Hello, members and friends!
Summer is upon us once again - and with it, the hope of returning to a normal life and time spent together with family and friends. We're all going to have to continue to work together to beat back this pandemic. Many resources are being provided by the government at various levels to help alleviate the strain COVID-19 has put upon businesses. If you're interested in learning more, read on...
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COVID-19 Aquaculture Response Programs
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There are plenty of programs available to provide assistance to you and your business.
Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund (CSSF) - Fish and seafood processors can now get help with COVID-19 related costs incurred after March 15, 2020, including funding for increased storage capacity, plant operations, and market responsiveness. Fish and seafood processors and nonprofits that support them are both welcome to apply.
Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program - The second benefit payment for this program is set to open for applications in "late spring 2021", and is open to those who participated in the first round in August 2020. This benefit covers up to 75% of income losses beyond a 25% threshold for the 2020 tax year when compared to the higher self-employed fishing income reported to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in 2018 or 2019.
Farm Credit Canada's COVID-19 Support Program - FCC has put in place a deferral of principal and interest payments up to six months for existing loans, as well as a deferral of principal payments up to 12 months.
Perennia Seafood Response Program - A fisheries and aquaculture-exclusive program to fund purchases of PPE and other essentials for putting safety protocol in place. Perennia will fund up to 70% for companies with less than 500 full-time employees, for projects up to $25,000.
Ulnooweg Development Group Inc. - As part of the Aboriginal Financial Institutions, short-term, interest-free loans and non-repayable contributions up to $40k are available for small-to-medium-sized First Nations-owned businesses.
These programs and many more can be found on the DFO website, which can be found linked below.
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Member Feature - Enterprises Shippagan
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Entreprises Shippagan Ltd has established itself as one of the major wholesale distributors to the commercial fishing, aquaculture and marine industries in Canada. From our inception in 1977 as a supplier to our local fishermen, we continue to grow thanks to the support from clients in fishing and aquaculture communities scattered throughout coastlines across Canada. We are proud that this support has allowed Enterprise Shippagan to build a group of companies that provides support and services to customers, and partners in a variety of industries and regions.
Vernon d’Eons Fishing Supplies has been a staple to fishermen in communities across Nova Scotia and PEI for nearly 50 years. With 8 stores scattered across these regions, we are proud to say that there is always a helping hand not too far away. Located in Mount Pearl in beautiful Newfoundland, ESL Marine Supplies Ltd, and its team strive to provide the products and services needed for the various fisheries and aquaculture industries in Newfoundland and Labrador, no matter how challenging it can be at times. DJ Marine Boat Builders is working to push its boundaries in boat manufacturing, in order to provide our customers with the vessels and tools that are needed to get the job done during the various fisheries and seasons, and Sea Alex Buoys & Manufacturing has been producing and delivering high-quality products such as HDPE buoys, and cotton mussel socking proudly made right here in East Coast Canada.
Throughout the various challenges of the last year, or so, we have worked tirelessly to make sure we could be of service as best as possible during difficult and demanding times. We continue to challenge ourselves to this endeavour and with the continued support of our customers, partners and the various industries we work with, we hopefully look to continue being a lighthouse in the storm.
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If you are a member interested in seeing your organization featured in our newsletter, please send some photos and a blurb to outreach@seafarmers.ca.
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2022 Minister's/Seafarmers Conference is Coming!
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The Seafarmers & Minister of Fisheries' joint conference will be held on February 23-24 of next year. The conference is presently anticipated to be a hybrid model with both in-person and virtual events and will be opening for registrations in the next few months.
Sponsorship opportunities and booth reservations are now available - first come first served!
Contact Tom at ExecutiveDirector@seafarmers.ca for more information.
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AANS Interactive Guide -
We Need Your Stories!
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The Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia is presently developing a interactive guide of all aquaculture farms across the province! The AANS Interactive Guide will allow you to add your story, your videos, and your message to a potential audience to the online portal. If you are a farmer with a story to share about your business, tell it to us at outreach@seafarmers.ca.
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Marine Animal Response Society
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The Marine Animal Response Society is a charitable organization dedicated to marine animal conservation in the Maritime Provinces through research, engagement and responding to incidents involving marine animals such as whales, dolphins and seals. We operate the only toll-free incident reporting hotline for the Maritimes, offering communities access to expert advice on dead or distressed marine animals.
This includes animals that have been:
- Entangled
- Found alive where they should not be (on beaches, up rivers)
- Found deceased, on beaches or floating at sea, for which it is highly desired to determine why it died via a necropsy (an animal autopsy).
