Government of Canada Grants More Than $1.3 Million in Funding to the Regroupement des pecheurs professionnels du Sud de la Gaspesie

GASPÉ, QUÉBEC--(Marketwire - Oct. 13, 2011) - Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, today announced that the Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du Sud de la Gaspésie (RPPSG) received two non-repayable contributions totalling $1,303,600 to promote Gaspésie lobster on foreign markets and acquire electronic logbooks to facilitate the traceability of this fishery product.

"This financial contribution to the Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du Sud de la Gaspésie is yet another example of the Government of Canada's firm commitment to supporting the region's lobster industry," said Jacques Gourde.

The economic climate in the past several years has severely affected the Gaspésie lobster industry, a situation further exacerbated by the high concentration (85%) of lobster sales to the United States. Regional industry stakeholders, in collaboration with GÎMXPORT and the Quebec Fish Processors Association, have therefore developed a three-year commercialization strategy targeting the French, Italian and Chinese markets. The strategy, for which Canada Economic Development provided $1,086,000 in funding, centres on various activities including participation in international trade shows and the organization of promotional events such as reverse missions. This large-scale campaign is expected to help sustain this important socioeconomic activity for the region.

One of the key elements of the strategy is to promote eco-certification, a growing demand among lobster consumers. To assist fishers in complying with this standard, electronic logbooks have been installed on fishing boats in order to record catch and effort data and provide better traceability of the product, an essential requirement for eco-certification. That is why the acquisition of this software is of such importance. Canada Economic Development contributed $217,487 toward the purchase of this software. It should be noted that Fisheries and Oceans Canada also granted $156,340 in funding for the project.

These initiatives of the Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du Sud de la Gaspésie will help in developing a sustainability strategy that will be profitable for Gaspésie processors while generating important local economic spinoffs.

The funding announced today was allocated as follows: $1,086,000 in non-repayable assistance through Canada Economic Development's Community Diversification program and a $271,600 non-repayable contribution through the Community Adjustment Fund provided for under Canada's Economic Action Plan.

For more one Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca

Keep up with the latest news from Canada Economic Development by visiting www.dec-ced.gc.ca or subscribing to @CanEconDev on Twitter.