CANADA
May 2012
In This Issue A World That Loves Farmed Seafood . . . 1 Cryogenetics isn’t just for Austin Powers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 From Norway to Canada, company offers broad range of experience. . . . . . . . 3 Marine Harvest Canada Comments on Fish Virus Findings. . . . . . 3 Kitoi Boxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 No April Fools Joke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Long Lost Brothers?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Donations Welcomed to help MHC duo Conquer Cancer. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Ladies and Gents, Start Your Engines!. . . 4 Marine Harvest Pylons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Salmon Barbeque Success!. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Did you Know? The first VCR was made in 1956 and was the size of a stand up piano.
Trivia time! Only three mammals have sex for pleasure. Which ones? 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 A World That Loves Farmed Seafood
The senior management team takes time every year to plan for the future of Marine By Clare Backman, Harvest Canada. Sustainability Director We identify problems, develop plans for solutions and we look ahead for challenges that we can maybe just barely see on the horizon. It’s hard thinking but we push ourselves and each other to develop a plan that will both overcome the many obstacles in our path and also lead us into success. Recently we were challenged to look ahead 20 years asking: What would be a hugely successful thing for people to be saying about Marine Harvest in 2032? A number of great BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) came up but one really captured our imagination: Be the company that makes the world love farmed seafood! So why isn’t that true right now? We can’t remember when we last thought that hunting wild animals could possibly supply enough food; its been hundreds of years since we gave up on that and started farming. Today, virtually all potential pasture land is already in crops; there is no way to
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significantly increase the amount of global land for agriculture. However people still believe the oceans to be untamed in character and limitless in their capacity to produce fish. The oceans are mysterious; we can’t live there ourselves so it’s somehow calming to think that they will always provide for us. But the ocean, like the land, is not limitless. Collectively, the global capture fisheries’ productive capacity peaked in the 1980s and has been level or decreasing since. More and more species are being managed for conservation or being completely protected to prevent their extinction. Virtually all large fish species are at risk – especially the open ocean fish that are not within any one country’s power to protect. What has to change? It may be in this generation that we collectively realize that capture fisheries, like hunting on land, must yield to farming to provide the majority of fish for human consumption. When this reality is no longer disputed, our challenge will be to farm the most efficient species and in the most appropriate places. This roughly means that the measure of the product coming out of the continued on page 2
Cryogenetics isn’t just for Austin Powers By Gina Forsyth
A company providing cutting edge technology to the aquaculture industry has found a new home at the former University of BC research farm south of Campbell River. Maureen Ritter, Managing Director of Canada Cryogenetics Services, said recently that the Norway-based company has already done trial demonstrations of their milt-freezing and storage services for Marine Harvest Canada (MHC) in 2010 using their mobile lab trailer. “The ability to thaw and fertilize eggs using our own cryopreserved product is a positive step forward,” said Dean Guest, MHC’s Freshwater Production Manager. Marine Harvest has been a client of Canada Cryogenetics since 2010. Marine Harvest delivers milt, also known as sperm, from the farms in a company-specific cooler to a secure and “clean” drop off zone that is scrubbed and disinfected after each delivery. Deliveries are routinely limited to a single company per day and cleanliness protocols are strictly adhered to. “After each production day, the staff disinfects all surfaces such as counters, equipment, cabinets, walls and floors in the lab,” said Maureen.
frozen in tanks containing liquid nitrogen at temperatures of -130˚ Celsius. Each tank has the capacity to hold up to 2,500 Square Packs – enough milt to fertilize approximately seven million eggs. This significant step forward means that milt collected in any one year can be used to fertilize eggs in other year classes leading to more consistent performance between groups, said Dean. It can also be used to provide genetic material in future generations if required.
Maureen Ritter at Canada Cryogenetics lab
The milt is transferred by Canada Cryogenetics staff into plastic strips called Square Packs that can each hold enough sperm to fertilize upwards of 3,000 eggs. Traditional technology using “straws” accommodates enough product to fertilize a maximum of 60 eggs at a time. Once the milt is contained in the Square Packs, they’re loaded onto a plastic holder that is stored in an aluminum tube and placed into a 500 litre sterilized canister reserved by Marine Harvest. The tube is submerged and
Liquid nitrogen levels are visually inspected daily and topped up on average every week. The product keeps indefinitely and is returned to Marine Harvest for egg fertilization as needed, usually in the fall. Marine Harvest staff will be trained on-site at company hatcheries in the correct protocols for thawing the milt and fertilizing eggs using the cryo-preserved product. The company, which also provides services to Marine Harvest Chile, has a satellite office in New Brunswick. Canada Cyrogenetics plans to introduce milt activator, extender, and dilutor later this year.
