Wharfside January 2016
In this issue Cooperation agreement signed. . . . . . . . . . . 1 Duncan and Doyle achieve world-leading certification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Canada’s new Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo visits MHC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Marine Harvest reaps benefit of international IT experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 New arrival for Koskimo Bay technician. . . 4 Quatsino First Nation Canucks fans this Christmas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Spreading Christmas cheer for the young, and the young at heart. . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Did you Know? Seafood is the only food we eat that has the word ‘food’ in it.
Trivia time! In the 50s, there was a fourth Rice Krispies character along with Snap, Crackle and Pop. Who was it? 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
Vincent Erenst and Robert Everson sign the new cooperation agreement
Cooperation agreement signed Marine Harvest Canada (MHC) and K’omoks First Nation (KFN) recently signed a cooperation agreement to further strengthen the relationship between the two parties and create direct links for business opportunities and community development. Since 2008, KFN and MHC have looked to formalize their collaborative relationship, culminating in the signing of this agreement in December 2015. The cooperation agreement provides for investment in areas of mutual interest including training, employment, and business development. It also provides a foundation for regular engagement and
knowledge sharing between the First Nation and the company, and an updated sales agreement for Salish Sea Foods, a recently acquired KFN business located in the Comox Valley. MHC Managing Director Vincent Erenst, Public Affairs Director Ian Roberts and Sales Associate Nadine Gibbs were pleased to talk about a shared future with Chief Councillor Robert Everson, Pentlatch Seafoods Manager Richard Hardy, Economic Development Manager Melinda Knox and Councillor Barbara Mitchell at a signing celebration held in the KFN band office just before Christmas.
Duncan and Doyle achieve world-leading certification
Doyle Island takes its place among the first five salmon farms to be certified in Canada
Marine Harvest Canada welcomes the official announcement of Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification for Duncan Island and Doyle Island in the Port Hardy production area. Duncan and Doyle have become the fourth and fifth site in Canada to achieve this high standard. The first certified Canadian salmon farm was Marine Harvest’s Marsh Bay site, also in the Port Hardy area, in January 2015. The ASC certification is currently the most rigorous environmental standard for aquaculture, while also setting tough
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standards for social compliance. The standard is third party audited, and demands a high level of transparency throughout the process. Extra effort was required from staff in all areas of the company in order to meet more than 500 individual clauses of the standard. “This is another important step towards meeting our goal of certifying all farm sites in British Columbia by 2020,” said Marine Harvest Canada’s Certification Manager Katherine Dolmage. “ASC certification is a lengthy process at each site because the third party auditing is extremely rigorous. We are continuing to expand the ASC MarineHarvest.ca
program, first to Quatsino, where Monday Rock awaits the results of its November audit and then to Klemtu, where the first audits will take place next spring.” The final reports for the ASC certified farms can be found online, along with environmental monitoring reports for the next three Marine Harvest farms under consideration for certification. The ASC Salmon Standard was developed as part of the World Wildlife Fund’s aquaculture dialogues. More information about the standard and certified farms can be found at www.asc-aqua.org.
Canada’s new Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo visits MHC
Minister Tootoo at Hardwicke Island salmon farm
I n his first trip to British Columbia to meet with stakeholders, Canada’s new Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, made Marine Harvest Canada’s Hardwicke farm site his final stop on Saturday, December 19. The day began early with Minister Tootoo meeting with several First Nation industry partners, local Mayors, and executive from Cermaq, Marine Harvest, Creative Salmon, and Greig Seafood. The entourage then travelled to Hardwicke salmon farm, located Northeast of the village of Sayward.
Minister Tootoo’s farm tour experience included many interesting aspects of salmon farming such as feeding with new Steinsvik cameras, remote operated vehicle view of perimeter netting, sea lice monitoring, and net washing. Hardwicke Site Manager Andy Haslam led the Minister’s tour and was supported by technicians Craig Robertson, Calvin Derksen, Phil McKirgan, Shaun Hennessey, Paul McManus, Eddy “Salmon Hands” Jones, and Luke Jodouin. Site Manager Paul Pattison and Production Manager Doug Knudson also lent their support.
