Wharfside
August 2017
E-commerce salmon
In this issue Something to think about: auditing our farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Aquaculture at its best at Glacier Falls. . . . 3 Smooth transfer for Big Tree Creek fish. . . 3 Don’t get caught thirsty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 A BBQ and family picnic for Community Links. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Chinese BBQ Salmon Recipe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Did You Know? Only 2% of all people have green coloured eyes.
Trivia time! In humans, what is the only internal organ capable of regenerating lost tissue? 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
Drive-up diners, vinyl records, glass Coke bottles, 35 mm film, and high-waisted jeans. These customs may be old memories for some, or, for millennials, a recent first-time experience. So many traditions make surprising comebacks decades later with a mix of present day flair and past familiarity. Remember the local milkman? Even he is making a comeback. Sort of. If you’re a millennial reading this, you should know that enjoying foods delivered to your doorstep isn’t new likely your great-grandparents enjoyed the convenience of having fresh produce, dairy, eggs, and breads arrive fresh at their doorstep daily. But today’s internet is quickly building new sales channels that will soon become relevant in the way food, including seafood, is sold in North America and other markets. While online/direct is still a small percentage of overall food sales in North
America, Marine Harvest is currently exploring options to partner with important players in “e-commerce” for its kitchenready seafood products. And to help facilitate the anticipated growth in sales and product choices, the company has recently restructured its Sales & Marketing Americas divisions, separating Raw Materials & Trade and Consumer Products. “The North American market has grown to the point where it really needs a targeted approach for its many sales channels,” explains Joe Fidalgo, Managing Director of Marine Harvest’s Consumer Products (USA). “Consumer Products continues to grow in the USA and we have now sold our Marine Harvest branded products in this market for over two years.” Fidalgo is optimistic about the sales outlook for e-commerce, believing the potential for seafood is consistent double digit growth year over year. “The consumer wants a highquality product at a reasonable price and Continued on page 2
Something to think about: auditing our farms By Ian Roberts Director of Public Affairs, Marine Harvest Canada
At the end of July, the U.S. based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and other activists announced their intent to once again “audit” our salmon farms in the coming weeks. Last summer, for six weeks, our staff experienced activists trespassing at their workplace, taking intrusive photographs and video with zoom lenses and low-flying drones, and posting flat-out lies on the internet. And, as always, our employees responded with patience, understanding,
and politeness. I commend Marine Harvest employees for their restraint. Despite the 2016 activist campaign being labelled as science, not one single piece of science has ever been published. But let’s revisit that “audit” bit. Every concern about our business raised by Sea Shepherd is covered by several legitimate audits of our operations that ensure we operate responsibly and our fish are healthy. We are licensed, regulated and audited by our Federal and Provincial governments. We voluntarily audit our operations
to several well-respected third-party certification standards that cover social and environmental responsibilities, fish health, food safety, and worker safety. Audit results are posted online, for everyone to see. We also invite neighbours to observe our operations, and to learn about rapid improvements to our business. So, thanks for the offer Sea Shepherd, but our auditing needs are taken care of by auditors focused on our operations, not public opinion and fundraising.
The crew at Hardwicke salmon farm were very grateful to have received the assistance of the company’s newly established Operations Department during a double harvest. As site manager Andy Haslam remarked, “Loading two boats with 110 tons of salmon each, at once, with grade seines, is no small feat!”
Continued from page 1
E-commerce salmon
in the most convenient way, and Marine Harvest is able to give them exactly what they want.” The customer base is broad, acknowledges Fidalgo, but he expects to see most e-commerce sales from Internet-savvy millennials and convenience-seeking double income households. 2
The company expects challenges along the way, including educating consumers to trust buying seafood online. That’s a challenge that Fidalgo, along with Gianfranco Nattero, Managing Director of Raw Materials and Trade, is ready to take on. “Marine Harvest products are fully traceable, and food-safety is a key priority MarineHarvest.ca
along the chain of custody. We’ll look forward to working with e-commerce partners to make sure our customers are confident in ordering healthy and top-quality seafood for delivery to their kitchen.”
Aquaculture at its best at Glacier Falls
By Gina Forsyth
Glacier Falls Assistant Manager Chris Mathews has been around boats all his life, thanks to his father who ran a yacht chartering business. That familiarity has
gone a long way in his employment with Marine Harvest.
boats, including the Polar Star and the Iron Maiden.
Chris was born in Calgary, Alberta, and the family moved to Vancouver Island in 1981, when he was five. He graduated from high school in Duncan and moved to Courtenay in 2000.
Chris also worked on sites in the Quatsino region for 12 years, seven of them running the Decibel work boat, which assisted harvesting and setting up plankton mitigation equipment.
After working for a year as a tow truck driver when he was busy and on call 24/7, it was time for a new opportunity. In 1998, a friend told him about Stolt Sea Farm and Chris was intrigued.
Now as assistant manager, Chris is responsible for staff training, organizing everybody’s work day and record keeping for daily tasks as well as company audits. Chris and the rest of his staff are busy with new fish the site recently received and “weaning them onto the automatic feeder”.
