Wharfside November 2015
In this issue $40 million investment in RAS at freshwater hatcheries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Marine Harvest Canada’s community investment policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Keeping track of industry-wide progress on sustainability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Fish processer driven to learn everything she can. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Your hands are your most valuable tool. . . 4 Congratulations Kate Pineda!. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Campbell River cleaned up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Congratulations James Walkus. . . . . . . . . . . 5 Oyster River Enhancement Society new shed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Did you Know? That salmon feeds used in BC contain less than 18% marine-based products (fish meal and oil)
Trivia time! Why was a lot of fish eaten in medieval England? 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
$40 million investment in RAS at freshwater hatcheries Over the next two years, Marine Harvest Canada (MHC) will build seven new recirculating aquaculture systems at our Big Tree Creek and Dalrymple facilities, north of Campbell River. The $40 million investment in freshwater hatcheries has started and will continue through 2016. The new systems will improve upon recirculating aquaculture technology currently being used for first feeders at Dalrymple, which was designed and built in-house, incorporating technology from InterAqua and Pentair for bio-filter and drum-filter components. MHC’s Freshwater Production Director, Dean Guest, says it is “the company’s most efficient system to date” with 15 million fry fed in the first 18 months of operation.
“It was surprising that a simple system that was inexpensive to build uses less energy than competing systems. We designed the system to be very simple and compact and the only automation is the oxygen system and the drum filter,” Dean says. “I would be shocked if I saw anything better. The full flow passes through each process of the treatment system with no side stream components or use of piping.” Local builders and electrical contractors have been engaged to work on the projects. The first stage to be finished will be a six metre system at Dalrymple and it is expected to be ready for fish early in the new year. Find the full press release at www. marineharvest.ca
SAVE THE DATE! Children’s Christmas parties on December 5th in Port Hardy and December 19th in Campbell River
Marine Harvest Canada’s community investment policy and will never, restrict a recipient’s right to voice their opinions or their ability to speak freely. Our goal in providing support to groups like the Upper Island Riptide has always been for the children in our community to have a positive environment to play and learn. As you read in the last edition of Wharfside, this year we’ve raised more than $100,000 over five years for local charities from the salmon barbecue trailer. In addition, we give direct financial support and in-kind donations to many not-for-profits, sports and arts groups each year. Recently, Marine Harvest Canada’s motivation for providing community support came under question because of a disagreement about player conduct between the company sponsored Upper
Island Riptide soccer program and a member. MHC issued this statement in response. In brief: Marine Harvest’s donations to community groups are unconditional and have not, and will not,
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Keeping track of industry-wide progress on sustainability The British Columbian Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) released an inaugural sustainability progress report in October that provides an unprecedented level of information on the environmental, economic and social performance of the industry across the province. The report does not shy away from the subjects of antibiotic use, survival of stock, numbers of sea lice, escapes, predators and sources of fish feed.
BSCFA executive director Jeremy Dunn says the report shows the progress made since salmon farming began in British Columbia in the 1980s, as well as talking about the work that is still left to be done.
“Our members have shown the commitment and dedication to ensuring the long-term stability of the sector, the ocean environment and marine wild species.”
“Great gains in areas of importance have been made over the past decade, particularly over the past five years as the culture of innovation and adaption has matured into a technically sophisticated industry,” he says.
Doctor Don Noakes, who chairs the BSCFA Science Advisory Council, says the industry has come a long way to be launching such a report. “I believe that sharing the information in this report is crucial to help British Columbians understand the Continued on page 3
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MarineHarvest.ca
Fish processer driven to learn everything she can then the boxing machine. It weighs each box and prints a label if the weight is within the acceptable levels. “If the box is too heavy or is short, I have to fix it before the label is printed,” Christine said. “I would like to learn to do everything so I’m able to do whatever’s needed. That’s what I’m working on now,” explained Christine. “I would also like to know more about how things are done, where the fish goes when it leaves the plant, and gain a better understanding of the whole process,” she added.
By Gina Forsyth
Christine Snowdon, fish processor at the Port Hardy Processing Plant (PHPP) on northern Vancouver Island, has always been drawn to working around fish. “I guess I like fish; it’s part of who I am,” said Christine. Her job includes operating the gutting machine, which removes the innards, and
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Born in Victoria, Christine and her family moved to Port Hardy when she was a year old in order for her father to find employment as a carpenter. She is the second oldest in a family of six brothers and two sisters. Christine didn’t complete grade 12, opting instead to volunteer for two years at the Marble River hatchery on the Quatse River in Port Hardy. She was subsequently hired at the Port Hardy Processing Plant, then Alpha, for 11 years, quitting when she
Quick facts from the 2015 Sustainability Progress Report
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Christine and Ken will be married when they’ve panned enough gold from the Zeballos area for their wedding rings. “It’s taking time but we thought that the rings would be more special if we worked for them ourselves,” she said, adding that the on-going effort to collect enough gold is similar to a relationship. “Both require hard work and panning is something we can do together,” she said. Earlier this year, Christine built a pond that she quickly fell in love with. It got off to a slow start when the ducks she brought home ate not only her garden but all the pond plants as well. “I want to expand it in the future and add a waterfall,” Christine enthused.