A World That Loves Farmed Seafood continued from page 1
farm will be greater than the raw materials and energy going in - and the measures of effect on the ocean will be positive, not negative. What can we do right now? First, you can own the dream. In my lifetime aquaculture has grown from a wobbly newborn into a 2
strong, powerful thoroughbred that is gaining confidence and running strong. But this race has no finish line; it is a journey of improvement and success that you are helping to shape. The journey may take us places we did not expect to go; it will definitely be full of challenges and not MarineHarvestCanada.com
for the feint of heart. You can decide to be part of the team that will make Marine Harvest “The company that makes the world love farmed seafood”. It will be a very exciting ride.
From Norway to Canada, company offers broad range of experience By Gina Forsyth
Kyle Girgan’s aquaculture career has taken him to two countries – Canada and Norway - and provided varied opportunities, all with Marine Harvest. As a Fish Technician at Sayward South Hatchery for the past seven months, Kyle enjoys the challenges and successes of feeding fish that weigh less than ½ a gram. “I started in processing, then worked on the sites and now I’m at a hatchery so I’m working my way backward in the fish’s life cycle”, he said with a laugh. Kyle was introduced to the industry while abroad, after extending a trip to visit family
CANADA
Last month, Marine Harvest Canada responded to news media coverage of recent reports concerning a fish virus found in salmon from grocery stores in British Columbia. The core of this story is the detection of piscine reovirus (PRV) using an undisclosed sampling method on farm-raised Atlantic salmon. Contrary to claims made by the source of these findings, the detection of PRV is not an
in Norway. He worked for Marine Harvest Norway in a processing plant for three years and also worked with cod and halibut. Upon returning to Canada in 2005, Kyle worked at Georgie Lake and took aquaculture courses at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. He also worked on a sea site and most recently at the hatchery in Ocean Falls, which he describes as a “magical” and “special” place. Kyle enjoys giving salmon farming presentations to high school students in his spare time.
Kyle was born in Yellowknife, in the Northwest Territories, and completed high school in Kitimat in the early 1990s. His family was a mobile one. Kyle and his fiancée Amanda, a high school teacher, Kyle Girgan are planning a December wedding. They live in Nanaimo and enjoy exploring the area with their five year old dog, Lulu, a border collie cross.
“I’m so thankful for the opportunity I’ve had to work with the world-class people at Marine Harvest, particularly here in BC,” said Kyle.
Marine Harvest Canada Comments on Fish Virus Findings indicator of a disease such as Heart and Skeletal Muscle Inflammation (HSMI).
concern.” The presence of PRV in fish does not pose a risk to human health.
Detection of PRV is not new and it is known to be widespread in wild and farm-raised marine fish species including farm-raised salmon. “PRV is sometimes detected in healthy fish showing no clinical signs of disease,” says Dr. Diane Morrison, Fish Health and Food Safety Director, “and the presence of PRV does not equal the presence of a disease nor disease
Marine Harvest Canada farm-raised salmon are continually monitored and cared for to ensure optimal health. Fish health indicators that would be associated with HSMI or another disease concern are not present. Fish health data and audit results of our farm-raised salmon are available to the public online.
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Kitoi Boxes
Last year, Marine Harvest was pleased to provide five ‘Kitoi’ boxes (for salmon egg hatching) to the Kitasoo Salmon Hatchery in Klemtu. The boxes just produced their first batch of fish and did “very well”, according to hatchery administrator Brent Mason. 1,250,000 Chum eggs collected last fall from returning salmon to Trout Bay were hatched
and grown to fry stage before being moved to larger troughs for first feeding. Within a few days of feeding, they will be transferred out to sea netpens where they will continue to be fed for 45 to 60 days prior to release. Brent says that he would expect about 5% of the released fish will return to Trout Bay to be caught by locals, or to spawn either naturally or at the hatchery.
