Wharfside L E A DI N G T H E
L E A DI N G T H E SPECIAL EDITION
TION BLUE RE VOLU
July 2017
MARINE HARVEST CANADA
TION BLUE RE VOLU
EXTRA! EXTRA!
YEAR-ROUND SUPPLY OF SALMON FROM ASC-CERTIFIED OPERATIONS
Marine Harvest Canada is now providing customers with consistent supply of Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified salmon. With recent certification of Sheep Pass, Phillips Arm and Chancellor Channel, MHC has 30% of its active salmon farms covered under the standard, giving us the ability to satisfy regular monthly orders. Marine Harvest committed to having 100% of its salmon farms globally achieve ASC certification by 2020. Katherine Dolmage,
PHILLIPS ARM FINISHED HARVEST THIS MONTH AFTER RECEIVING ASC CERTIFICATION. PICTURED ONSITE ARE MEMBERS OF THE PRODUCTION AND OPERATION TEAMS, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: DEERWOOD MCFAYDEN, TROY BROOKS, CHASE PATERSON, SORIN MOUNTAN, RYAN WOGAN, TOM SHEWCHUK, MIKE BRAZIER, KIM BENSON AND PAUL PATTISON.
MHC Certification Manager is pleased with our progress thus far stating that ASC certification “is well ahead of its schedule thanks to the dedication of all staff to continually raise the bar to achieve and exceed ASC’s strict social and environmental standards.”
Another recent step for ASC salmon was an improved ranking by Monterey Bay’s Seafood Watch. Seafood Watch conducted an eco-certification benchmarking study to identify which standards are consistent with its own sustainability criteria, and identified the ASC
salmon standard as equivalent to its yellow “Good Alternative” recommendation. MHC now joins a select group of farm-raised salmon producers around the world achieving the “Good Alternative” rating.
Hockey Hall of Famer drops by Howie Meeker loves his Marine Harvest salmon. The legendary hockey player and broadcaster drops by our office every so often to say “hello” and to pick up his order of salmon. His time spent in Newfoundland has helped
Look inside for the latest scoop
inspire his delicious smoked salmon recipe. He doesn’t give up his recipe, but we know it contains “Screech”. Now, that’s Canadian eh?
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SPECIAL EDITION
Something to think about:
Canada’s deep history in aquaculture By IAN ROBERTS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
By now you’ve noticed our retro edition of Wharfside – our nod to Canada’s 150th anniversary since Confederation, and also our annual celebration of Canada Day (July 1st). In this special edition, we are pleased to bring you our stories in a nice, Canadian way. We celebrate immigration, diversity in the workplace, as well as British Columbia leading certification of salmon in North America. I hope you enjoy the read. I want to take a brief historical look at Canada’s evolution of
aquaculture – because perhaps a surprise to many, it is a deep history that far precedes Canada’s birth year of 1867. In 1857, the first recorded incubation and hatching of brook trout and Atlantic salmon in Quebec City occurred. While researching this topic, I found that around that same time, Superintendent of Fisheries and fish culture advocate Richard Nettle expressed his opinions about the decline in salmon abundance and resulting need for aquaculture, stating “…the beneficent creator has provided
for many, is being destroyed by the few.” By the 1850s, the province of Ontario witnessed declining salmon fisheries, so Samuel Wilmot set out to artificially spawn salmon - spawning 15,000 in 1866. Soon known as Newcastle Fish Hatchery, it was one of the earliest built in North America and “established a pattern for fish culture in many parts of the world.”
ago, aboriginal peoples in what is now British Columbia began farming shellfish for food security – to boost nature’s supply. Clam “gardens” – a man-made rock wall forming an isolated saltwater field at low tide – grew several species of clam (little neck, horse, and butter) as well as cockles. How we do aquaculture in Canada has evolved much over the centuries, but why we do it has essentially remained the same.
But our country’s history of practicing aquaculture is not just 150 years old. It goes much, much further back. About 20 centuries
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS FLOCK TO BC SHELLFISH AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Did You Know?
Canada beat the USA by 23 runs in the first international cricket match held in New York in 1844.
Trivia time!
