CANADA
March 2012
In This Issue
Wharfside Record Results for Doctor Islet Site
Record Results for Doctor Islet Site. . . . . . 1 Local and Overseas Experience Benefits Employees and Fish. . . . . . . . . . . 2 It’s Salmon for Sam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Getting to Work Safely and Helping the Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Trivia Buffs?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sterling Cup Champions! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Marine Harvest staff celebrated at BC Aquaculture Awards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Big Decision hits Port Hardy!. . . . . . . 5 Chaos the Owl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
By Jamie Gaskill, Production Director
To say the recent harvest results at Doctor Islet were good is an understatement. The all-round performance of fish from this site is the best on record for both the Broughton area and MHC as a whole.
Comparative Results Yield/Smolt
feed, great survival, and consistently good appetite. From the beginning their approach to this crop was gold standard: employing nearly all of the Law of The Farm principles (for instance their smolt stocking density was 25% less than the previous crop). Our clean net program was well executed and the staff did a very thorough job of slow, careful behavioral feeding. What would strike any visitor to the site was the staff’s detailed focus on eliminating pellet loss. Doctor Islet has certainly set the new company benchmark. Growth Rate
Harvest Wt.
vs. Prior Doctor Crop
+22%
+15%
+15%
-8%
vs. 3yr Broughton Ave
+19%
+19%
+16%
-9%
vs. 3yr Company Ave
+25%
+21%
+15%
-7%
Did you Know?
In the words of Broughton Production Manager Kelly Osborne “Gord and all of the staff at Doctor deserve to be very proud of the tremendous results they pulled out of this crop. It takes a great team to produce great results and they have certainly proven that!”
‘Corduroy’ comes from the French, ‘cord du roi’ or ‘cloth of the king’.
Trivia time! On which television show was a toilet first seen? Answer on Page 4
Comments about this Newsletter?
Please email comments, articles and ideas to Ian Roberts, Communications Manager at ian.roberts@marineharvest.com
bFCR
The Doctor Islet harvest results have set a new company benchmark for fish performance. Pictured (l-r) are Michael Daly, Gord Bach, Tom Teschuk, Len Wells, Dave Emmerson and Teddy Sheck
So what was the secret? For the details I’m sure you’ll have to talk to Site Manager Gordon Bach himself, but here are a few of the basic ingredients: for starters they had a great group of quality smolt from Ocean Falls – quick onto
MarineHarvestCanada.com
Kelly Osborne Broughton Production Manager
Local and Overseas Experience Benefits Employees and Fish By Gina Forsyth
harvest process, including proper fish handling techniques. “I follow the fish from the sites to the box,” he said. We grow our fish for three years and know that the last few minutes of their lives are key. There’s a small window of time to ensure the fish are exposed to a minimum amount of stress. “My experience in Tasmania gave me a clear understanding of fish handling and husbandry practices,” said Jason.
For Jason Stalker, international experience with Atlantic salmon means a consistently high quality product and humane care of the fish. As Harvest Manager, Jason oversees the entire
Although Jason was born in Vancouver’s Lower Mainland, his stepfather was employed in the oil and gas industry and his family relocated based on where the work was. Jason finished high school in Nova Scotia and later graduated from Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario in the early 1990s with a diploma in Integrated Resource Management and a major in Fish and Wildlife.
eventually became Marine Harvest, said Jason. The job became permanent after school finished and I worked my way up to Assistant Manager, he added. Jason worked for five years as manager of farms in Klemtu before an opportunity came knocking - a position as Regional Production Manager for salmon farming company Tassal in Tasmania where he was in charge of six sites. After five years he returned to Campbell River and a case of good timing meant Jason rejoined Marine Harvest sooner than he ever anticipated. Jason and wife Leigh, who is a Registered Professional Forester, were married this past summer. They love the diversity of outdoor activities that Campbell River offers, from mountain biking and snowboarding to fishing, camping, and canoeing.
The aquaculture component caught my interest and I worked for a summer as a farm technician for Kyuquot Sound Farms, which
It’s Salmon for Sam
Before a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Sam Gagner of the Edmonton Oilers spoke about what might be responsible for his recent breakout streak. “I shortened up my nap a little bit. I switched from chicken to salmon. Just small things like that.”
