Yap Announces Funds to Promote Fishing Industry

by John Yap, MLA Richmond-Steveston
(Steveston, BC Canada)

Two provincial grants will support efforts to celebrate and expand the fishing industry in Steveston and across the province, MLA John Yap announced today.

"British Columbia’s fishing industry has been a key part of our culture, heritage and economy for hundreds of years," said Yap, MLA for Richmond-Steveston. "This is particularly true here in Steveston, which was once one of the busiest fishing ports in the province. These two grants will help encourage new investment and opportunity for British Columbia, and expand knowledge of our first class fishing industry, both within the province and beyond our borders."

A grant of $5,000 supported the expansion of the Third Annual Sardine Festival, recently held in Steveston. This festival helps bring knowledge of the province’s sardine fishery to the Lower Mainland and spreads information about the nutritional benefits of the sardine. The funding enabled the Canadian Pacific Sardine Association to expand the number of restaurants putting fresh sardines on the menu around festival time.

A second grant of $1,000 supported a networking luncheon between the Guangdong Fisheries Association of China and B.C. seafood processors. This luncheon helped establish links with groups in China as part of accessing that growing market.

Both grants were provided through the Ministry of Environment.
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Visit John’s website at www.johnyapmla.bc.ca