Keeping track of industry-wide progress on sustainability
issues that affect this sector and our ocean environment,” Don says.
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had her kids. Christine and her fiancé, Ken Samson, a welder, have a son, 13, and a daughter, 12. She returned to PHPP three years ago.
4977 direct and in-direct positions filled by the BC salmon farming sector in 2013 Farming salmon produces 2.9kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilo of edible product, compared to 30kg and
5.9kg for the beef and pork industries respectively •
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BC salmon farmers achieve an average rolling survivability rate of 93.6% in 2014 The use of antibiotics to treat illnesses in fish has reduced seven-fold in the past decade (and is lower than farmraised cattle, hogs, poultry, sheep, goat and horses in BC) MarineHarvest.ca
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Atlantic salmon farmers post sea lice monitoring numbers on their websites every month
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Upwards of 30% of salmon farming workforces are of Aboriginal descent
Want more facts from the report or information on the industry? Visit http:// bcsalmonfarmers.ca/
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Your hands are your most valuable tool
By Dan Pattison, Health & Safety Coordinator
Hand injuries are often written off as minor annoyances, even though they have the potential to do serious and long term harm. Many workers consider the use of gloves hard to comply with and avoid wearing them as they hinder the ability to do the job, but like any tool, using the appropriate one for the job makes the difference. A variety of gloves exist, more than ever before, and Marine Harvest Canada realizes the value of providing workers
with different models of hand protection. A choice of gloves helps to make workers more comfortable while adding that extra protection that may save a worker the need for stitches, prevent unnecessary infections or more serious injuries. MHC provides their workers with different cut levels of protection, grip intensity, chemical, thermal and impact resistant hand wear to name a few. Carefully identifying the need, then selecting a glove with the elite performance parameters can prevent injuries and actually make work more efficient and comfortable. Be responsible about hand safety and discuss your specific needs with your crew, supervisor and manager.
The most valuable tool you will ever use is your hands. We depend on them to work, communicate and ultimately, make money but also think about your “MyLife” and the things you identified most important to you in BrainSafe.
Congratulations Kate Pineda! From the 2014/2015 graduate class at the North Island Secondary School in Port McNeill, Kate Pineda was the deserving recipient of the Marina Harvest Aquaculture Scholarship to pursue studies in environmental science or aquaculture. Kathy Baker from the Port Hardy Processing Plant wished her best on behalf of the company on her graduation night.
MarineHarvest.ca Answer: Because the Roman Catholic Church forbade the eating of meat on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
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Campbell River cleaned up Like many Marine Harvest employees, Jonathan Lovett is an avid sports fisherman and conservationist. This past fishing season, Jonathan couldn’t help but notice the rubbish building up along the banks of the Campbell River, and no sooner had he mentioned it to his colleagues at Dalrymple, a clean-up mission was underway. The after work cleanup took place last month, and a portion of the famous fishing river was picked clean of fishing line and litter. Thank you to Jonathan, his partner Lauren, and their colleagues for an excellent team effort!
Congratulations James Walkus In October, James Walkus – owner of James Walkus Fishing Company, a contractor to Marine Harvest Canada – was honoured as the recipient of the 2015 BC Aboriginal Business Award for Individual Achievement for his dedication to his community and its economic development opportunities.
James Walkus and family at the launch of his latest vessel, the MV Amarissa Joye
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Oyster River Enhancement Society new shed
Hatchery manager Lyle Edmunds shows the extra room for egg trays.
This fall the Oyster River Enhancement Society is enjoying the use of a new incubation shed which has boosted their capacity to grow wild salmon eggs. The new shed at Mel’s Mess is a big improvement with extra space for volunteers to work, more shelves for egg
Proud of the new egg shed are volunteers Nigel Burden and Wayne Ennis, with Fred Ensom working at rear.
trays, higher flows of water and increased protection from the elements. As a long standing member of the society, MHC was happy to contribute funding to build the new shed, in partnership with the Pacific Salmon Foundation. The company also recently donated used
hatchery equipment to the volunteer group. Hatchery manager Lyle Edmonds says the access to second hand equipment from Marine Harvest’s freshwater facilities is a huge advantage to the society, allowing them to do things that couldn’t be done with money alone.
SAVE THE DATE! Children’s Christmas parties on December 5th in Port Hardy and December 19th in Campbell River
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