At an announcement in St. John's today, Liberal leader Stephane Dion pledged to invest in the fishing industry, including:
. $70 million to retire core commercial harvesting licences for fishermen and women who want to get out of the business.
. $250 million for a Green Fisheries and Transport Fund that would provide rebates and incentives for investments in the latest technologies to cut fuel consumption and to help finance modernization of fishing vessels and on-shore equipment to make them more energy efficient.
. $100 million to improve small craft harbours across Canada, including $25 million for harbours in Canada's north.
. A pledge to try to establish the first international protected area for the vital cod nursery to prevent foreign over-fishing of the Tail of the Grand Banks.
-srbp-