GUYSBOROUGH, N.S. — Thanks to additional funding provided by the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF), which is an economic stimulus initiative driven by the fed’s Economic Action Plan, a new comprehensive lobster research initiative is underway in Guysborough County, N.S.
Peter MacKay, minister of National Defence, recently announced an investment of $38,000 in the Guysborough County Inshore Fishermen’s Association (GCIFA) on behalf of Keith Ashfield, minister of National Revenue, minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and minister for the Atlantic Gateway. “The Government of Canada is providing support, through our economic stimulus programs, to initiatives that are assisting communities and industries that have been hit hard by the global economic downturn,” said MacKay. “The inshore fishing industry in Guysborough County has had great success over the years and today’s investment helps the industry weather the current economic situation and to flourish for years to come.”
The federal stimulus will assist the hiring of a full-time biologist, who will review and compile 10 years of marine lobster research into an updateable, working document. The biologist will work closely with government and industry partners, including Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Marine Stewardship Council, the Ecology Action Centre and lobster fishermen from area communities.
“The fishing industry has been the mainstay here in the community of Guysborough County for more than 400 years — it’s woven into our cultural and historic background,” said Eugene O’Leary, president of GCIFA. “This federal support will help us maximize our existing strengths in order to realize our community’s full economic potential.”
