“The stability of the herring fishery is dependent upon credible scientific data for stock assessment,” said Minister MacKinley. “The collection of long-term data into the province’s herring populations will better position the industry for long-term sustainability.”

The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development will provide $5,000 to assist the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) in conducting an acoustic sounding and variable mesh gillnet herring project this fall. The province has been co-funding this acoustic research with the PEIFA and their locals annually for the past number of years. The information gathered is used by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in the assessment of the health of the herring stocks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

There are 850 herring licences on Prince Edward Island with over 250 active fishers between the spring and fall fisheries. The landed value of PEI herring in 2013 was almost $4.5 million with over 17 million pounds landed.

“The department is pleased to continue to work with industry to gather this information at a time when solid scientific information is a must for effective management and decision making,” said Minister MacKinley. “The Island’s fishery is an important industry providing jobs and economic activity in communities across the province. Our government will continue to invest in initiatives that advance the industry and position it for future growth and development.”