Brent Mason removes the last remaining fish hatched in one of the new Kitoi boxes
Donations Welcomed to help MHC duo Conquer Cancer MHCer Jacob Koomen and his wife Jannie are once again joining 2000 other riders in the Conquer Cancer ride from Vancouver to
Seattle on June 16th-17th. The duo has a goal of raising $5000 for this great cause and donations are welcomed at www.conquercancer.ca (participant # 260227-7 and 260228-8).
One week after that Jacob is tackling a 400 km ride (one day) from Kelowna to Delta for the Canadian Cancer Society. Donations can be made at www.ride2survive.ca or on donation sheets at the Campbell River office.
Ladies and Gents, Start Your Engines! MHC is once again proud to support Saratoga Speedway. Twenty-five event passes are now available for the MHC sponsored June 2nd race (crash to pass!) and 6 season passes are available for each event (excluding Monster Trucks).
Contact Ian at Ian.Roberts@marineharvest.com to reserve tickets for June 2nd. Contact Stephaney at Stephaney. VanAcken@marineharvest.com to reserve season passes, or visit her at the Campbell River office front desk.
For full schedule visit www. saratogaspeedway.bc.ca.
No April Fools Joke
Chris Mathews had a 4:15am wake up while at Mahatta West site on April 1st. It was his wife Brandy calling to let Chris know this was not an April Fools prank call 4
and she was heading to the hospital three weeks early! Layla May Mathews was born on April 1st at 10:15am weighing in at 6lbs 3oz. Congratulations to Chris and Brandy from the Quatsino Sound Crew!
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Long Lost Brothers? These fine looking fellas could be related, but they’re not. Can you name them both? Join the Facebook page discussion to find out at http://www.facebook.com/ MHCanada
Answer: Humans, apes and dolphins
MHC Pylons in action
The Marine Harvest Pylons were back in familiar form at the 4th annual Stewart Wallace Memorial Basketball Tournament held in Klemtu in April. Without the added help of our friends from UBC’s Thunderbirds this year, the squad succumbed to the outrageous skill (and youth) of our friendly opponents, the Bella Bella ‘Nation’. If a basketball game only lasted 60 seconds, the Pylons would have won 5-0. But with 39 additional minutes unfairly tacked on, the Marine Harvest staffers allowed for a 3 digit trouncing – 102 to 70. The annual ‘friendly’ game has been a tradition to begin the three-day tourney, which hosts mens and ladies teams from Klemtu and Bella Bella. Bella Bella ‘Nation’ (mens) and Bella Bella ‘ATN’ (ladies) teams were victorious.
All smiles!
Meddy taking control of the game
Hey Duane, there’s a game going on…
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Family members arrived at Klemtu to cheer the team on. Pictured (l-r) is Kaleb, Riley, Mike, Fabian, Sheri, Star, Jake, Rudi, Emily, Hailey, Soryn, Skyler and Paige.
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Salmon Barbeque Success! MHC volunteers hosted another very successful salmon barbeque for charity last month. Over 200 salmon burgers were served
to help support the Kidstart program. KidStart is a volunteer-based mentoring program that connects vulnerable children and youth with
positive adult role models. In April, Terry Kratzmann ran Vancouver Island from tip to tip to raise awareness and funds for KidStart.
Dear Marine Harvest; Your crew ROCKED!!!! Expectations were exceeded in every way. The grand total that you raised for KidStart Campbell River was $1050.00. WOot WOot!!! Awesomeness!!!! Hugs and gratitude, Tara Jordan John Howard Society / KidStart Run
Volunteers serve up some delicious salmon burgers.
MHCers Chris Leighton (left) and Mike Mulder (right) were pleased to meet (and feed!) Terry Kratzmann when he ran through Campbell River in April.
Please stop by, enjoy a salmon burger and help support the following charities and societies at the following events in 2012: March 17
Done! Done!
Vanier Park, Courtenay
Y.A.N.A / St Joseph’s Hospital Foundation
Spirit Square, Campbell River
John Howard Society
May 26
Port Hardy
Cancer Society - Relay for Life
May 30
Spirit Square, Campbell River
Head Injury Society
June 23
Vanier Park, Courtenay
Cancer Society - Relay for Life
June 30
Dick Murphy Park, Campbell River
Dragon Boat Society
July 1
Robert Ostler Park, Campbell River
BC Firefighters Burn Fund
July 7
Willow Point Sportsplex, Campbell River
Cameryn’s Cause for Kids Society
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
April 14
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