What town in Canada won a gold medal in soccer at the 1904 Olympics? 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
International buyers, media, and chefs came to the Comox Valley in June to witness first-hand the bounty harvested from British Columbia’s oceans and lakes. Rob Arthurs, Senior Manager Agrifoods for the BC Ministry of International Trade, accompanied a group of Asian buyers to Hardwicke Island farm on a tour held by the BC Salmon Farmers Association. Rob’s group included buyers from China, Japan, Indonesia and South Korea, most of whom were visiting a salmon farm for the first time. Farm-raised salmon is the leading agricultural export from the province of BC.
ROB ARTHURS, FAR RIGHT, BRINGS INTERNATIONAL BUYERS TO HARDWICKE FARM
The volume of salmon raised in B.C. exported to Asia increased 40% over 2015’s record volume with more than 4.7-million kilograms of fresh salmon exported in 2016, worth over $37 million. Markets in Asia are showing huge potential with year-overyear growth more than doubling in many markets. China and
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Japan continue to be the top two Asian destinations for exports, with South Korea now emerging as a key growth market. Over 82-thousand kilograms were exported to South Korea in 2016, a market that saw no exports from B.C. before 2015 when the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement came into force.
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DEAN GUEST GOES FROM WEST TO EAST
Marine Harvest Canada’s Freshwater Director, Dean Guest, is transferring to the country’s newly established business unit on Canada’s east coast. He will begin his new role as Freshwater Production Manager with Marine Harvest Atlantic Canada in September.
“I want to take this opportunity to express to Dean, on behalf of myself as well as all our staff, that we have very much appreciated and enjoyed working with him over the past eight years in British Columbia,” said Marine Harvest Canada’s Managing Director Vincent Erenst. “Dean and his freshwater department have led many important projects in the last decade that have significantly improved our company. More recently, large capital projects have been designed, constructed and commissioned by Dean’s
department and have quickly proven to be a great success, and have worked very well from the day the first fish was entered.” Dean’s new responsibilities will include building up a freshwater organization from scratch. “Dean is quite simply a professional at what he does, and is the exact right person, at the exact right time, for this undertaking,” said Jamie Gaskill, newly appointed Managing Director of Marine Harvest Atlantic Canada. Marine Harvest Atlantic Canada currently has one older
smolt production facility, so the company will immediately begin searching for a site in Newfoundland where it can explore the possibility of building a new recirculating aquaculture system smolt facility. A search for Dean Guest’s replacement on the west coast will begin immediately.
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE marineharvestusedsales.com
No apologies for our cultural diversity By JODY HAGEL SALTWATER PRODUCTION ADMINISTRATOR
JODY HAGEL AND MARGOT GRIFFIN
Canada is known around the globe as being too apologetic (sorry), but one thing for which our great country doesn’t have to be sorry is our diversity. Did you know that Canada was the first country in the entire world to adopt a multiculturalism policy in
1971? This has helped us rise as a country who embraces all walks of life, where people around the globe wish to be a part of our communities, cultures, and economy. Along with proudly working with 15 different First Nations, MHC is pleased to have a diverse team of people from Chile, Scotland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, India,
China, America, Australia, Italy, England, and the Philippines, to name a few. Our Prime Minister recently said, “Diversity is Canada’s strength,” and it’s this year and every year that MHC is honoured to embrace and celebrate the multiculturalism that provides the backbone to our company and our successes.
Pas de pardon pour notre diversité culturelle Traduction par MARGOT GRIFFIN ASSISTANTE A L’ADMINISTRATION
Le Canada est connu au monde entier plutôt comme un pays étant toujours à demander pardon, à s’excuser. Une chose magnifique que notre pays n’a pas à s’excuser est de sa richesse en diversité culturelle. Saviez-vous que? En 1971, le Canada était le premier pays du monde à adopter
une politique multiculturalisme. Cette politique nous a permis d’être reconnues comme un pays embrassant n’importe gens, n’importe nationalité et qui nous réunit en communautés tous sain et sauf dans notre vaste société Canadienne.
des environs, l’équipe de MHC se diversifie avec des gens de Chile, de l’Ecosse, des Pays Basque, de la Nouvelle Zélande, de l’Inde, de la Chine, des ÉtatsUnis, de l’Australie, de l’Italie, de l’Angleterre et des Philippines pour en nommer quelques ’un.
