MARINE FINFISH COMMERCIALISATION FORUM CONTEXT and OBJECTIVES

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MARINE FINFISH COMMERCIALISATION FORUMCONTEXT
and OBJECTIVES

• Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright
• Assistant Deputy Minister, Science
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Presentation to Marine Finfish Commercialization
  Forum
• St. Johns, Newfoundland
• February 11, 2004

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OUTLINE

• Context
• Overview of Research Workshop
• Overview of Development Workshop
• Objectives of Marine Finfish Forum
• Anticipated Outcomes

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Context

• Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture
  Ministers (CCFAM) concerned over potential
  overlap and duplication of effort among funding
  organisations.
• Identified need for a co-ordinated approach.
• CCFAM Aquaculture Task Group (ATG) requested to
  examine issue and identify possible means to use
  research dollars most efficiently.
• CCFAM supported the establishment of a workshop
  on cod/white-flesh finfish aquaculture as an
  example of how to coordinate research priorities
  and funding in key research areas.
• Aquaculture Research and Development
  co-ordination has been identified as a DFO
  priority, with Aquaculture Science Branch,
  Science Sector leading the initiative.

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OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH WORKSHOP

• Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) -
  Science and AquaNet sponsored a Research
  workshop.
• Workshop on Development of a National
  Co-ordinating Mechanism for Aquaculture Research
• March 5-6, 2003 Montreal, Crown Plaza Hotel

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OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH WORKSHOP

• Highlights
• Canada is weak in support of research compared to
  other countries and in relation to GDP.
• Funds should be well targeted and efficiently
  applied.
• Need for increased co-ordination.
• Strategic objectives to help prioritise research.
• Need for a national mechanism to facilitate
• co-ordination and networking of research
  activities.

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OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH WORKSHOP

• Workshop Next Steps
• Develop working model for co-ordination mechanism
  using development of a Cod Workshop as
  potential template.
• DFO Science and AquaNet volunteered to lead
  development of workshop addressing R D issues
  re. cod aquaculture.
• Establish workshop steering committee involving
  funding agencies and other stakeholders.

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OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH WORKSHOP

• Steering committee responsible for development of
  workshop and evaluating utility of proposed
  mechanism in relation to all aspects of
• Co-ordination
• Communications
• Priority setting
• Funding
• Following Cod Workshop, a meeting to report on
  how co-ordination process worked.
• Discuss potential for moving co-ordination
  mechanism forward.

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OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

• Development to Commercialisation Workshop
• March 23-24, 2003 Ottawa, Lord Elgin Hotel
• Follow-up to Research Workshop in Montreal.
• Organised in co-operation between DFO Science and
  Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA).
• First task ensure clear understanding of
  definitions and mandates of various R D funding
  bodies at the federal level.

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OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

• Case studies (4) highlighted development and
  commercialisation issues across the country.
• Haddock
• Invasive species
• Halibut cod
• Sablefish (BC)
• Focus problem and solution identification.

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OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

• Conclusions
• Lost ability to think big regarding development.
• Development issues cannot be solved with small
  amounts of funding or avoidance of inherent
  risks.
• Without significant government involvement,
  traditional investors (banks) will not invest.
• Admin. details and costs discouraged industry
  from applying for R D funding programs.
• Short- and longer-term needs of development and
  commercialisation require appropriate framework.

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OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

• Need overarching aquaculture development and
  commercialisation strategy with strong political
  will and support.
• Overall conclusions
• Think big
• Act locally (bottom-up approach)
• Identify a champion

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OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

• Recommendations
• Address development pre-commercial needs of
  industry through creation of a national
  development strategy.
• Bottom-up focus with overarching national
  principles.
• Work with provincial governments to reinstate
  Regional Economic Development Agency (REDA)
  program to address immediate concerns.
• Undertake to have funds available from existing
  programs to address urgent Firehouse
  development issues e.g., club tunicate.

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OBJECTIVES FOR THE MARINE FINFISH FORUM

• To determine the best co-operative strategy among
  aquaculture funding groups to implement solutions
  that address constraints in
• Research - R
• Development - D
• Commercialization - C
• To identify R, D, C constraints and gaps in
  development of a marine white-flesh finfish
  sector.

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OBJECTIVES FOR THIS FORUM contd

• To discuss and explore ways of identifying
  funding to address these constraints.
• To outline high priority R D required for the
  commercialisation of the marine white-flesh
  finfish sector.

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ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES

• List of prioritised R, D C constraints.
• Identify possible collaborative research and
  development projects.
• Analysis of funding gaps.
• Identify a process and working group to develop a
  strategic plan for the marine finfish sector,
  which will serve as a road map for future R D
  activities and initiatives.
• Evaluation of forum as a mechanism for
  co-ordinating aquaculture R D.