Wharfside August 2016
In this issue Seaplanes become frontline plankton spotters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Blurred line between science and advocacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Rest in peace Keta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Numbers guy appreciates team approach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 New scholarship support for mini-Marine Harvesters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 A new aquaculture barge for a Broughton First Nation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Ducks Unlimited golf tourney. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Canada Day celebrated with B.C.’s best farm-raised salmon. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Career possibilities for Kwakiutl First Nation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Have a bite before it’s all gone. . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Bike Rodeo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Did you Know? Only 2 per cent of the world’s food comes from the ocean.
Trivia time! How long does it take sound to travel a kilometre? Answer on Page 4
Comments about this Newsletter? Please email comments, articles and ideas to Ian Roberts, Director of Public Affairs, at ian.roberts@marineharvest.com
Seaplanes become frontline plankton spotters Marine Harvest Canada has enlisted the help of seaplane passengers and pilots to protect its salmon against harmful plankton blooms. Flights from Campbell River, Port Hardy and Bella Bella cross many of the bays and inlets where salmon aquaculture sites are located.
Plankton blooms are easy to spot from the air and during high risk periods Marine Harvest Canada (MHC) regularly charters seaplanes to carry out surveillance flights, landing to take samples if there are doubts about plankton species identification. Continued on page 2
A chrysochromulina algae bloom in Eagle Harbour, Vancouver (August 2015)
Blurred line between science and advocacy The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has teamed up with activist Alexandra Morton on a summer campaign to protest British Columbia’s salmon farming sector. The month long campaign is called “Operation Virus Hunter” and it was launched in Vancouver by Sea Shepherd chairwoman and actress Pamela Anderson in mid-July. British Columbian Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) executive director Jeremy Dunn said farmers are open to collaboration with the Sea Shepherd’s scientists if they can bring expertise to projects underway or if they think there is a different approach to that of the leading government and university scientists. “B.C. salmon farmers are involved with the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Department of Fisheries & Oceans, UBC, and others in the Strategic Salmon Health Initiative – the largest single study into the health of salmon on the B.C. coast ever undertaken. A world-class research team is currently testing close to 30,000 samples of wild, hatchery and farm-raised salmon,” says Dunn.
In addition to supporting the Strategic Salmon Health initiative, the BCSFA committed $1.5 million in research funding over five years in an effort to gain a better understanding of the marine environment and B.C.’s wild marine species, particularly wild salmon stocks. The decisions about what research projects receive funding are made by an independent group called the Science Advisory Council, which has members from the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Vancouver Aquarium and B.C. universities. “It is important to distinguish research from advocacy,” says Dunn. “Both are legitimate but they are different. The research question that is the focus of this latest campaign seems to be the presence of the virus PRV ...the answer is already out there: PRV is common on this coast and has been since at least the late 1980s. Like people, all animals have thousands of viruses. What we worry about is do they cause disease. This is the more interesting question. The answer for salmon and PRV after years of study is no.” For more information about this world leading research go to http:// bcsalmonfarmers.ca/research-innovation
Rest in peace Keta Keta, the much loved security dog from Big Tree Hatchery, passed away peacefully last month. She was unable to live another Canadian winter, although it took Marine Harvest staff some time to accept this decision. She enjoyed a last dinner of pork chops and steak with the construction crew at the hatchery and spent her last morning at the beach. Our love and wishes are with her in doggie heaven.
Seaplanes become frontline plankton spotters Continued from page 1
Pacific Coastal Airlines’ Wilderness Seaplanes and Corilair will take water samples under this new agreement with MHC. Pilots may earn a spotter’s fee when dangerous blooms are identified and salmon farms benefit from this early warning. 2
MHC plankton expert Jay Pudota says advance notice is so important to prevent fish mortality that Marine Harvest is considering novel ways of monitoring, such as enlisting the help of the flying public.
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“We are grateful to the good pilots and staff of these airlines for helping us out,” Jay says. “They will become our eye in the sky during these summer months, which is the busiest time for floatplane flights and also the worst time for algae blooms.”
Numbers guy appreciates team approach
Accounts Payable Administrator Christopher Johnston By Gina Forsyth
For Christopher Johnston, Accounts Payable Administrator and all-round numbers guy, the last year at Marine Harvest has been a great experience.
“I had a good relationship with math and numbers in high school. I like logic and problem solving,” Christopher says. As part of his job, he issues cheques, tracks capital expenditure and sorts out employee expenses.
one day a week in the sports department. In 2011, he enrolled at North Island College and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). This qualified him to get an administrator role at MHC.
