The provincial government announced today a request for proposals from the fishing industry on an alternative approach for the harvesting, processing and marketing of yellowtail flounder.
A news release says the initiative will be open to individuals or groups with the appropriate suite of groundfish harvesting and processing licences.
Participants will have an opportunity to access up to two million pounds of division 3LNO yellowtail flounder quota currently under lease to Icewater Harvesting Inc. through the Atlantic Offshore Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Program.
In addition, as part of the Ocean Choice International Limited agreements announced last Dec. 21, future underutilized yellowtail quota will also be available to interested parties.
“Our government looks forward to working with interested fishing enterprises and processing companies that wish to explore the possibility of harvesting, processing and marketing yellowtail flounder,” said Derrick Dalley, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
“The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture will monitor and assess results with technical support from the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland. Those results will formulate an economic study of the yellowtail resource.”
Applications will be accepted immediately. Applicants can contact Bill Molloy, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, at 709-729-1076. All projects must be completed in 2013.
The department will co-ordinate monitoring onboard vessels and in processing facilities. The information to be collected throughout the project will formulate an economic study of harvesting, processing and marketing yellowtail flounder resources.
“The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador encourages innovation in the fishery which has the potential to provide a greater economic benefit for the people of the province,” Dalley said.
“This initiative will permit Newfoundland and Labrador fishing enterprises licensed to fish yellowtail in the province to evaluate and to demonstrate that they can achieve a positive result in harvesting, processing and marketing yellowtail flounder. The Provincial Government looks forward to the outcome of the individual projects.”
