Gail Shea, Regional Minister for Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Keith Ashfield, Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, have announced almost $970,000 of funding for three aquaculture projects in PEI.
“Our Government is committed to boosting the Canadian economy,” said Minister Ashfield. "Innovation in aquaculture will help create jobs, especially in rural areas."
The three projects in the Gulf Region received an additional $968,873 in funding through the federal Government:
PEI Mussel King Inc. received an additional $450,000 toward its project to develop new and innovative equipment for mussel processing. The plant expansion, with the adoption of new handling and processing approaches, will position PEI Mussel King to take advantage of and supply new, emerging markets with value-added, quality and tailored mussel products. The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, previously announced $1 million investment in this project and the provincial government previously announced $4.8 million for this project.
Confederation Cove Mussel Co. Ltd. received $505,773 for a project to develop and improve the grading process in Canadian mussel plants. This innovative technology will provide the mussel processing industry with the catalyst that it needs to introduce the type of leading edge technology that will radically improve performance. A provincial contribution of $42,225 from the PEI Aquaculture and Fisheries Research Initiative supports the development and testing of this vision grading technology.
The PEI Aquaculture Alliance received $13,100 to enable Aquaculture Industry Certification. The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development provided $3,300 towards this project.