Our goal is to build relationships so we can work together to protect marine animals and our ocean ecosystem. Our work to assist and better understand these animals cannot succeed without the help of local communities and the dedicated folks who report animal incidents to our hotline, so we’re asking for your help!
If you come across a dead or distressed marine animal, please call our hotline at:
1-866-567-6277
Additionally, we are looking for folks to join our MARS Response Support Network who may be willing to share resources to increase our capacity for response.
Depending on the species and the type of incident, the response can involve the need for transportation on both land and sea requiring access to vehicles and vessels. In addition, access to heavy equipment such as excavators to move dead animals or freezers for storage of animals awaiting pickup is critical. This response support network is a critical component of MARS’ ability to respond to incidents of marine animals around the Maritimes and we’re hoping to learn about individuals and organizations that may be willing to help.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about our organization, the MARS Response Support Network, or would like educational materials! Outreach representative Krista Bouwman can be contacted at MARSOutreach@marineanimals.ca.
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Fisheries and Aquaculture
Student Bursary Program
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Are you interested in connecting with the next generation of aquaculture workers? The Fisheries and Aquaculture Student Bursary Program is opening this month. A student enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution, who has been employed by a licensed Nova Scotia aquaculture operator, seafood buyer, harvester or seafood processor may be eligible for a bursary of $750 to $1500, depending on the number of hours worked.
Applications open on June 1st and will remain open until January 31, 2022. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to take on more hands - click the button below to learn more.
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Are you a farmer member of the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia with something you want to promote? Do you want to reach an audience thousands strong at zero additional cost to you? Why not participate in #MemberMondays, a new service offered by the AANS? Every Monday, we'll have a space open for members to promote their content on a weekly basis, with three going up at a time. If you're interested in promoting something, contact outreach@seafarmers.ca to inquire about placement.
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The Seafood Accelerator Program is Back!
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Perennia is excited to announce the re-launch of the Accelerated Direct Marketing program! The program aims to help food-based companies quickly, conveniently, and professionally create an online store with product listing and e-commerce features. The store can be added to a current website, Facebook page or used as a stand-alone website.
This program is available to Nova Scotia agriculture and aquaculture operations and food businesses through a partnership with Local Line. Eligible businesses will receive up to the first six months of the core service free!
It’s a great opportunity for businesses to have the ability to quickly and easily sell online!
If applicants meet the eligibility requirements, they will receive access to up to six months of Local Line’s online sales, marketing and eCommerce platform from the date of sign up. The application is quick and easy and can be accessed on Local Line’s website.
Interested to learn more about the program? Join Local Line on June 17 at 12:30 PM for an informational webinar. Register here.
The application deadline is July 15, 2021, and approved credits must be used by March 1, 2022.
For complete information on the program, visit Perennia’s website.
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Mussels, clams, oysters, scallops, salmon... the sea farms around Nova Scotia offer a wide variety of delicious options to choose from when you're trying to decide what to have for dinner. If picking one is too hard, why not fall back on good ol' fashioned seafood chowder? This Taste of Nova Scotia classic features all of the above, save for oysters - unless, of course, you should fancy finding a way to include them. Who knows, you may revolutionize an old favourite!
Nova Scotia Seafood Chowder
You'll need:
| 3 oz |
Nova Scotia lobster |
| 3 oz |
scallops |
| 3 oz |
salmon |
| 3 oz |
halibut |
| 12 |
mussels |
| 12 |
clams |
| 3 tbsp |
butter |
| 3/4 cup |
onions, diced |
| 1/2 cup |
carrots, diced |
| 1/2 cup |
celery, diced |
| 3/4 cup |
yellow-fleshed potatoes, diced |
| 1 sprig of |
thyme |
| 5 springs of |
dill, chopped |
| 3/4 cup |
heavy cream |
| 2 cups |
milk |
| 1/3 cup |
Nova Scotia white wine |
| 3 tsp |
cornstarch (optional) |
Instructions:
- To start the base, melt 1 tbsp butter in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add diced carrots, celery and onions. Sweat (by covering) until onions are translucent; then add a sprig of fresh thyme.
- Add cornstarch to the pan if a thicker consistency is desired.
- Deglaze the pan with white wine until liquid is reduced by half.
- Add the cream and milk; simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
- Add the diced potatoes and cook until almost fork tender.
- Melt 2 tbsp butter in another pan, over medium heat and add all seafood.
- Once the clams and mussels have opened, transfer seafood into the chowder base.
- Add dill, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh dill (optional).
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