En plus de travailler avec 15 groupes de Premières Nations
Notre Premier Ministre a récemment dit ; « La diversité
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est la solidité du Canada » et en 2017, MHC embrasse et célèbre les succès de la compagnie approvisionné par la puissance et la solidité de notre équipe multiculturelle.
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A Brief History of Canadian Occupational Health and Safety By BLAINE TREMBLAY HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGER
The Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia, operating today as WorkSafeBC, is a statutory agency that came into existence 100 years ago in 1917. WorkSafeBC’s mandate includes employer insurance and assistance in prevention of occupational injury and occupational disease, which it accomplishes through education, consultation, and enforcement. Officers will also conduct inspections and investigate serious incidents such as fatalities. The Workers Compensation Act assigns the authority to make the
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation of British Columbia which we know today. Today Canada is considered to be an “advanced safety country” where workplace safety is entrenched. “Advanced safety countries” have an intricate system of regulations and enforcement designed to compel companies to provide safe workplaces and workers who are knowledgeable and know their rights. The path toward improved workplace health and safety began in 1884 with the Ontario Factories Act. In 1886, the Ontario Workman’s Compensation for Injuries
Act became the first workers’ compensation legislation in Canada. It established the conditions under which a worker could take legal action against an employer for injuries sustained at the workplace. The 1889 Royal Commission on the Relations of Labour and Capital condemned the state of working conditions in several industries. The commission made a number of recommendations but the federal government did not act on them, saying it was provincial responsibility. The federal government did pass the Public Works Health Act of Canada in 1899, however, regulating the supervision of
health and safety of federal employees. Canada had its first ‘modern’ workers compensation law in 1914, when Ontario introduced legislation that workers would be eligible for guaranteed nofault benefits from a system that was wholly funded by employers. In exchange, employers were freed from legal liability. This Ontario Workmen’s Compensation Act was the first Canadian statute to accept the principle that some level of injury is inevitable and that compensation should be provided without regard to responsibility, paving the way for all other provincial regulators in Canada.
Koomen crosses Canada’s centre Former Marine Harvester Jacob Koomen is riding across Canada raising money for cancer, an adventurous way to spend the country’s 150th birthday and his first full year of retirement.
Retiring in 2016, Jacob has finally reached his retirement dream of cycling across Canada, supported by his wife Jannie. Together the Koomens have cycled
JACOB KOOMEN ON HIGHWAY 1 EAST OF WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
thousands of kilometres and raised many thousands of dollars for cancer, inspired by the loss of too many family members and friends.
by way of Ride2Survive, or follow the Koomens’ progress across Canada, can visit: cycle4cancer. wordpress.com
Anyone who would like to donate to the Canadian Cancer Society,
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All Smiles Each year, Marine Harvest donates a bike to the Sayward R.C.M.P bike rodeo. You can tell by this photo that this year’s recipient was very darn happy about it.
Galt, Ontario (a club team represented Canada in the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, USA)
Jacob left Campbell River on June 2nd and he is currently crossing northern Ontario, having made good progress across the Rockies and prairies.
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Dennis retires on his Canadian half century
DENNIS TAYLOR AT PORT ELIZABETH
Marine Harvest Canada’s Dennis Taylor moved to Canada on its 100th birthday, spent the best part of five decades working in aquaculture, and has now retired on its 150th. As a proud first generation salmon farmer, he has a few mantras ready to repeat in his mixed Commonwealth accent. “You’ve got to have your heart in it. You’ve got to be willing to do it.” “Fish come first. Then site pride. You’ve got to have site pride.”
“Just because it is a fish farm, it doesn’t have to look like a fish farm.” At first Dennis worked for the provincial government, growing smolts at Qualicum and Robertson hatcheries and collecting wild salmon samples in Port Alberni. Budget cutbacks in the 1980s forced him to go looking for work briefly in forestry, then as a commercial diver. “I have been most grateful about that moment - getting my ticket to dive - because that’s what got me into fish farming. I haven’t looked
back. Since 1989, I’ve been in fish farming.”
rewarding, a very challenge,” he says.
