Assisting harvesters with vessel refitting costs.

Coldwater Lobster Association (CLA) has secured funding to assist harvesters with the costs associated with vessel re-fitting for infrastructures that can be tied to maintaining the quality of lobster (holding practices on board their vessels). The Vessel Holding & Aeration program is a 4-year funding program (ending October 2023) that has been streamlined to be ‘fisherman friendly’.  CLA has dedicated staff who oversee the program and are available to answer any questions you may have surrounding this funding program.

• Aeration equipment and installation (blower, piping);
• Dedicated pumps;
• Flow meters;
• Water circulation pumps;
• Genset upgrades (*stipulations apply);
• Electrical upgrades required to operate equipment related to live wells (*stipulations apply);
  
• Water Quality Monitoring Systems (mandatory) *several options available;
  
• Saeplast insulated fish boxes;
  
• Temperature monitors for insulated fish boxes;
• On-deck conveyor belts (*stipulations apply); and
• Other equipment/technologies tied to maintaining lobster quality are currently under review.

Harvesters pay ALL costs upfront – BUT recover 75% of money spent, up to $45,000 on eligible costs. To assist harvesters with the upfront costs, the Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board has developed a bridge and deposit finacing loan program specifically for the Vessel Aeration & Holding program.

To participate in the program, harvesters are pre-screened through Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture Load Board. Prospective applicants must not have any outstanding fisheries violations within the last 5 years and be up to date on any Loan Board payments, if applicable, to be eligible.

Once the pre-screening is complete and the applicant is deemed ‘in good standing’, a short application will be completed at the CLA office (takes 5 minutes).

The applicant is responsible for coordinating the scheduling to get the work on their vessel completed

Applicants must obtain detailed invoices from the suppliers and/or installers completing the work on their vessel and provide copies to CLA. CLA program staff will complete all of the paperwork for your claim for seamless reimbursement and reporting. Simply sit back and wait for your 75% reimbursement cheque to come in.

Please note: Applicants funded under the program must retain control and possession of the assets funded for a minimum of two (2) years following the project completion date. Failure to do so will result in full repayment.

For more information on the Vessel Holding & Aeration Program, or to begin the pre-screening process, please feel free to drop by the office to speak with one of our office staff or call 902-742-9896
You can also email us at: CLAvesselfunding@gmail.com