Labrador has no less than three economic development organisations conducting separate surveys of offshore whelk populations to determine the viability of having local fishermen harvest the species.
More than $122,000 is being funneled through the Provincial Government’s Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program to assist the research.
The organisations undertaking these research projects are the Nordic Economic Development Corporation, the Labrador Straits Development Corporation, and St Anthony Basin Resources Incorporated (SABRI). Each organisation will engage in a test fishery for 10 days using 200 whelk pots placed at different depths and locations between the tip of the northern peninsula and the south coast of Labrador. The projects will help determine if the resource is sufficient to sustain a commercial harvest and generate a reasonable return for harvesters.
It’s an important diversification, as communities on the northern peninsula and south coast of Labrador have long relied on the fishery for economic activity, but inshore harvesters from these areas are experiencing significant challenges with harvesting traditional species.
“Creating new opportunities for stakeholders in the fishing industry is a priority for this government,” said Clyde Jackman, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “We are particularly focused on finding ways to revitalise areas that have limited resources to keep enterprises viable.”
“A project like this has great importance for regions that are heavily reliant on fishing activity,” said Linda Randell, Executive Director of the Nordic Economic Development Corporation. “I am eager to see the results of our project, and I am optimistic we will create new opportunities for fishers in the region.”
There is optimism that if the research provides evidence an offshore whelk fishery is viable, it may encourage local fishers to engage in the fishery, which in turn would also enhance processing activity.
“We are very eager to see the results of this research as we hope it will provide additional opportunities for those both in the harvesting and processing sectors,” said Barbara Marshall, executive director of the Labrador Straits Economic Development Corporation.