2
MarineHarvestCanada.com
Getting to Work Safely and Helping the Environment By Gina Forsyth
accommodates a larger number of employees. Marine Harvest and Campbell River’s Strathcona Toyota have developed a solid working relationship over the years, said Gary. Each area – Klemtu, Quatsino, Broughton, Campbell River, and Port Hardy - have specific vehicles assigned for crew runs – and each is in charge of having the maintenance done on their vehicles as needed. Every vehicle is assigned a specific fuel card that travels with the truck. Tracking of mileage on each truck is part of the ongoing management of the program. Vehicles used for crew runs average 60,000 kilometres annually – a total of more than 1.1 million kilometers a year for crew transportation alone. Marine Harvest employees can depend on safe and reliable transportation to and from work, thanks to the company’s commitment to a carpooling program introduced in 2008. Not only does it provide peace of mind for managers and employees but the environmental impact of many dozen fewer cars and trucks on the road is also significant. We looked into a bus service and Rideshare but after considering all the options, employee carpooling was the most cost effective, said Gary Knowles, Purchasing Manager at Marine Harvest. The crew vehicles leave from a
predetermined central point, decreasing the amount of travel for each employee. “Consumer Reports is an impartial source of information and provided the information we needed.” After much comparison shopping and number crunching, it was determined that Toyota provided the best deal not only in terms of fuel efficiency but maintenance as well. The total number of trucks in the fleet is 50, with 18 reserved for crew runs, which each averaging four to six people virtually every week day. The Toyota Tacoma works well for the smaller runs while the Tundra easily
Social media plays a key part in the coordination of the program. A Facebook group for the Broughton was set up to communicate logistics such as who has keys and who needs a ride. The wide spread availability of Facebook means that the necessary details are handled easily and through a central location that everybody can access. The program is really popular with our site employees because not only do they save money on gas but it cuts down on wear and tear on personal vehicles. Travelling together provides a chance for people to get to know each other too, said Gary.
Lance Page has accepted the position of Brood Program Manager.
Lance will have two new direct reports, Dale Gowan and Trevor Dawes, while retaining his responsibilities as Manager of Fresh Water Farms.
MarineHarvestCanada.com
3
Trivia Buffs? 57 teams participated at the 13th annual BC Ambulance Paramedics Trivia Challenge. In thirteen years, more than $87,000 has been raised in support of the Campbell River Hospital Foundation. The Marine Harvest team “Cultured” was there and finished, quite respectfully, in the middle of the pack. Why stand out, right?
Pictured (l-f) are Matt and Heather Clarke, Liisa and Kevin McCollum, Chris and Karla Leighton, Kendra Rogers (taking the photo is the 8th member, James Rogers).
James Rogers reports that all team members had equal input, with some having expert knowledge on the topic of ‘alcohol’. Matt Clarke and Chris Leighton managed to put together a math model that correctly identified at what temperature Celsius and Fahrenheit match (-40). Geeks. The team knew the home address of the US President and British Prime Minister, but failed to recall where our very own Prime Minister lives. Typically Canadian. Thanks for “representing” team!
Sterling Cup Champions! The Koskimo Bay Crew in Quatsino Sound area was awarded the Sterling Cup for the lowest Economic Feed Conversion Rate from their 2009Q2 generation. Congratulations to (Pictured l-r) Mark Bennett, Tom Taylor, Jarrod Baker (AM), and Chris (Big Worm) Mathews on a job well done. Submitted by Site Manager David Guhl Photo taken by Graham Cruise
4
MarineHarvestCanada.com
Answer: Leave it to Beaver
Marine Harvest staff celebrated at BC Aquaculture Awards Two Marine Harvest Canada employees were delighted to be recipients of awards at the 13th Annual British Columbia Aquaculture Awards held in Campbell River on February 25th. Sharon Dedominicis, MHC’s Environmental Sustainability Manager, was honoured with the Environmental Award for “effectively broadening the practice of sustainable aquaculture.” Sharon had been nominated several times over the past years and was thrilled to receive the award this year. Several nominations submitted in support of Sharon noted her tireless efforts to ensure MHC “does the right thing in terms of environmental practices.” Other nominations noted Sharon’s dedication to science and her collaborative research efforts with business, government, environmental groups and academia. Kathy Baker, Value Added Lead Hand at Port Hardy Processing, was also honoured with a very special award. The Leadership Award
is awarded “to an individual for their efforts and actions demonstrating leadership and mentorship.” This was Kathy’s first nomination and she was nominated by several people. One nomination spoke to Kathy’s volunteer efforts in her community and her passion to meet the needs of her staff. Kathy’s workmates were thrilled that she received this award. “Kathy really deserves to be recognized for her leadership role at work and in her community,” said her workmate Rick MacRae.
