Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are encouraged to take a few moments tomorrow to reflect and extend thanks to the over 16,000 women and men employed in our province’s fishing sector as we celebrate World Fisheries Day on November 21.
As part of the department’s World Fisheries Day outreach education efforts, staff engaged students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 to participate in a fisheries themed sculpture contest that resulted in 150 submissions from schools throughout the province. Winning entries are listed in the backgrounder below and photos of entries can be viewed at the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture website.
In 2019, the value of total fish and seafood production was $1.4 billion, marking the fifth consecutive year the value of seafood production in Newfoundland and Labrador has exceeded one billion dollars.
Since 1998 World Fisheries Day has been marked annually and presents an opportunity to highlight the importance of wild fisheries and aquaculture to coastal communities throughout the world.
COVID-19 has presented significant challenges for the fishing industry here in Newfoundland and Labrador this year. Despite these challenges many harvesters and processors have made the necessary adjustments required to safely maintain their operations.
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“The onset of COVID-19 has clearly highlighted the true value and importance of our province’s fishing sector workers as they continue to support the global food supply chain with healthy, sustainably sourced seafood from Newfoundland and Labrador. World Fisheries Day is an appropriate occasion to highlight and thank each of them for their dedicated efforts.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
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Learn more
World Fisheries Day Contest Winners
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Media contact
Craig Renouf
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture World Fisheries Day Sculpture Contest Winners
Class Submission Category: Ms. Ashley Abbott’s class, Stella Maris Academy, Trepassey
Kindergarten Category: E. Roberts, Ms. Lori Sheppard’s class, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Corner Brook
Grade 1 Category: K. Davis, Ms. Susan Stuckless’s class, Hampden Academy, Hampden
Grade 2 Category: M. MacDonald, Ms. Sonya Lewis’s class, Long Range Academy, Cow Head
Grade 3 Category: J. Young, Ms. Sandi Hillier’s class, Lourdes Academy, Lourdes
Grade 4 Category: R. Rolfe, Ms. Darlene Poole’s class, St. Lewis Academy, St. Lewis
Grade 5 Category: S. George, Ms. Leila Brown’s class, Woodland Elementary, Dildo
Grade 6 Category: L. Pittman, Ms. Kelli Reese‘s class, First Baptist Academy, Mt. Pearl