SPEC Headlines
March 16, 2003

Gaspe Cegep to offer new DEC
Charlene Eden 

            Students will now have a chance to attain a diplome d’etudes collegiales (DEC) in Adventure Tourism Techniques at the Gaspé campus of the Cegep de le Gaspesie et des Iles.  The Quebec Minister of Education authorized the new program on February 6th.  The Gaspé Cegep will be the only institution to offer the program in the province.

            To help launch the program, Education and Employment Minister Sylvain Simard has allocated the Cegep $175,000 to restructure locales and $149,000 for the acquisition of equipment.  The program will begin in September 2003, but will only be considered a permanent program starting in September 2004.  A total of 24 students will be admitted to the program. But according to Denyse Blanchet, the Cegep’s director of studies, 44 people have already shown interest in taking the program, including one person from France. 

Forillon Naval Shipyard receives development funds
Charlene Eden 

            Forillon Naval Shipyard, a Gaspé company specializing in naval architecture and repairs, received a boost on March 10th from the Federal government.  Georges Farrah, MP for Bonaventure/Gaspé/Magdalen Islands/Pabok, announced that Canada Economic Development is allocating a non-refundable contribution of $93,000 to the company. 

            The funds will be used by Forillon Naval Shipyard to expand the plant, organize marketing activities and buy production equipment, such as a compressor, a sander and welding tools.  New computer technology will also be purchased.  “In terms of innovation, the purchase of computer equipment will also make it possible to increase the research and development for maintaining and increasing the expertise of this Gaspé-based firm and for facilitating its market positioning,” said Mr. Farrah.

Fishermen against cod moratorium
Charlene Eden 

            The Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (FRCC), which makes recommendations on conservation requirements to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), held a public consultation in Gaspé on March 5th to attain information on ground fish stocks in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.  Although numerous species were discussed, the issue of cod stocks dominated the meeting.  Some twenty fishermen and industry workers attended the meeting and made it clear to the council that they are heavily opposed to a moratorium on cod.

            Last year, the total allowable catch of cod was fixed at 6,000 tonnes for the Southern stock and 7,000 tonnes for the Northern stock.  But studies by DFO scientists indicate that the abundance and spawning stock biomass of both the Southern and Northern cod stocks low and declining, and that keeping the catch quotas at their current level will result in decreases of 16% and 12% for the two stocks in 2003.