“I’d never heard of aquaculture before. It was a completely new thing for me but I loved it,” he says. He worked for five years as a farm technician in the Broughton region before accepting responsibility for the operation of work
Chris is a “dad on all levels”, with a 23 yearold and a five year-old. When not fathering, Chris enjoys music with friends, camping, and fishing.
Smooth transfer for Big Tree Creek fish Last month staff at Marine Harvest’s Big Tree Creek freshwater facility were excited to celebrate the first fish transferred to the newly constructed 14 metre tanks. The stateof-the-art recirculating aquaculture system will receive a total of 840,000 juvenile salmon weighing about 15 grams each.
Amanda Luxton transfers first fish from Big Tree Creek’s 6 metre system to the newest 14 metre tanks
This latest compliment to Marine Harvest’s freshwater systems is part of a $40 million investment into technology upgrades and expansion announced by the company in October 2015. Upgrades to Big Tree Creek and Dalrymple freshwater facilities are expected to be completed in 2018.
MarineHarvest.ca
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Don’t get caught thirsty In this summer heat, it’s important to take regular breaks out of the sun and making sure you are getting enough fluids. It’s not just about hydrating when you’re starting to feel the effects of the heat. It’s much more important to ensure that we are all staying hydrated and taking
Congratulations to Port McNeill’s Danielle Lacasse, recipient of the 2017 Marine Harvest Aquaculture Scholarship, available each year at North Island Secondary School.
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shade breaks before we even feel the effects. If you’re feeling parched, that’s the first sign that you’re already in a state of dehydration. It should be refreshing if you’re staying hydrated. Surprisingly, being thirsty and tired aren’t the only side effects of dehydration. It can also cause memory loss, irritability, soreness, cramps and increase the potential for kidney stones.
If you want to join your workmates at the 17th annual BC Aquaculture Golf Tournament email Isaac Desprez your interest by August 16th. Marine Harvest has reserved 20 spots for the fun “Texas scramble” tourney being held September 9th at Glacier Greens in Comox. Check out your worksite or personal Marine Harvest email for more information.
For those of us who enjoy a few brewskies at the lake, just remember that alcohol, soda, juices, coffees and teas may actually add to your dehydration, especially caffeinated fluids. If in doubt, stick to water – after all, it’s calorie-free, caffeine-free, and cheap!
Spotted in Port Hardy: Mother Goose Maya Anderson reading to Javain Walkus on the Mt Waddington Literacy Bus. The bus is popular at Filomi Days and OrcaFest, especially when rain falls on the bouncy castles. Donations from local businesses like Marine Harvest help to keep Mother Geese on the bus.
MarineHarvest.ca Answer: The liver
By Kristian Fletcher BrainSafe Facilitator
A BBQ and family picnic for Community Links
L-R Ronita Prasad (Marine Harvest), Nadine Nolie (Community Links client), Christine Robitaille (Community Links support worker)
Marine Harvest Canada will once again sponsor a family BBQ for the Community Links Program, a program that provides daily support to adults living with developmental disabilities in North Island communities. The BBQ will take place on Saturday, August 26, at Cluxewe Resort from 12pm to 6pm. The event helps to connect staff, clients, their families, and community members.
Time is running out for enjoying salmon burgers & noodle salads for charities. We’ve raised thousands of dollars for great causes this summer, and we can still raise more. Join us at our final two charitable barbeques being held in Port McNeill and Campbell River.
Charity
Date
Location
Serving Time
Port McNeill Kids in Motion Society “OrcaFest”
19-Aug-17
Port McNeill - downtown
Lunch
Campbell River Volunteer Society Volunteer Fair
16-Sep-17
Campbell River - Community Centre
Lunch
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Touring Neighbours July was a busy month for Marine Harvest staff, providing tours to neighbours interested in our business. If you are interested in learning more about Marine Harvest or B.C. salmon farming, public farm tours are made available by contacting the BC Salmon Farmers Association for more information, or view the summer tour schedule at http://bcsalmonfarmers.ca/ farm-tours/.
Staff in the Broughton area were pleased to provide a salmon farm tour to Alert Bay residents on July 25. Front row: Ed Dawson, Billy Peters Middle row: Samantha Gilbert, Hank Nelson, Denise Nelson, Andrew Speck, Gary Hall, Tommy Speck, Maurice Isaac Back row: Dean Nelson, Kelly Osborne
Kids participating in the Wei Wai Kum & We Wai Kai Nations’ Summer Camp program toured our hatchery and farm on July 25.
Chinese BBQ Salmon Recipe Paul Pang, a Port Alice resident, works at Marine Harvest’s Port Hardy processing plant. But Paul also moonlights as a chef at a restaurant in Port Alice, so he was well-qualified to treat colleagues to his salmon recipe as part of the plant’s employee lunch program. If you love his salmon, apparently you’ll be blown away with his wonton soup.
INGREDIENTS 1kg salmon fillet 20g salt 120g sugar 5g each of five spice powder, star anise, garlic powder, onion powder, white pepper 10g oyster sauce 10g seafood sauce 10g sesame oil 10ml Chinese cooking wine Mix all together and refrigerate for 24 hours, then barbeque or roast, and enjoy!
Paul Pang’s delicious salmon dish
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