Department of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada

04/22/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/22/2024 10:32

Government of Canada announces critical dredging of two Small Craft Harbours in New Brunswick

Government of Canada announces critical dredging of two Small Craft Harbours in New Brunswick

From: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

News release

Small Craft Harbours play a vital role in the economies of our coastal communities, as many depend on them as a major source of employment. Ensuring these harbours stay in good working condition helps ensure our coastal communities can continue to thrive.

Tabusintac, New Brunswick - Small Craft Harbours play a vital role in the economies of our coastal communities, as many depend on them as a major source of employment. Ensuring these harbours stay in good working condition helps ensure our coastal communities can continue to thrive.

Today, Serge Cormier, Member of Parliament for Acadie-Bathurst, was in Tabusintac, New Brunswick to announce, on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, plans to carry out critical dredging at McEachern's Point and Pointe-Sapin Small Craft Harbours. This critical work will remove sediment to allow fish harvesters free passage in and out of the harbour.

Budget 2024 announced $463.3 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, for the repair and maintenance of small craft harbours across Canada. This investment will support local economic development for generations to come, providing safe and functional harbours for Canadians working in the fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, construction, and marine engineering sectors.

The Government of Canada is committed to providing safe and functional harbours to support coastal communities. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) fully understands that the lobster fishing season is fast approaching, and that's why DFO is currently working around the clock to ensure that the dredging contracts for McEachern's Point and Pointe-Sapin harbours are awarded and that dredging work begins as soon as possible.

Quotes

"Canada's small craft harbours play such a pivotal role in our coastal communities---they are vital to fish harvesters from coast to coast to coast, play a key role in our cultural identity and support tourism. This investment will help ensure safe access to our waterways and contribute to our local economies."

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

"Small craft harbours are the very heart of New Brunswick's coastal communities. This is critical infrastructure to local economies and we need to repair, maintain or build new infrastructure to make it more efficient. By dredging the wharves at McEachern's Point (Tabusintac) and Pointe-Sapin, we are ensuring the safety of fish harvesters and their crew members. With the additional funding in the 2024 federal budget, more wharves in our regions will be repaired in the near future."

Serge Cormier, Member of Parliament for Acadie-Bathurst

Quick facts

  • Small Craft Harbours support more than 45,000 jobs within the Canadian commercial fishing industry as well as many thousands of additional jobs in supporting industries.

  • McEachern's Point Harbour accommodates 39 commercial vessels for the spring lobster fishery. The average value of annual lobster landings at this harbour is $5 million.

  • Pointe-Sapin Harbour accommodates 82 commercial vessels for the spring and summer lobster fisheries. The average value of annual lobster landings at this harbour is $7 million.

Associated links

Contacts

Jérémy Collard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
[email protected]

Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-990-7537
[email protected]

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