The province’s energy minister says a decision to pause seismic work in the offshore this year is not a cancellation, but he can’t say for certain if that will be the case based on fluctuations in the oil and gas industry.

Andrew Parsons was responding to questions raised about government’s decision not to go ahead with its $20 million dollar seismic data collection program.

He says a significant stockpile of information already collected is readily available for this year’s bid process, and while the program has not been cancelled, he can’t predict what will happen in the years ahead.

However, government feels there is a future for the industry.