Wharfside
November 2018
Dr Morrison charts a path forward
In this issue A visit from Numata. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 East Meets West. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 See a blow? Let us know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Shared communities need shared values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Health and Safety reaches new depths at Ocean Falls Hatchery. . . . . . 6 Halloween Breakfast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Great BC Shakeout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 From Harvest to Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 360 filming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Diane at the 2018 Employee Appreciation Event
Did You Know? Paraguay and Bolivia are the only two South American countries which do not touch the sea.
Trivia time! What chemical element gives the blood of a lobster a bluish tint? Answer on page 6
Comments about this Newsletter? Please email comments, articles and ideas to Chris Read, Communications Manager, at Chris.Read@marineharvest.com
medicine and intervention that is used to maintain the health of the fish. When I went to school in veterinary medicine it was all about terrestrial farming. We didn’t have the health or herd management textbooks for salmon that we had for beef or poultry production, though they exist now. I used the principles we learned for terrestrial farming and applied those to salmon farming. I sometimes sit back on a quiet day and think, it would be nice to capture all those memories and lessons from the early days because we have made countless improvements. It would be great to document where we came from and where we are now.”
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. A: “I grew up in Ontario and was trained as a veterinarian at the Ontario Veterinarian College at the University of Guelph, graduating in 1992. Upon graduation, I was lucky enough to get a job here in Campbell River, so my husband and I re-located. We have been in Campbell River ever since, raising two children who are now both in university. I consider myself very lucky to have started my career here and live in this beautiful community for the last 25 years.” Q: What is the most interesting experience you’ve had in the last quarter of a century in aquaculture? A: “I have seen tremendous changes and improvements in the way the farms are managed and the fish are reared and looked after, as well as the amount of health monitoring and proactive veterinary
Q: What is a typical day like in your new role? A: “Well, my day has certainly changed. Before I would have been primarily focused on analyzing metrics that are based on the health of our fish and results from our health screening. Now, as Managing Director, I am looking at the whole picture of the business, ensuring we maintain our high health and safety standards, building meaningful relationships in the communities where we operate, as well as improving the health, productivity, and growth of our fish. I am making sure that I am doing everything I can to support our great team at Marine Harvest and doing the best job we possibly can for our staff and for our fish. I am learning to curb my tendency to dig down into the nitty gritty details, Continued on page 2
Continued from page 1
Dr Morrison charts a path forward as I would as a veterinarian. It’s a good challenge for me; I am enjoying it. Certainly my days are filled, there’s no question about that.” Q: What innovation, in your opinion, has the most potential to improve the aquaculture industry? A: “I have been working in the industry for 25 years, and it is constantly innovating and changing. Sea lice are often raised as an issue for farmed salmon and the wild salmon alike. What we are seeing now is a roll out of management options in use in Norway – many different non-medicinal, mechanical, or physical interventions that can be taken to remove and capture the lice so they are not returned to the environment. I see that as a big opportunity for British Columbia given the sentiment of using green technology is very strong in BC. Being able to take advantage of the knowledge and development in Norway and bringing it to BC is a priority for us. Integrating innovative in-sea closed technology for raising fish into our production is another big area for Marine Harvest Canada. The other focus is genomics, specifically for our breeding programs and being able to select the best fish with the best qualities for health, growth, and possible sea lice resistance. That whole field is growing at a rapid speed. A genetic test that used to cost a couple of hundred dollars for one fish is now less than 20 dollars. This technology is becoming much more accessible to the individual
2
companies. This is an area that is really going to drive some big improvements and changes.” Q: From Marine Harvest’s perspective, are you looking at closed containment or semi-closed containment in ocean or on land? A: “Currently, we are looking at in-ocean (technology) because that is where we have seen some successes based on the Norwegian experience. There is the (on-land) facility down in Miami that everybody is watching as they build out and start to get into production. But currently we feel the technology and the energy demands to put that volume of fish onto land is a little too extreme. We are certainly looking, we are always looking; that is what I love about this industry. Aquaculture is full of innovators; we don’t stop looking for different and better ways of doing what we do to address production, environmental, and societal concerns. We always will be innovating. We are not closed to the on-land technology, but currently we are seeing good successes with the in-sea technology. That’s where we are putting our focus right now.” Q: What is the timeline for some of these Norwegian in-sea technology to hit BC oceans? A: “Minister Wilkinson has announced that a feasibility study will be undertaken to better understand some of the challenges to both land and in-sea technologies; we’re MarineHarvest.ca
looking forward to being involved in that. One complication to the technologies we are looking at is we need available and sustainable shore power, and a location suitable for the structures. We’re looking for the right places to do that. We will be discussing this with our First Nations partners, or new partners to see if there is any interest.” Q: As a woman in aquaculture, can you tell me what advice you would give women looking for careers in this industry? A: “There are never enough women in aquaculture, in my opinion. This still is a very male-dominated industry, but as a woman I couldn’t have asked for a better career for someone who is into science, technology, environmental issues, animal husbandry, and rearing of fish. There are so many possibilities for women in this industry. I would strongly advise any woman who has interests in any of those fields to investigate for themselves, to look at the industry and to come do a work placement with us. There is a wide diversity of jobs, experiences, education, and skill sets that are needed in this industry. It is only going to get more and more technical and science based. Yes, I would strongly encourage any woman to consider aquaculture as a career.”
