Departmental Branches
Aquaculture Branch
The mandate of the Aquaculture Branch of the Department of
Fisheries and Aquaculture is to provide orderly development
of the province’s aquaculture sector. The Aquaculture Branch
consists of two divisions: Aquaculture Development Division
and the Licensing and Inspection Division.
Aquaculture Development Division
The main responsibilities include:
- Comprehensive extension services program
that includes the provision of environmental
monitoring of sites
- Fish health services
- Management of direct industry assistance
programs and incentives
Licensing and Inspection Division
The main responsibilities include the following:
- Management of the one stop
shop licensing system
- Management and
implementation of the inspection program for
aquaculture sites.
Communications Branch
This branch reports to the Minister and is responsible for:
- The planning, development, execution and evaluation of
internal and external communication programs of the
Department.
Fisheries Branch
Compliance and Enforcement Division
The Division was created in May 2005 to:
- separate enforcement from the development and implementation
of fish licensing policy.
- bring the department’s enforcement activities up the standards
of a law enforcement function.
- The Division is responsible and accountable for:
- ensuring consistent and fair application of enforcement
measures across regions;
- the management and administration of the compliance and
enforcement programs delivered through headquarters and regional
and district offices;
- policy direction and support to inspection staff on compliance
and enforcement of the Fish Inspection Act and regulations, and
ministerial directives;
- coordination of fish inspection activity by inspection staff,
in consultation with the regions;
- enforcement measures including: ticketing, administrative
penalties and court proceedings;
- providing technical advice and direction to inspection staff
on procedures;
- ensuring that evidence and case files are gathered and
maintained in an effective and secure manner; and
- the organization and coordination of audits of fish buyers
and
processing companies, including financial, production, and
purchase statistics.
- The Division works closely with:
- Regional offices
- Licensing and Quality Assurance Division
- Department of Justice
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency and other federal departments
and agencies
Licensing and Quality Assurance Division
The main responsibilities include:
- Coordinating all regulatory aspects of fish buying and processing operations
in the province.
- Acts as Secretariat to the Fish Processing Licence Board, performing all
administrative functions associated with the Board.
- Licencing of fish buyers and processors, and formulation and implementation
of legislation governing the marketing of fish in the Province.
- Liaising with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency to coordinate inspection and certification of fish processing facilities.
- Responsible for the collection of statistics and maintenance of same on fish production
and fishery related employment for the province.
- Promotes proper ways to handle/store fish prior to processing to ensure top quality.
- Delivers workshops, seminars to industry stakeholders on ways to
improve quality.
- Develop policy guidelines to promote full utilization and value added processing to maximize economic and employment returns in the fishing industry.
Regional Services Division
Through a network of five regional offices:
- Labrador
- Western
- Central
- Eastern
- and Avalon.
There is participation in planning, developing and delivering the
Department’s programs, services and projects on a regional basis.
The major functions and areas of responsibility include:
- Identifying regional fisheries and aquaculture development opportunities;
coordinating and implementing projects and programs.
- Enforcing the Fish Inspection Act and Regulations.
- Managing the maintenance and repairs of fisheries infrastructure.
- Providing input into departmental policy.
Seafood Diversification and Development Division
This Division is responsible for promoting and supporting the
diversification and development
of the harvesting, processing, and
marketing sectors of the seafood industry through public
and private sector partnerships.
The main services provided by the Division are:
- Resource Development - Responsible for:
- Resource Identification
- Resource Surveys
- Emerging Fisheries Development
- Harvesting Development -
Responsible for:
- Fishing Gear Technology and Demonstration
- Vessel Design
- Onboard Handling
- Technology Transfer
- Product and Processing Development
- Responsible for:
- Research and development of new products with emphasis on underutilized species,
by-products recovery
- Value added processing
- Packaging research and technical assistance
- Productivity and quality enhancement
- Development and demonstration of innovative processing equipment
- New technology adoption, modification and transfer
- Plant design and layout
- Trade and Market Development
- Responsible for:
- Trade shows
- Trade missions
- Trade/market information seminars
- Trade and consumer promotions
- Marketing training and counseling
- Export planning and development
- Market research and intelligence
- Seafood education and training
- Technical Services -
Responsible for:
- Property management
- Co-ordination of the regional management and maintenance of Department-owned facilities;
- Operation and divestiture of Marine Service
Centers, community stages, gear sheds,
slipways and baited trawl holding facilities; and
- Monitoring of accounts receivable, invoicing
and surplus inventory.
- Technical advice and cost estimates for infrastructure proposals.
- Special assistance grants for fisheries-related infrastructure projects
through contractual agreements with community-based organizations.
- Repair and maintenance of baited trawl holding facilities.
- Demonstration, research and development, and technology transfer regarding
vessel design; and administrative and technical support for vessel loan applications.
Policy and Planning Branch
Through the Planning Services Division, the Branch provides policy and program planning services to the Department. The Sustainable Fisheries and Oceans Policy Division participates in oceans policy and governance issues and the resource assessment and management process of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as well as local, national, and international bodies responsible for fisheries conservation and management. The Fishing Industry Renewal Division is responsible for leadership related to renewal in the province’s fishing industry.
Planning Services Division
This Division undertakes special projects such as policy
papers, information technology planning and program review in addition to
providing the following services:
- Strategic planning.
- Program and policy analysis and development.
- Financial and economic analysis.
- Preparation and administration of development agreements.
- Collection and distribution of statistics on the fishing and
aquaculture industries.
Sustainable Fisheries and Oceans Policy Division
This Division undertakes the following activities:
- Participates in the advisory and
consultation process for commercial fish stocks.
- Analysis of biological and
scientific information related to the management and development of
the fishery.
- Provides direction to the Department on resource
issues and scientific advice pertaining to the management of the province’s fish
stocks.
- Identifies and advises the Department on fisheries
policies.
- Compiles data and advises on the status of fish stocks.
- Participates in discussions on the status of marine fish populations in
relation to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in
Canada (COSEWIC).
- Provides analysis and direction to the Department on various
environmental and advisory committees with respect to potential impacts on the
province's fisheries and aquaculture industries.
- Coordinates provincial role with the federal
government on oceans policy
and governance issues such as: Large Ocean Management Areas;
Coastal Management Areas; Marine Protected Areas (MPAs); and coastal and ocean planning.
Fishing Industry
Renewal Division This division has primary responsibility for the identification and implementation of measures to support individuals, businesses and communities affected by adjustment and renewal in the fishing industry. This division is also responsible for the coordination and overall implementation of the Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador ocean-to-plate Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy. The Provincial elements include:
- Processing
Policy Renewal
- Implementation
of Fish Auctions
- Enhanced
Marketing
- Increased
Fisheries Research and Development
- Occupational
Health and Safety
- Enhanced Loan
Guarantee Program
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