Canada’s Economic Action Plan supports Canadian fishers and oceanic research

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, officially opened the department's new science research facilities at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

"Through our government's Economic Action Plan investment, these state-of-the-art research facilities will help to conserve and protect Canada's fisheries and oceans," said Minister Shea. "Our Government is investing in science and technology to create jobs, strengthen the economy and improve Canadians' quality of life."

Scientists in Canada are conducting world class research in areas such as fisheries population ecology, habitat research, and aquaculture. These state-of-the-art facilities will create new opportunities and creative partnerships with educational institutions and industry both domestically and internationally, and serve as an important recruiting tool for the best scientists and researchers.

This new research facility is a part of a series of projects that, when complete, will amount to a $23 million investment in fisheries science at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre since 2006. In May 2009, Canada's Economic Action Plan invested approximately $5.6 million in upgrades to the science facilities' salt water supply system.

Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada made a commitment to provide $250 million over the next two years to modernize federal laboratories. This funding, one of many job-creating investments in the Economic Action Plan, is intended to modernize these facilities and stimulate regional economies.

"These facilities will benefit all Canadians as the research conducted here will contribute to sound policy and program decisions to ensure sustainable fisheries, healthy oceans, and conservation of Canada's diverse aquatic species and habitats."

Improvements to the research facilities include an extension and substantial renovations to the existing building. They also include upgrading of the saltwater supply system that supports the department's science aquarium facility, improved fume hood capacity and an upgraded necropsy laboratory, as well as construction of a new chemical and biological storage facility and oceanographic and hydroacoustic workshops.