Continued on page 3
Continued from page 2
Dr Morrison charts a path forward Q: Is there a skills shortage in the aquaculture industry in BC? A: “Yes, there is a skills shortage for sure, especially when it comes to tradespeople. We are addressing some of that by offering apprenticeships with Marine Harvest Canada. It is a big concern for us because tradespeople are in very short supply. We offer a fulfilling career and the ability to stay on Vancouver Island or the smaller communities on the coast. I think all industries in British Columbia are as concerned about this as we are.” Q: There is a lot of talk, especially from Campbell River, for a Federal Aquaculture Act. What is your view on that? A: “I have to say, I am not as well versed on that today as I will be, being only three weeks into the position. But I know my colleagues feel very strongly that an Aquaculture Act would be a benefit to
our industry, and I do know that we need to find a better way to ensure rules that govern aquaculture are more clear for all Canadians.” Q: Can farmed salmon and wild salmon co-exist? A: “I strongly believe that the two can co-exist. As farmers, we are providing the fish that the North American market, and to a smaller degree, the Asian market, is demanding on a year-round basis. There is a lot of demand for salmon; I see us taking the pressure off the wild fish. Our staff know a lot about salmon and they really value salmon, farmed and wild. Ideally, we will continue to build closer ties with the enhancement hatcheries and their staff – sharing of knowledge and perspectives. I think it would really go a long way to show that we are all concerned about the wild salmon and we all want them to survive
and be prosperous. I see farmed and wild salmon existing together.” Q: You are one of the longest serving members of the Marine Harvest team in Canada. What message do you have for your co-workers about what they can expect from you now that you’re MD? A: “They can expect the same appreciation and concern for our employees and our fish that I’ve had since I started with MHC in 2000. Visitors to MHC always comment on how proud and pleasant our employees are. Even when dealing with challenges, you continue to look for ways to make things better for your staff, your fish, and the environment. As Managing Director, I want to support our employees to ensure they can continue to be proud of their work and who they work for. I want to help MHC drive innovation and be the industry leaders that I know we are. I will help ensure we are Leading the Blue Revolution.”
A visit from Numata The Port Hardy Processing Plant recently hosted an international visit. Port Hardy is twinned with Numata in Japan and recently a group from Numata visited Port Hardy to learn some more about their twin town. As a part of their trip they visited the plant, as well as sampling the North Island culture around Port Hardy. Thanks to all who helped out with the visit which was a great success. All dressed up and ready to go on to the floor at Port Hardy MarineHarvest.ca
3
East Meets West on the east coast has raised interest in the local communities there about how Marine Harvest operates and, crucially for this group, what it brings to the areas in which it operates.
The group thoroughly enjoyed their trip out to Shelter Pass.
Marine Harvest operations on the western coast of Canada recently received a visit from community leaders from the eastern coast. A delegation of mayors and other regional representatives from Newfoundland made the trip from East to West to see the full extent of Marine Harvest operations for themselves. The recent acquisition of Northern Harvest
The delegation was keen to see things for themselves as they visited hatcheries, sea sites, and both the Port Hardy and Surrey processing plants. They met with members of MH senior management team and took the opportunity to ask many questions of the staff they met on their tour. As well as various suppliers to Marine Harvest, they also met with the Mayor and council of Port Hardy, as well as the Mayor of Campbell River. It was an intense whistle-stop tour that left the group highly impressed by all the operations they visited and the
benefit these bring to the communities in which they are based, both directly and through the extensive supply chain. They were also enthusiastic about the depth of community involvement both through employee activity and company investment. However, what they commented on the most, was the MH staff who routinely displayed incredible passion and knowledge, taking the time to answer questions in a thoughtful and engaging manner. It was a pleasure to meet this group and share their enthusiasm for the opportunities to come. A big thank you must go to all Marine Harvest facilities that were visited and to the staff who took the time to welcome the group to their site and talk passionately about their jobs. Once again, you have impressed!
