CANADA
July 2012
In This Issue Kofi Annan Recognizes Potential for Aquaculture in Sustainable Food Production. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Robot Buddies Lighten the Box Stacking Load at Processing Plant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 First Ever Island Vacation Leads to “dream job” for Ontario Native. . . . . . . . . . 3 Congratulations on being Brainsafe Trained!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Positive Aquaculture Awareness 16th Annual BC Aquaculture Slo-Pitch Tournament. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Thank you. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Plankton Season in Quatsino Sound. . . . . . . . 4 Get Yer Passes! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 New Quatsino Marina Open For Biz. . . . . . . . 5 Thank you. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Missing Friends, Not the Rain. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Salmon Barbeques Thank you for your support! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Celebrating our Successes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Did you Know? Butterflies taste with their feet.
Trivia time! Which was the tenth province to join Confederation? Answer on Page 4
Comments about this Newsletter?
Please email comments, articles and ideas to Ian Roberts, Communications Manager at ian.roberts@marineharvest.com
Wharfside Kofi Annan Recognizes Potential for Aquaculture in Sustainable Food Production
Kofi Annan Secretary General of the United Nations
Aquaculture has a strong potential to contribute to reducing hunger in the world said Kofi Annan, twice Secretary General of the United Nations, when addressing AquaVision 2012 delegates in Norway last month. He asked the major aquaculture companies represented at the conference to look beyond their bottom line and share knowledge and partner with the small fish farmers in developing countries. If the industry leaders do that it will accelerate the reduction in hunger and lead to sustainable food production. He added that aquaculture also needs the facilitation of governments and support of society because we are struggling today to feed seven billion people. In 2050 it will be nine billion.
The farming of fish is about more than producing food, it is good protein that provides excellent nutrition and generates a means of earning an income, leading to economic development. In particular, women are often involved in small scale enterprises and when that happens their children benefit from better nutrition. We often talk about food security but forget the word nutrition. Hunger and poor nutrition damage health and inhibit development and growth, which leads to continuing failure. Kofi Annan congratulated the industry for its focus on improving sustainability, with initiatives such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, then asked for more attention to the potential long term impacts of climate change to increase productivity in conditions to come, in the developing countries as well as the developed world. Reviewing the industry’s current approach to improving productivity and sustainability he commented; “I do not ask you to change direction, but I ask you to accelerate progress. We need to work together if we are to overcome world hunger.”
“I do not ask you to change direction, but I ask you to accelerate progress.”
MarineHarvestCanada.com
(file from AquaVision 2012 Management Brief – Issue 3)
Robot Buddies Lighten the Box Stacking Load at Processing Plant By Gina Forsyth
“Sir Stack a Lot,” the state of the art box stacking robot at the Port Hardy Processing (PHPP) on northern Vancouver Island, will have a friend to share the work with by the end of summer 2012. In September 2010 PHPP installed an automated robot to organize, handle and stack the boxes of market ready salmon and ice onto pallets in preparation for shipment. The first robot was so successful in reducing the amount of back and shoulder injuries commonly associated with box stacking, that a second, identical one was announced in the spring by Dave Pashley, PHPP Processing Director and Plant Manager. This second robot, who name has yet to be chosen, gives PHPP the capacity to reduce manually stacking of boxes by approximately 85%, a huge step forward for the company’s health and safety program. The expectation is for further reduction and the potential elimination of all injuries related to box stacking, one of the most physically demanding jobs in the plant. “These robots are common in Norway but not in Canada,” said Blaine Tremblay, PHPP Health and Safety Manager. “Sir Stack a Lot” 2
was a first not only for our company but for Canada’s aquaculture industry. MHC remains the only company operating this hi-tech piece of equipment, added Blaine. Employees at PHPP manually lift boxes filled with salmon and ice that routinely weigh upwards of 75 lbs and stack them as low as 4 inches off the ground and more than 6 feet high. Between 5,000 and 6,000 boxes are moved daily. “Sir Stack a Lot” has reduced our manual handling for this job by 45% on any given day and also sharply reduced injuries.” The process starts with the programming of the robot for each of the eight pallet locations it can reach. As each box enters the robot zone, it is scanned via bar code reader and communicates to the robot what size range of fish the box contains. Based on this information, the robot knows which pallet to place the box on. As the robot stacks the boxes it keeps track of each one and how it’s placed in preparation for the next box. It’s essential
MarineHarvestCanada.com
to keep the boxes stable and as a result, “Sir Stack a Lot” follows a chimney block stacking pattern and knows where exactly each box must be placed to maintain this specific stacking pattern. The robot gripper picks up each styrofoam box off a conveyor with the correct amount of grip strength to lift, rotate and stack while ensuring that it doesn’t break the styrofoam boxes and still placing it within millimeters of the other boxes. Once the pallet is full, the robot lifts up an empty pallet and holds it above the completed stack while it waits for a trained operator to remove the stack and restart the process. The staff maintenance electrician at PHPP is fully trained in updating the robot’s software and hardware components. However, should the need arise, today’s technology allows for access from Iceland via the Internet for any necessary trouble shooting. Maintenance on Sir Stack a Lot and his soon to arrive friend is limited to replacing cylinders in the grippers.
