Wharfside
March 2013
Nets – A Paradigm Shift
In this issue Nets – A Paradigm Shift. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Anchoring a marine services business on the North Island. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Farm site “home away from home” for self-published author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 On the road again. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Working outside the red zone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Safety ‘InSites’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 New MHC family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
By James Gaskill, Production Director
After 25+ years, say good-bye to single nylon nets. These nets have served the industry for a long time but in order for us to be a more modern and progressive salmon farming company we are
BC Jobs Plan Job Fair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
moving on.
Proud to be a regular supporter of the Campbell River Salmon Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The nets of old bring to mind the term “net pens” which conjures up the image of something not as substantial as we’d like it to be. We are now in the age of sea cages where we require more protection, more resilience and more longevity. Our quest for an improved net began almost four years ago when we realized that what we were using had to change. We needed three things: a new design, a new material, and redundancy.
Dave Pashley receives honours at BC Aquaculture Awards Gala. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Nicholas King delivered a BIG cheque. . . . . 6
Did you Know? When licking a stamp, you consume 1/10 of a calorie.
Trivia time! What is the oldest surviving film in existence today? Answer on Page 4
Comments about this Newsletter? Please email comments, articles and ideas to Ian Roberts, Communications Manager at ian.roberts@marineharvest.com
As always, through trial and error, and through input from managers and staff alike we came up with a hybrid design. Hybrid because it incorporates the function of a main net and also provides predator protection. However, the development did not stop there – we soon discovered that we
needed a material that would not stretch, shrink, nor lose its strength over time. Our answer came through a suggestion from our purchasing staff: why not use HDPE (high density polyethylene) netting? It is the product of choice for the trawling industry around the world. It had the criteria we were looking for and the added benefit of having a low drag in the water (very slippery) and having a high abrasion resistance. Once we had a base design and the correct material the newly formed Net Committee went to work refining the design and setting specifications. The first design was installed at Phillips Arm farm where it has just been removed after all its fish were harvested. According to the manager and staff, the net performed well having been effective against predators and nearly as clean when it came out as when it went in. Similar nets of different material weights are being trialed at Mahatta East site where they have outperformed three other materials (including nylon) in a four way net trial. The last key in the cog was even greater added redundancy that would further protect against predators, the potential for escape, or damage by driftwood. So, we decided to build full site predator nets from the same HDPE material – we have Dean Trethewey to Continued on page 3
Anchoring a marine services business on the North Island By Ian Roberts
There is an un-credited quote that states “timing is everything - in business and in life”. If you’ve ever bought or sold a house, you’d probably agree. So would Marine Harvest Canada’s (MHC) Port Hardy Production Manager, Darren Ingersoll. In February 2012, Darren was looking to replace a 12 person crew boat that shuttled crew to and from ocean-based salmon farm sites near Port Hardy, British Columbia. MHC farms had been supplied by a company-owned vessel, but Darren was looking to outsource the service. At the same time the Gwa’sala‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations (GNN) was looking for an anchor customer to help secure a new marine services and tourism business – GNN Marine Services. “In retrospect, the timing couldn’t have been better,” says GNN’s Economic Development Officer Conrad Browne. A business relationship was not new to the company or Nations, as they have enjoyed an ongoing partnership agreement since 2000. A commitment of this agreement is to help support economic opportunities within GNN’s Traditional Territory. Conrad and Darren met to discuss the potential business to business relationship and decided to give it a three month trial beginning in the summer of 2012. A few things were required first – most importantly a boat and skipper. So GNN 2
Marine purchased “Gordies Girl”, a 28 foot, 12 seat crew boat. A total refit was required and was done locally at Progressive Diesel in Port McNeill. “GNN went over and above what is required for vessel comfort” adds Conrad, “but the final product was well worth it.” At the same time this Coast Guard certified vessel was secured, the Nations began training several band members. Today there are two full-time, licensed operators. Business operations and operator safety and conduct are overlooked by Angela Smith, a resident of Port Hardy.
at 30 km per hour - making it the world’s fastest navigable tidal surge according to the Guinness Book of World Records. “It’s a win-win-win,” says Darren. “GNN Marine Services has a core customer and we have a solid, reliable and safe service that can also provide North Island communities with valuable marine services and tourism opportunities. To read more about Nakwakto Rapids or to book a trip, you can visit www. nakwaktorapidstours.com.