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Executive directors for both the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (Ruth Salmon) and the BC Salmon Farmers Association ( Jeremy Dunn) provided an industry overview for the group during a lunch provided at the farm. As one would expect after visiting any Marine Harvest facility, the Minister and his staff were most impressed with the professionalism and knowledge of staff, and with the state-of-the-art technology used at today’s modern salmon farms.
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Marine Harvest reaps benefit of international IT experience Prior to joining Marine Harvest, Jeremy worked locally at Seymour Pacific, also in IT, before good old-fashioned networking led to his job at Marine Harvest in June 2014. “I troubleshoot email, cell phones, networking, software and hardware,” said Jeremy, adding that “if it has electricity, I’ll attempt it. I do a lot of remote support for the farm sites,” disclosed Jeremy, adding that he’s on call for back up training in Port Hardy.
By Gina Forsyth
Jeremy Hoover has brought an attention to detail and thoroughness to his position as Systems Administrator that was developed on both the local and the international stage. Jeremy was born south of the border, in West Virginia, United States. He has an older brother who remains in the US, along with his dad. Following high school, Jeremy enlisted in the US Marine Corp at 18, where he remained until he was honorably discharged five years later. He then worked at a Maximum Security Penitentiary in Seattle, WA before transferring into civilian security contract work in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was able to use his USearned degree in information technology (IT) to do civilian IT contract work from 2005 to 2011 in Kuwait, with missions to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the US military. 4
The best part of the job for Jeremy is the interaction with the people. From the office to farm sites, hatcheries, and processing, “everybody’s great”. Love and romance brought Jeremy from Kuwait to Campbell River. He has two boys, aged seven and three, who love being outside, whether it’s golfing, fishing or baseball.
With Jeremy as trainer, Marine Harvest entered a team of 15 into the Tough Mudder obstacle course in June 2015 in Whistler. It’s a group event designed to test physicality and mental strength. The training involved running, push-ups and core exercises. “I taught them that they have to rely on each other to get through the event. We really gelled together,” Jeremy said, proudly. The team finished with a time of 3 hours and 42 minutes.
New arrival for Koskimo Bay technician The Topel family received an early Christmas present when Mila Victoria arrived just before midnight on 22nd December. Weighing in at 3.08
kilograms, the beautiful baby girl gives site technician Daniel Topel and partner Michal Ben Dori an extra reason to celebrate the festive season.
MarineHarvest.ca Answer: Pow
Jeremy Hoover rafting on the Elaho River
Jeremy has travelled extensively throughout the world, having seen 30 countries thus far. A memorable experience was his 14 day safari in Kenya, Africa, where he was among the fortunate to see the animals known as The Big Five – the African lion, the African elephant, the white rhinoceros, the buffalo, and the leopard. “I also saw a cheetah chase and kill which is a rarity,” enthused Jeremy.
Quatsino First Nation Canucks fans this Christmas
Marine Harvest’s Renee Hamel was happy to pass along a signed Vancouver Canucks jersey to Quatsino First Nation Councilor, James Nelson. The Alex Burrows jersey donated by Marine Harvest made an exciting prize at the QFN’s Christmas party in Vancouver.
Jen Nelson was thrilled to win two Vancouver Canucks hockey tickets and hotel accommodation at the Quatsino First Nation’s annual Christmas party in December. The package was donated by Marine Harvest’s fish feed supplier, Skretting. She’s pictured here with James Redford, Quatsino Lands and Resources Manager. MarineHarvest.ca
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Spreading Christmas cheer for the young, and the young at heart
The Alert Bay House of Prayer was happy to receive Christmas goodies
Julie March washes up at the MHCsponsored Sayward seniors’ lunch
Santa called in to Port Hardy before joining his elves in Campbell River (Chloe Dobrinsky and Savannah Loock) for the MHC children’s Christmas parties in December. See many more photos of Christmas with Santa on the Marine Harvest Canada Facebook page!
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