Minister Shea Promotes the Benefits of Economic Action Plan 2014 for the Fishing Community in Atlantic Canada

DEBERT, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - Feb. 21, 2014) - The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Regional Minister of Prince Edward Island, delivered remarks at the Nova Scotia Fisheries Minister's Annual Conference today. In her speech, she highlighted measures announced by the Government of Canada as part of Economic Action Plan 2014 to support a strong fisheries industry that is both sustainable and economically viable.

Economic Action Plan 2014 includes $40 million in funding over two years to accelerate repair and maintenance work at small craft harbours across Canada. It also commits another $15 million to the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program to continue funding projects over the next two years, as well as $66.1 million over two years to renew the Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative and the Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative.

Economic Action Plan 2014 also introduced a new tax credit for ground, air and marine search and rescue volunteers in support of the Canadian Coast Guard, police and other agencies.

Quick Facts

Small Craft Harbours

• Small craft harbours support the commercial fishing industry, which contributes $5.2 billion to the Canadian economy every year. Harbour authorities, the fishing industry and communities benefit from core fishing harbours that serve a range of users.
• There are approximately 100,000 jobs within the Canadian commercial fishing industry as well as many thousands of additional jobs in supporting industries.
• Nearly 90 percent of all commercial fish harvesters in Canada use small craft harbor facilities and their annual production represents approximately $1.6 billion.

Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program

• The Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program encourages cooperation and supports projects led by recreational fishing and angling groups, as well as conservation organizations, aimed at improving the conservation of recreational fisheries habitat.
• According to the 2010 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada, more than 3.3 million adult anglers participated in recreational fishing activities in Canada. These activities contributed a total of $8.3 billion to various local economies in Canada, particularly in some of the more remote areas of the country.

Tax credit for search and rescue volunteers

• This credit will be available to search and rescue volunteers who perform at least 200 hours of service during the year.

Quotes

"Our Economic Action Plan 2014 invests in several and significant measures to protect and conserve Canada's commercial and recreational fisheries for future generations of Canadians. Our investment in small craft harbours will support the creation of jobs in coastal communities and help ensure that harbour facilities meet the needs of commercial fishermen."

The Honourable Gail Shea

Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

This news release is available online at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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