“We began providing service to Marine Harvest in July of 2012,” says Angela, “and the boat is now busy four days a week shuttling crew and supplies to the salmon farms in the area.” The year-round service required by MHC has helped GNN expand their marine services business to include two boats and to further develop their eco-tourism business - Nakwakto Rapids Tours. The wildlife and cultural tour includes a run of Nakwakto Rapids – the tidal rapids peak MarineHarvestCanada.com
Black Oystercatcher – photo by Greg Gibson
Farm site “home away from home” for self-published author By Gina Forsyth
From the time Sean Fredriksen was a baby until he moved to Vancouver Island in 1995, travelling over the Rocky Mountains between BC and his birthplace of Calgary, Alberta, was a regular summer event. “My parents had a cabin in Bowser, south of Courtenay, and the family spent every July there, fishing,” he said. When the time came, it was Sean’s love of fishing that brought him to the West Coast.
arena equestrian centres in the Comox Valley. Denise is a hunter/jumper trainer and the Centre also regularly hosts clinics, events and arena rental.
Sean’s enjoyment of the outdoors and fishing in particular, as well as his interest and talent in drawing has led him on a new adventure – he’s now a published author. “I use India ink and pastels,” he explains, adding that a fishing trip with Sean, who joined Marine Harvest in 2009 his youngest son was the after a career as a sports fishing guide, inspiration for a series of started as a deckhand on workboats. He sketches. “My youngest son enjoyed it but wanted to beSEAN closer to the FREDR IKSEN has spent the last 20 years as an manhis went to school avid andfisher told and fish. When an opportunity forguide a farm arounsite d Vancouver Island . He has combined his love of fishing with his talent for storytelling friends thatation histostep-dad and illustr position came up, Sean applied and shortly bring to lifehad the first in a series of children’s books celebr ating his about kids. written a book him,” after, started at Midsummer, then moved to When he isn’t sharin g love of natur explains Sean., heAfter he e with his family Larsen Island, and then to Swanson Island, can bethat, found on their farm in the Comox Valley with their 2 dogs, 5 cats, and 3 wrote the story and chose where he’s currently a Farm Technician. “At horse s. to self-publish through Swanson, we pay attention to details and “Growing up around the West Coast ofin Xlibris 2010. Vanco uver Island I like that. I love being on the water and the magic of fishing captured my heart at a young age. watching the fish grow”. You can see that sparkle in every Check young boysout eyes Sean’s if you onlybook, look.” Sean and his wife Denise, who have been married for three years and have a blended family with three kids, live north of Courtenay in the Dove Creek area. They own and operate Wildwood Stables, one of the few full-care horse boarding and indoor
Fish Like Me, at http:// bookstore.xlibris. com/Products/SKU0089738017/Fish-LikeMe.aspx. Customers world-wide have bought
Sean’s book and an e-book version will be available next year. Marine Harvest has purchased copies of Fish Like Me and is pleased to offer the book to future arrivals. Sean is currently working on a second book about his step-daughter and her horse.
ISBN: 978-1-4568-12546
ªxHSLEPGy812546zv*:+:!:+:!@ (89738)
WRITTEN AND ILLUSTR AT E D B Y
SEAN FREDRIKSEN
Nets – A Paradigm Shift Continued thank for much of the design work. At the end of last year and the beginning of this year the management and staff of Quatsino and Port Hardy worked their butts off to install six full site predator nets which have been tremendously effective to date. And so what’s the plan? In January it was decided that over the next 2+ years we
will: replace all aging nylon nets and any prior copper dipped nets with our new hybrid HDPE nets, and that 100% of cages will include predator nets. It will be an investment of several million dollars, but a necessary and responsible one. So if you’re out and about and see the funky purple or
MarineHarvestCanada.com
yellow nets, you’ll know the paradigm shift has begun. To quote the people from Honda “Things Can Always Be Better”. Thank you to all the MHC staff who are helping to make our nets better.
3
On the road again Jacob Koomen, MHC’s ‘Flying Dutchman’, is again going to tackle the grueling “Ride2Survive” in June. The Ride2Survive operates a one-day cycling event from Kelowna to Delta, British Columbia to raise funds for cancer research. That’s 400 km, in one day! Training for this event will include a one day 360 km ride in May in Jacob’s home country of Holland with his sister and 60 other riders. Jacob will be the first “outsider” in the event’s 43 year history! You can support Jacob in his quest to raise funds for cancer research by donating to the cause. Contact Linda Jackson at the main office to make a donation.
