The provincial government is going to spend $100,000 to look into the idea of developing cold storage facilities in Gander and Port aux Basques for the export of fresh and live seafood.

Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne says cold storage at Gander International Airport and Port aux Basques could enable air shipment of fresh and live seafood for Canadian, US, European and Asian markets, and provide holding for product stranded at Port aux Basques because of bad weather.

The lobster industry would be one component of the fishery which could benefit. Minister Byrne says while this province accounts for only five per cent of all lobster exported from Canada, the industry is growing.

He says landings are increasing partly because of marketing but also because of climate change. Byrne believes using Gander International as a hub for both live storage and air shipments makes good sense.