First Ever Island Vacation Leads to “dream job” for Ontario Native By Gina Forsyth
The Quatsino region on northwest Vancouver Island is fortunate to have Nicky Barchuk’s Nicky Barchuk positive energy and keen interest in the industry. As a Farm Technician 2 at Monday Rocks, she feeds fish and samples for plankton, along with the position’s many other responsibilities. Nicky grew up outside Guelph, Ontario. After high school, she earned her certificate
in drilling and blasting from Sir Sandford Fleming College in Lindsay in 2006. When it was holiday time, Nicky headed to Vancouver Island and Campbell River, both for the first time. “I loved it here and quickly decided to move last spring”. Through word of mouth, Nicky heard about the salmon aquaculture industry and immediately applied, excited about employment with such a strong focus on outdoor work. “I was ecstatic to be hired,” Nicky added, “It’s my dream job.” Adding to the sheer pleasure of Nicky’s farm work was her involvement in the Vancouver
Aquarium’s BC Cetacean Sightings Network. All Marine Harvest sites and vessels have been part of it since last year. In recognition of her dedication, Nicky was named one of the Top 25 Whale Observers in BC for 2011. “I travel to every farm in the Quatsino region and collect the whale sighting data from their log books. We record the date, time, behavior and location of each whale and the weather.” She also takes pictures and encourages everyone in her region to as well. Even on days off, Nicky’s never far from the water. She loves to beach-comb and “to say I fish a lot would be an understatement”.
Congratulations on being Brainsafe Trained! Submitted by Dean Dobrinsky, HR Director
In the fall of 2011, we sent four of our coworkers; Kristian Fletcher (Fletch), Glen Molland, Joy Stowe and Blaine Tremblay to be trained as BRAINSAFE Master Facilitators. After 9 months, 34 training sessions from Klemtu to Port Hardy to Campbell River, 490+ employees and 56 contractors are now Brainsafe trained. Many thanks go out to these four Master Facilitators who showed their commitment and caring to our safety by providing a level of training that has been second to none.
EXCEPTIONAL JOB WELL DONE! Thanks also to Kristi Super who provided great support by organizing the facilities and logistics. This is just the beginning of this project; as CEO Alf-Helge Aarskog stated recently, “At Marine Harvest we have now reached an important and critical phase of our safety journey. The new competence and knowledge needs to be embedded in structures and activities, and to be built in properly in all our thinking.” Our next steps for Brainsafe will be to introduce ways to “embed” Brainsafe into our culture. One key step will be to take the feedback from all sessions to create a Red Zone list that all worksites will review and provide corrective actions. MarineHarvestCanada.com
Positive Aquaculture Awareness
10th ANNUAL AQUACULTURE GOLF TOURNAMENT GLACIER GREENS GOLF COURSE SEPTEMBER 11Th, 2010
1:00PM SHOT START 16th Annual BC GUN Aquaculture 6:30 PM DINNER TEXAS SCRAMBLE FORMAT Slo-Pitch Tournament COST: $100.00/PERSON
Date: Saturday, July 7th, 2012 & Sunday, July 8th, 2012
TO BOOK YOUR TEAM OF FOUR CONTACT DAVE ASHCROFT AT: dave.ashcroft@marineharvest.com Golf Carts are to be reserved by each team by calling Glacier Greens Pro Shop @ (250) 339-6515 and are at a first come, first served basis
Location: Willow Point Park, Campbell River
SUPPORT POSITIVE AQUACULTURE AWARENESS
Come out and cheer on your Marine Harvest teams!
3
Plankton Season in Quatsino Sound
To Marine Harvest; Kitasoo Community School would like to thank you for your participation in Ocean’s Day 2012! The students were very happy to see people come to help the clean-up, the example your participation has set for the students and the community, and to learn from the displays at the barge. The staff could not have done it without your generous support and participation. We look forward to seeing you at future community and school events in Klemtu. Sincerely, Staff and students at Kitasoo Community School
4
Just like spring flowers blooming at Butchart Gardens, so do the plankton at Quatsino Sound! Summer plankton blooms are common in the Pacific Ocean and are caused by the seasons warming ocean waters and hot sun. Salmon farmers prepare their farms each spring to mitigate any harm that plankton may have on their fish. New polyester vinyl plankton tarps arrived to
Get Yer Passes! A reminder to all staff that MHC is a proud sponsor of Saratoga Speedway. We have 6 season passes are available for each event (excluding Monster Trucks).