Sharon Dedominicis
Photo by Ludy Mennie
Marine Harvest was very well represented at the event as 33 staff were nominated in seven award categories. The annual awards are hosted by Positive Aquaculture Awareness – a grassroots Society formed in 1998 to raise the level of awareness of aquaculture in BC. You can find out more about “PAA” at www.farmfreshsalmon.org. Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees and award recipients!
Kathy Baker
Photo by Ludy Mennie
The Big Decision hits Port Hardy! Decision’, a show that uses stars of the hit show ‘The Dragon’s Den’ to work with established businesses struggling to succeed. If successful, the show may provide much needed capital and expertise to the business that will help push it ‘over the hump’. Roger King, Jacques Gaudet and Hardy Buoys staff were busy serving delicious FREE salmon to hundreds of happy customers at “The Big Event”.
One of Marine Harvest’s customers is grabbing national headlines.
One of the show’s hosts, Arlene Dickinson, challenged Hardy Buoys to organize and host a community event that celebrates the town of Port Hardy.
Hardy Buoys Smoked Fish is going to be featured on CBC’s new show called ‘The Big
On February 26th, they did exactly that. Over 1000 people enjoyed ‘The Big Event’ that MarineHarvestCanada.com
featured bands, dancing, food contests and much more. Marine Harvest’s very own stars, Jacques Gaudet and Roger King, were also there with the MHC salmon bbq event trailer to provide salmon meals to over 500 very happy people. And the best part was – everything was FREE! The Big Decision has yet to decide, but we wish Hardy Buoys the best of luck!
5
Chaos the Owl By Kristian Fletcher
On Feb 20, Adam Richards was at Kid Bay site, near Klemtu, and spotted a Great Horned Owl struggling in the waters nearby. Adam was quick to react, grabbing a dip net to place him on the corner of the float house to dry out and regain his composure. The owl hung out on the deck of the house for a while when Ralph Pressner noticed a couple of ravens getting rough with him, so Adam and Ralph put the owl into a box with a towel, food and water and placed him inside to dry out. He stayed there quietly for the night, and in the morning we put him back on the deck to see if he was able to fly. He took a leap, tried to fly and fell into the water about 2 metres away. Adam quickly dipped him out of the water again and put him on the corner of the float house to dry off. Once he was fairly dry we put him back inside the house, in his box. At this point Adam had told his young daughter about the owl and she named him “Chaos”. We let Chaos dry out in the box again for the day. When we all came in for lunch we found he had chewed his way out of the box and was sitting quite comfortably on the dining room table. We left the nearby exits open to see if he would try and take off. By the end of the work day he was still sitting there. So, we put him in a Rubbermaid tote with large holes cut in it, water and food and figured he’d be better off in that. Well, to our surprise, the next morning he was sitting on top of the tote! Not only was
he on top of the tote, but the heavy jug of Fast Orange we had placed on the lid was still there! Very strange – perhaps he should have been renamed Houdini? The next afternoon we encouraged him to take off again. This time he made it about 5 metres, but again landed in the water but managed to make it to the nearby beach. We could see by the time he got to the beach there were a couple of crows and ravens bugging him again, and an eagle in the tree above watching every move he made. So, yet again Adam went over to the beach to help him, maneuvering the boat while grabbing for the dip net. Now, here’s the kicker - he placed the dip net beside Chaos and our owly friend took a look at the ravens, looked at Adam, back at the ravens and took one step forward and stood on the edge of the dip net! Adam returned to the float house, placed the dip net on the corner of the house and Chaos just stepped off and stood there. It was obvious to us that Chaos quickly weighed his options at the beach and figured he was much better off being spoiled by us. We put him back in his tote for the night with more food and water.
twitter.com/MHCanada
6
facebook.com/MHCanada
MarineHarvestCanada.com
We had contacted the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) in Courtenay for advice and they suggested we send him down to their place so they could check him out. We agreed, but said we were just going to give him one last chance to make it home, before shipping him 500 kms away. MARS was very friendly and supportive and really did care about Chaos and his situation. The next morning we gave Chaos one last chance and put him outside on top of a shelf and left him be for one hour. After we came out to check him out he just looked back at us, tilted his head and jumped off the shelf and took off in perfect flight. When he got to the beach he landed in a tree, and again, to our amazement there was his mate waiting in the tree for him. We hadn’t noticed the other owl until this point, but we all agreed it was pretty awesome to see that Chaos’ mate waited for four days for him to recover. It is one of the coolest things that any of us have witnessed. Chaos was very easy going and not aggressive so we think he always knew we were just trying to help him out.
bit.ly/MHCanada