Seafood focus of Canadian deal

THE State Government will sign an agreement with their Nova Scotian counterparts on sharing ideas to improve their seafood industries.

Primary Industries and Water Minister Guy Barnett yesterday met with a delegation of government and industry representatives from Nova Scotia, Canada, which included that province’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell.

Mr Barnett said yesterday the governments would “progress” an agreement.

“There is much we can learn from each other on fisheries and aquaculture development,” Mr Barnett said.

“We also look forward to working co-operatively on regulation and policy develop- ment; research and development projects; community engagement approaches, and training and education activities.”

Nova Scotia paid for representatives from Tasmania to visit the province last year.

The Nova Scotian delegation will spend six days in Tasmania.

Among other activities, they will visit fishing vessels, lobster fishers and fishing tourism operators.

Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson said there were issues in this state that could not be glossed over.

“The key lesson Nova Scotia can learn from Tasmania is how climate change and gutless politicians are destroying our reefs and the future of our fisheries,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.