I am pleased to advise and confirm that Dr. Cosmas Ho is well regarded in the Newfoundland Business community. He is a successful medical doctor as well as an entrepreneur. He has diverse interests, one of which is the Newfoundland fishery. Dr. Ho's innovations and initiatives, particularly in the area of specialized seafood products in the Province, have been recognized both locally and internationally. The P.J. Gadiner Institute for Business Studies of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador awarded Dr. Ho for his business achievements when he was presented with the Newfoundland Entrepreneurship Award in 1986, the year this prestigious award was introduced. Under Dr. Ho's direction, his company, Terra Nova Fishery Co. Ltd., successfully re-introduced the commercial production and export of dried squid from Newfoundland in the mid 1970's. Following three years of intensive research, Terra Nova Fishery Co. Ltd. established in Newfoundland the first commercial surimi and imitation shellfish production facility in North America in 1984.Some years ago, recognizing the potential value of Newfoundland's abundant and growing harp seal population, Dr. Ho began an intensive research and development program to identify marketable and value added products from the seal. This led to more resarch and promotion of the dietary benefits of seal oil which is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and which is now widely recognized. Through Dr. Ho's initiatives, in 1994, Terra Nova Fishery Co. Ltd. introduced the first commercial production of edible seal oil for human consumption in the world. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador supports the commercial harvest of the seal as a valuable renewable resource. The number of animals taken each year in no way jeopardizes the harp seal population, which is not an endangered species. The seal herds off Canada's East Coast are the largest in the world with recent estimates of the population upwards of 8 million animals. The harp seal herd is by far the largest, with more than 700,000 pups born annually. The total allowable catch (TAC) for harvesting is set by the Federal Government and is based on scientific research and renewable resource management practice. We expect the seal fishery and industry to continue to thrive as new markets develop. Dr. Ho's initiatives in the development of the seal industry is well recognized and respected. The seal fishery in this Province has become a major industry, which provides a significant portion of income for thousands of fishermen and hundreds of plant workers. The fishery continues to be highly regulated and closely monitored in accordance with good management practices and scientific advice. 