See a blow? Let us know Earlier in 2018, the Environmental Performance and Certification Department sent out a request for all farms and vessels to voluntarily log and report their cetacean sightings. The Marine Education Research Society provided all MHC vessels with “See a blow? Go slow” decals to remind our operators to be aware of travelling whales around them. A review of the sightings over the year so far has found that 15 of our farm sites and vessels have reported over 600 individual cetaceans to the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network. Jessica Torode-Scott, Coordinator, B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network, thanked Marine Harvest for “contributing to conservation-based research by submitting 4
This fantastic picture of an Orca was captured by Graham Byatt
sightings of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) and sea turtles along our coast!” The B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network (BCCSN) is one of Canada’s longestrunning and most successful citizen science programs. Sightings sent in by volunteer observers contribute to an understanding MarineHarvest.ca
of habitat use, abundance, and distribution of British Columbia’s at-risk cetacean and sea turtle populations. Each sighting is verified and entered into a database, which now contains over 112,000 sightings. This database is shared with other government agencies, universities, and ENGOs for conservation-based research projects. It enables the protection of essential habitat, highlights areas of high risk to vulnerable cetacean and sea turtle species, and allows for targeted outreach and mitigation to reduce anthropogenic threats. Visit wildwhales.org for more information about the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network. For more information on how to get your site involved, please contact Renée Hamel.
Shared communities need shared values
Marine Harvest Canada’s Jeremy Dunn was asked to attend AquaSur, the southern hemisphere’s leading aquaculture conference, to participate in a session on working with communities on rural coastlines. The challenges working on remote rural areas are similar across all of Marine Harvest’s operations: underfunded infrastructure, the challenge of keeping people employed, and young people migrating to the cities in search of a more modern lifestyle. They are also similar in that they are all hugely reliant on the ocean for their economies, which can sometimes lead to conflicts. This is why having a deeply engaged relationship with the communities on the coast is so important. In Canada, this relationship is largely with First Nations, but also with the wider community. In Chile, it is with artisanal fishermen, but also increasingly with the indigenous people of Chile. The panel discussion highlighted that wherever you are in the world, it comes down to shared values, to shared experiences and shared communities – building it together. “In Marine Harvest Canada, we have worked with First Nations to establish their acceptance of our farms, and of our
people in our shared communities through youth sports, building facilities together, environmental monitoring and research, wild salmon restoration, and having an openness about our business,” reflected Jeremy Dunn. “This isn’t one or two people in the company: it’s everyone, and while we have had some success, we have much more work to do. I certainly learned from my time with our Chilean colleagues that the sharing opportunities that Marine Harvest provides is one of the foundational elements that make the company what it is today – and why we are leading the blue revolution.” As a part of AquaSur, Marine Harvest Chile also welcomed an international group to its Huelden centre on the north side of the island of Chiloé. The delegation included Canada’s ambassador to Chile Patricia Pena and her senior staff, representatives MarineHarvest.ca
of the UK delegation to AquaSur, as well as Jeremy Dunn. “This was Ambassador Pena, and her staff ’s, first time on a salmon farm and they were very impressed with the operation, but mostly with the warm and knowledgeable staff. On the farm, the group had a chance to participate in a sea lice and fish health check, as well as inspect the nets using the Deep Trekker ROV unit – Canadian technology Ambassador Pena was quite happy to see being used in Chile.”
5
Health and Safety reaches new depths at Ocean Falls Hatchery
Left to right: Jason Hindson Orca Safety, Chad Cleveland, and Kevin Reid
It was a massive undertaking given its complexity and to also ensure all the health and safety requirements were in place. The Ocean Falls staff were recently trained in Confined Space and
6
had an excellent hands-on learning experience from Jason Hindson with Orca Safety who is highly trained in Rescue and Confined Space to ensure preparedness if something happened to the valve while changing out the stem. Both Ken Maddison, Hatchery Manager and Blaine Tremblay, MHC H&S Manager, have been planning this project for well over a year. “This job required a back up plan, for the back up plan” said Ken. Of course, there are always minor set backs when working in a remote area. Prior to lowering Chad down into the pipe, it had to be ventilated with a specific fan 20 minutes before entry to flush the space with clean, respirable air.
