing industry.

[mappress]

Press Release, December 8, 2013