Dr. Don Furnell asked Dennis to dive at one of the early Atlantic salmon farms in Tofino in 1989. He applied all his experience in animal husbandry to his new ocean environment.
Dennis pursued every opportunity to move to new sites, including in 2016 when Marine Harvest received permission to open replacement sites in Klemtu. He was pleased to finish his career opening the province’s newest salmon farms at Cougar Bay and Alexander Inlet.
“I had 40 sheep of my own to look after from when I was 11. I’d grown up fishing, like everyone does in New Zealand. When I got to Tofino I was like, “’Wow, we can farm fish now?’ I was hooked,” Dennis says. Dennis jumped on the chance to transfer to the east coast of Vancouver Island when changes in farm ownership allowed for it. He worked for Kelly Osborne in the Broughton Archipelago from 2000 to 2007, moving to each new farm as it was established. “Larsen, Doctor Islet, and Humphrey Rock; that was very
satisfying
“The worst sites for workers are the best sites for growing salmon. It was a bit of shock for the workers going from the old farms to the new sites exposed to the ocean. I think Alex and Cougar are going to be good sites; we’re going to see some nice fish out of there,” he says. However, Dennis won’t be there for the first harvest. He’ll be spending some long overdue time with his wife and children in Port Alberni.
EAGLE HAS LANDED AT MARS When Dave Guzda and Josh Tucker noticed a wounded bald eagle on the shoreline near their workplace in Quatsino Sound, British Columbia, they knew they had to help but weren’t sure what to do. So they called Vancouver Island’s bird rescue centre, Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS), to ask for advice and direction. “Reg Westcott at MARS was great and in detail explained how we could safely capture it and transport it down to him for
much needed care,” said Dave Guzda. “So with a towel, heavy duty gloves and a rubber made tote I was able to safely get my hands on it and get it in the tote for travel.” After being transported in several boats to the small village of Quatsino, the bird still had a three hour crew bus ride before his final trip in Dave’s truck that landed him safely with Reg at MARS. Reg, who is the Supervisor of Wildlife Care at MARS, noticed
right away that the eagle had silver talons which he believes comes from a rare blood line. He also realized the JOSH TUCKER, DAVE GUZDA WITH EAGLE eagle really was in bad eagle was found), Dave and Josh shape, was starving, with a potential wing fracture and will be keeping in touch with MARS and are hoping the silver an injured leg, possibly received talon eagle has a full and speedy during a fight that can be typical recovery. during the aggressive breeding season. See more photos on facebook. Naming the bird “Mahatta” (after com/MHCanada/ a local river near the place the
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Happy Birthday
Canada! Charity
Date
SPECIAL EDITION
On July 1st support the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters by joining us for lunch on Shoppers Row at
Location
Serving Time
BC Professional FireFighters - Burn Fund Canada Day Celebration
1-Jul-17
Campbell River - Shoppers Row at St Anns (in front of CIBC)
Lunch
Campbell River Syrian Refugee Committee CR Mirror Jazz & Blues Charity Weekend
7-Jul-17
Campbell River - Spirit Square
Dinner
Port Hardy Volunteer Firefighter Association Filomi Days
15-Jul-17
Port Hardy - Market Street - Carrot Park
Lunch
Comox Bay Sailing Club Sailing Regatta
29-Jul-17
Comox Marina Park
Dinner
St. Anns Street (in front of CIBC). Enjoy delicious teriyaki salmon on a burger or Asian noodle salad. All proceeds raised go directly to the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Association Burn Fund.
LONG LOST FILM In 1977, the National Film Board of Canada produced a documentary about Norwegian salmon farming. The long lost film shows Norwegian communities previously
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Way to go team! Thanks to the Campbell River Mirror readers for voting Marine Harvest ‘Best Community Minded Business’ for the second year running.
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dependent on fishing moving into aquaculture. Stream “The Farming of Fish” at https://archive.org/details/ thefarmingoffish