When it was plugged in, it didn’t work to Ken’s surprise as he tested it only two days prior to the project. Without this fan the job was at a full stop! But, thanks to the skills of the onsite maintenance electrician Kevin Reid, he was able to get the fan repaired. A big relief. The strong teamwork and safety culture at Ocean Falls was very invigorating to work with and an excellent new experience for Jason who became an instant fan and supporter of our business who has seen the immediate importance of the role we play to help feed the world and save wild salmon.
MarineHarvest.ca Answer: Copper
Just when Chad Cleveland, Maintenance Technician at Ocean Falls, thought he had been in every square inch of the site, he happily found a new space to check off the bucket list. The installation of a new valve stem for the main hatcher valve some 27 feet below ground meant a new adventure for Chad. This valve controls the fresh treated water in the lower basin which is fed from the Link Lake dam to supply clean and healthy water to 3,500,000 fish at 90grams and counting!
Halloween Breakfast Halloween is a great time to find out who is still young at heart. The Campbell River office had a Halloween breakfast which provided an ideal opportunity for people to unleash their inner identity. The delicious food was prepared by a team of willing volunteers. A big thank you goes to all who helped! The costumes were the models’ own.
The Great BC Shakeout
Staff gather at the Muster point
For three years in Brad Hallam – fully prepared a row, the office staff in Campbell River have participated in The Great BC Shakeout Drill in preparation for The Big One! On October 18, 2018, all staff members, along with 880,000 other British
Columbians, were required to drop and take cover at 10:18am for 60 seconds and then evacuate to the designated muster station for role call completed by Diane Dunbar.
After all people were accounted for, there was a discussion about potential next steps to think about, including dam failure by Blaine Tremblay and Dan Pattison, that could require further evacuation to higher ground or outside the flood zone.
MarineHarvest.ca
A big thanks to Dan Pattison for coordinating the event this year!
It wasn’t just the office staff who took part! Sites like Sonora Point took the opportunity to stage a mock tsunami evacuation. It took them just 10 minutes from gathering at their muster point to reaching the designated point of safety. Great job, guys. 7
From Harvest to Table Marine Harvest’s operations have been a hotspot for film crews recently, with two projects using our facilities. Sargeaunts Pass was the kick-off point for a project capturing the journey our products take from harvest to table. Starting at the farm, it took in the Amarissa Joye, the Port Hardy and Surrey plants, and finally to the consumer at the Telegraph Cove salmon BBQ. The video was commissioned to showcase the Marel products we use as we process the fish; however, it was also a great opportunity to highlight our sites and plants.
Will from Freemont Films capturing the action on the Amarissa Joye
360 filming Another site that got the Hollywood treatment was Shelter Pass, which played host to a film crew from Perspective Films. The crew were capturing the site with a 360˚camera for use in an immersive salmon farm tour that will be coming soon. We are keen to use the latest technology to show people what our farms are like. It is not possible for everyone to physically visit a farm, so this is the next best thing. Perspective Films was originally created in 2006 by Cinematographer Chris Bedyk. His passion for storytelling led him to build custom camera rigs and production equipment that offer a unique perspective, capturing exquisite images and making him the professional of choice for many studios.
twitter.com/MHCanada 8
Clients include Disney, CW, Facebook Watch, Netflix, Huawei, Telus, Vancouver Canucks, and BC Lions. His immersive series VR Wonders of the World received “Official Selection” at the 2017 Vancouver VR film festival and Edmonton Short Film Fest. The crew at Shelter Passage welcomed filmmakers from Perspective Films onto their site on October 11 and 12 to shoot the first ever 360˚ immersive salmon farm tour. L-R (back) Cole, Chris, Mike, Carmen, Cole (front) Sam, Ray.
Chris is considered an innovator in the Cinematic VR Filmmaking community. Since 2013, he has developed numerous 360˚camera rigs and has created hundreds of immersive experiences for international corporations, Hollywood studios, and professional sports teams.
facebook.com/MHCanada
bit.ly/MHCanada MarineHarvest.ca
Chris and Cole from Perspective Films on the scene of 360˚ farm tour production at Shelter Passage on October 11.
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE marineharvestusedsales.com