MarineHarvestCanada.com
Quatsino in May and were quickly deployed. Combined with bubbling plankton-free water from depth, each net pen can be protected from harmful plankton.
For full schedule visit www. saratogaspeedway.bc.ca. Contact Stephaney at Stephaney. VanAcken@marineharvest.com to reserve season passes, or visit her at the Campbell River office front desk.
Answer: Newfoundland
New Quatsino Marina Open For Biz The Quatsino First Nation celebrated the grand opening of a new marina at Quatsino Harbour on Saturday June 23rd. Marine Harvest staff, including Dave Guhl, Nicky Barchuk and Eric Rogers were invited to celebrate the event. Chief Tom Nelson opened the ceremonies under clear skies and Marine Harvest treated over 150 people to a tasty salmon barbeque. The new marina is a welcome addition to boaters in Quatsino and will serve the sportfishers, commercial fishers and fish farmers with supplies and fuel in Quatsino Sound. Chef Ben (on left, joined by Quatsino Economic Development Director Dale Blackburn and Dave Guhl) did an excellent job barbequing Marine Harvest Sterling salmon for the Quatsino crowd.
Thank You! “Dear Marine Harvest, thank you so much for the contributions you made to the grand opening. The fish was absolutely delicious and enjoyed by all. The barbeque came in handy and we appreciate you lending it to us. Most of all – thank you for Dave, Nicky and Eric – they are awesome people and contributed so much to the success of the event. They did everything from canopy setup, balloon decorations, cooking the fish and cleanup. Believe me, the cleanup was a HUGE job and they hung in there to the very end. We enjoyed their company as well – very, very nice people!!” Irene Paterson, General Manager Quatsino First Nation Economic Development Corporation
Missing Friends, Not the Rain
Hello MHC. It’s been almost five months now since leaving the Island and I thought I would send back a photo of what I’ve been up to. Many people asked why I was leaving and I always found it difficult to explain as I had a
great job, for great company, in a great town. This picture with the kids is my answer. I’m enjoying my new work and Summerlanders are being very friendly to us. April and Alice are excited to move into our new home. I want to thank everyone who supported me for 10 years on the Island especially the crew at Sayward North and the Freshwater Team. Keep em’ Belly Down! (And don’t forget to buy your Freshwater Fishing Licenses!) Craig Schelter can be reached at Craig. Schelter@gofishbc.com MarineHarvestCanada.com
5
Salmon Barbeques - Thank you for your support! Please stop by, enjoy a salmon burger and help support the following charities and societies at the following events in 2012: March 17
Y.A.N.A / St Joseph’s Hospital Foundation
Spirit Square, Campbell River
John Howard Society
Port Hardy
Cancer Society - Relay for Life
Spirit Square, Campbell River
Head Injury Society
Vanier Park, Courtenay
Cancer Society - Relay for Life
Dick Murphy Park, Campbell River
Dragon Boat Society
July 1
Robert Ostler Park, Campbell River
BC Firefighters Burn Fund
July 14
Centennial Pool, Campbell River
Salmon Kings Swim Society
July 28
Coastline Mazda, Campbell River
Hospice Society
August 18
OrcaFest, Port McNeill
Harvest Food Bank
September 9
Nunn’s Creek Park, Campbell River
SPCA - Paws for a Cause
May 26 May 30 June 23
Chef Joe Johnson and volunteers Anna, Emily and Ben serve up a delicious salmon burger to a happy customer at the Canadian Cancer Society’s ‘Relay for Life’ fundraiser in Courtenay held in June.
Done! Done! Done! Done! Done! Done!
Vanier Park, Courtenay
April 14
June 30
Jacob Koomen (at back) and the Dobrinsky family (Sarah, Chloe and Dean) were just a few of the MHC staff who came out to support the Campbell River Head Injury Society’s salmon barbeque fundraiser last month.
Celebrating our Successes Marine Harvest’s Campbell River staff gathered at Young Pass site in June to celebrate their successful results, share information and enjoy a yummy barbeque. To accommodate both crew shifts, staff met over two days.
twitter.com/MHCanada
6
Andre Marthinsen manned the BBQ with a view (aka “bar-be-view”)
facebook.com/MHCanada
MarineHarvestCanada.com
bit.ly/MHCanada