He also enjoys the part of his job that involves building relationships and acting as a go-between for Marine Harvest sites and vendors.
What he enjoys the most about his job is being able to contribute to growing the company. “I like building relationships with our vendors and being a positive face for them. Everybody is pulling in the same direction and we all succeed as one,” he explains.
Christopher was born and raised in Gold River, where his parents still live. After graduating from secondary school, he says he had one choice: moving or logging. “So I moved (to Campbell River).” He recently moved again to Comox, where he now lives with his partner. Christopher used to work full-time at Canadian Tire and continues to work there
He’s an avid reader and enjoys wandering the beach. Christopher is looking forward to September, when he’ll go to Las Vegas with friends. “I’m a family guy and want to be a good reflection on what my parents have done,” he says.
New scholarship support for miniMarine Harvesters We are pleased to announce that Marine Harvest Canada is committed to providing four $1000 scholarships to children or grandchildren of Marine Harvest employees. The post-secondary scholarships will be paid out each January, beginning in 2017. The application forms are available from the HR team or on the website at marineharvest.ca/people/ scholarship-award--bursary-information/ A 2015 scholarship winner, Taylor Workman, (left) with Marine Harvest’s Shylo Loock MarineHarvest.ca
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A new aquaculture barge for a Broughton First Nation A First Nation business has a new boat working for Marine Harvest Canada to support salmon farms in the Broughton operating area. The Bear 1 was purchased by the Sewid family to drive a barge and crane to sites that need help with maintenance. It has been operating for four months under a longstanding business agreement between Qwe’Qwa’Sot’Em Faith Aquaculture and Marine Harvest. Skipper Rick Sewid and deckhand Dwaine Creelman were at Wicklow farm last week lifting a generator from a feed shed. Rick said the boat was new enough not to have its name painted on the bow, but it was already becoming well known and welcomed at MHC farms.
Rick Sewid, left, and Dwaine Creelman on the Bear 1, alongside Marine Harvest’s Wicklow farm.
Ducks Unlimited golf tourney MHC is proud to support the Ducks Unlimited Canada (Comox Chapter) golf tournament at Crown Isle in the Comox Valley. The July tournament is a major fundraiser for the conservation group, and MHC is a regular title sponsor of the event and the company’s dream team of golfers (ahem…) always have a great time! (l-r) Greg Sawchuck (DUC), Fabian McCarty, Isaac Desprez, Ian Roberts, Barry McCombe (DUC), Dougie Hunter
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Port Alice celebrated with a seaside barbeque
Barbeque for the BC Burn Fund in Campbell River
Canada Day celebrated with B.C.’s best farm-raised salmon There were a number of community barbeques across the North Island in July to celebrate Canada Day. As has become a custom for July 1, Marine Harvest donated
several cases of fresh salmon to help feed summer crowds in Campbell River, Port McNeill and Port Alice.
Braving winter-like conditions at Port McNeill Logger Sports
Career possibilities for Kwakiutl First Nation MHC has formal agreements with 15 First Nations that include commitments to training and creating economic opportunities. Throughout 2016 MHC is holding career information receptions for our First Nation partners. The most recent event was held for the Kwakiutl First Nation at Fort Rupert. It attracted some very young candidates – it’s never too early to start career planning!
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Have a bite before it’s all gone There’s not many Marine Harvest charity salmon barbeques left before summer’s end. Come along and show your support for a deserving local charity by eating a delicious burger or teriyaki salmon noodle salad in Sayward, Port McNeill and Campbell River, before it’s too late!!!!! MHC employees who would like to volunteer at a charitable BBQ should contact Cori Wheeler at cwheeler73@ hotmail.com. Go online to see the full schedule: http://www.marineharvest.ca/people/ supporting-the-community/bbqapplication-form/
Up and coming BBQs Event
Charity
Date
Location
Serving Time
Oscar Daze - Slo-Pitch Tournament
Sayward Futures Society
31-Jul-16
Sayward - H’Kusam Park
Dinner
OrcaFest
Kids in Motion Society
20-Aug-16
Port McNeill
Lunch
Paws for a Cause Annual Walkathon
BCSPCA
11-Sep-16
Campbell River - Nunns Creek Park
Lunch
Volunteer Fair
Campbell River Volunteer Society
17-Sep-16
Campbell River - Spirit Square
Lunch
Bike Rodeo Lots of lucky and deserving children got great new bikes at the annual RCMP Bike Rodeo in Sayward in July. MHC has been a long standing supporter of the event and this year we donated a mean green machine. It made a pretty cool first bike for a three year old!
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