of this study are to pinpoint costly and ineffi- 

 cient processing practices and to make rec- 

 ommendations for improving processing con- 



ditions. Research on automation is a basic 

 program objective. 



SERVICE PROGRAMS 



^a»i 



Supplementing biological and techno- 

 logical research, the Region's extensive 

 service programs are designed to offset some 

 of the economic problems that handicap the 

 industry. 



These programs are concerned with the 

 day-to-day activities of the commercial fishing 

 industry. Market news and statistical services 

 are provided. Marketing assistance is fur- 

 nished so that domestic fishery products can 



be marketed in an orderly fashion and supply 

 and demand can be balanced. Financial assist- 

 ance not otherwise available to vessel owners 

 is provided. Upgrading of vessel safety stand- 

 ards is encouraged to reduce losses and there- 

 by lower insurance rates. The regulations 

 recommended by the International Commis- 

 sion for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries are 

 enforced. 



TECHNICAL ADVISORY UNIT 



■I 



The first priority function of the Re- 

 gion's Technical Advisory Unit, headquar- 

 tered at Boston, Mass., is to assist the indus- 

 trial fishery to find new outlets for fish 

 meal and oil. To determine the end users' 

 needs and to bring these needs to the atten- 

 tion of the industrial fishery, the results of 

 research have been made available to present 

 and potential users of these products. 



This activity is expected to expand to 

 ultimately provide similar "extension" or 

 "liaison" services to other fishery groups. 

 Through this better exchange of information 

 on producer-processor-user immediate and 

 long-range needs, the markets for fishery 

 products can be better diversified and sta- 

 bilized. 



STATISTICS 



The collection and dissemination of fish- 

 ery statistical information are routine func- 

 tions of the Region's Statistical Services unit 

 at Gloucester. This unit collects, analyzes, 

 and publishes data on the regional produc- 

 tion and values of all commercial fish and 

 shellfish. Statistics are also collected on fish- 



ing craft, employment, volume of processed 

 products, monthly and annual freezings, 

 holdings of frozen fish, and production of 

 fish meal and oil. In addition, special tabula- 

 tions of catch and operating-unit statistics 

 are prepared for the use of Bureau biologists 

 and for the International Commission for the 



17 