Working outside the red zone
In the beginning of 2012, the Brainsafe program gave employees a chance to shed
Safety ‘InSites’ By Dan Pattison, Health and Safety Advisor
•
4
The first description of a tsunami was recorded by the Greek historian, Thucydides, in his book ‘History of the Peloponnesian Wars’, way back in 400 BC.
Removing every RED ZONE hazard can seem like a monumental process, but good
•
Although Aristotle was one of the first Europeans to create a theory about the origin of Earthquakes (he thought that they were the result of heavy winds), the earliest earthquake on record was in the Shandong province of China in 1831 BC. MarineHarvestCanada.com
communication, hard work and creative thinking has already eliminated many of these hazards. Although there is more work to be done, the dedication and persistence of our Marine Harvest employees will prove, like always, that this task will be laid to rest, and in turn, we can all enjoy a safer place to work.
•
There are about five hundred thousand detectable earthquakes globally every year. While roughly ten thousand of these can be felt, only one hundred cause serious damage.
Answer: Roundhay Garden Scene, filmed in 1888 in the U.K
some light on a few of the hazards that salmon farmers and processors at Marine Harvest Canada are exposed to. These observations led to the creation of what is now known as ‘The MHC RED ZONE’. Since then, it has been the highest of priorities to eliminate these hazards from our sites.
New MHC family Congratulations to the Marsili family. On February 8th they welcomed a new addition to their family. Lacey Margaret Jameson Lagos-Marsili (left) was born at 9:16am and weighed 7 lbs. This is the fourth child for Brad and Susan. Cole and Emma Makinson are proud to introduce their first child, Leif Robert Makinson (right). Leif was born on December 21st and weighed 4 lbs, 10 oz.
Jeanine Sumner (left) and Suzi Gaskill were great hosts at the Marine Harvest booth during the BC Jobs Plan Job Fair held in Campbell River in February.
Proud to be a regular supporter of the Campbell River Salmon Foundation marineharvestcanada.com
MarineHarvestCanada.com
5
Dave Pashley (left) receives his award from Wade Kaskiw of AKVA Group North America
Dave Pashley receives honours at BC Aquaculture Awards Gala The award for Outstanding Manager Performance is awarded to an “individual that has demonstrated exceptional performance in decision making and problem solving, in showing leadership and professionalism and is open to change.” And, according to the very complimentary nominations that Dave received for the 14th Annual BC Aquaculture Awards held in Campbell River on February 23rd, that award description is Dave Pashley. Dave is Processing Director & Plant Manager for Marine Harvest Canada, but has very deep roots in the fish business. Deep roots - as in 1973. That’s when Dave began a career with BC Packers, living in coastal communities like Namu, Bella Coola and Prince Rupert.
After a very rewarding and diversified career in the wild fish business, Dave made the move to salmon aquaculture in 1996, becoming General Manager for Englewood Packing in Port McNeill. After a decade of successful operation, the processing plant was closed when Marine Harvest consolidated its operations, and Dave took the opportunity to experience salmon farming in Tasmania with his wife Robin. Coming back home in 2007, Dave began the latest chapter in his working career at Marine Harvest’s Port Hardy Processing Plant. Dave’s knowledge, innovation, positive outlook and passion for his work were all key points mentioned in the nominations that lead to him being the successful recipient of the Outstanding Manager
twitter.com/MHCanada 6
facebook.com/MHCanada MarineHarvestCanada.com
On February 17th, Nicholas King delivered a BIG cheque to ‘Variety, Show of Hearts Telethon’ in Vancouver, BC. This was a very special occasion for Nick, his sister Madison and his mom and dad, Allison and Roger. Look for more on this story in the April edition of Wharfside. (l-r) Allison, Nicholas, Roger and Madison King
Performance award at the 14th Annual BC Aquaculture Awards. “Although he is a Director of a global company, you can find him in the employee lunch room chatting with everyone, or even down on the floor (packing line) helping out when needed,” stated one nomination. Congratulations to Dave for receiving this very deserving award! Congratulations to the other Marine Harvest Canada final nominees: Ian Roberts (Outstanding Contributor to our Communities), Joe Johnson (Long Term Recognition) and Stephen Hall (Rookie of the Year). bit.ly/MHCanada