FFAW-Unifor welcomes $300-million renewal of Atlantic Fisheries Fund

FFAW-Unifor is welcoming the renewal of the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF), with $300 million in funding announced over five years to support research, innovation and development in Atlantic Canada’s fishing industry.

The union says continued funding is important as Newfoundland and Labrador’s inshore fishery faces increasing operational pressures, changing market conditions and ongoing resource management challenges.

“The continuation of the Atlantic Fisheries Fund is welcome news, and we look forward to seeing these investments support the priorities of Newfoundland and Labrador’s independent inshore harvesters,” says FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street.

Street says investment in fisheries science, innovation and long-term planning is essential for the people and communities that depend on the industry.

The renewed fund will also support market diversification and seafood promotion, which FFAW-Unifor says are important amid uncertainty in global trade.

The union says it will continue advocating for funding that is accessible to independent inshore harvesters and supports industry-led research, sustainable resource management and the long-term viability of fishing enterprises across the province.