Wharfside
October 2014
Launch of the MS “Amarissa Joye”
In this issue Launch of the MS “Amarissa Joye”. . . . . . . . . 1 Aquaculture Pioneers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 From Scotland to Canada, Michelle Stuart keeps numbers balanced. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Feeding the Future. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 14th annual BC Aquaculture golf tournament. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Excellence in Workforce Development (over 50) Award. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Our pleasure!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Walkus family was thrilled to launch the newest member of their fleet, the MS Amarissa Joye. Pictured here is (l-r) Henry, Larissa, Joye, Amanda and James. The Amarissa Joye incorporates the names of Amanda, Larissa, and Joye.
Marine Harvest Canada barbeque helps build B.C. Burn Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 And the grand total is… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Future aquaculturists?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Did you Know? There is over 20 million tonnes of gold suspended in the world’s oceans?
Trivia time! What is a pregnant goldfish called? Answer on Page 4
Comments about this Newsletter? Please email comments, articles and ideas to Ian Roberts, Communications Manager, at ian.roberts@marineharvest.com
Marine Harvest Canada staff and the Walkus family gathered in Vancouver last month to celebrate the launch of a new harvest vessel, the MS Amarissa Joye.
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Capacity – 315 cubic metres
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Chilling capacity – 200 tonnes (4 chillers @ 50 tonnes each, 1 chiller per hold)
The newest member of James Walkus Fishing Company’s fleet, built by ABD Boats, got her hull wet on Sunday, September 14th.
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Harvest station – 2 x 4 channel Baader harvest systems capacity to process 8000 fish per hour
The new vessel, which will be contracted to Marine Harvest Canada for harvesting market-sized salmon, has been outfitted with the latest technology for safe travel, as well as state-of-the-art fish handling equipment and temperature control to ensure quality salmon. The Amarissa Joye will be twice the size of the current vessels contracted to harvest salmon for Marine Harvest Canada. The specifications are impressive, and include: •
Length – 31.7 metres
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Width – 10.3 metres
Marine Harvest staff will have an opportunity to tour the Amarissa Joye when it docks in Campbell River and Port Hardy in late October. “This purpose-built harvest boat is an important addition to our harvest fleet,” said Jason Stalker, Marine Harvest’s Harvest Manager. “The vessel not only doubles our harvest capacity, but also includes cuttingedge technology that will help preserve superior salmon quality by ensuring strict temperature control.” The Amarissa Joye will be ready to deliver its first harvest of Marine Harvest Canada Continued on page 2
Continued from page 1
Launch of the MS “Amarissa Joye” salmon to the Port Hardy Processing Plant by late October.
Andy Beech was recently hired as Maintenance Manager at Port Hardy Processing Plant. When asked about Marine Harvest’s safety culture he said, “I am most impressed with the line responsibility culture at our work site and to see people looking out for one another’s wellbeing. I believe we are fortunate to have support from all levels within the company and good people working together to continually improve safety at our sites.”
The MS Amarissa Joye was built by ADB Boats and launched in Vancouver on September 14th, 2014
Aquaculture Pioneers The BC Salmon Farmers Association celebrated its 30th anniversary at its Annual General Meeting held in Campbell River in September. During the meeting, dozens of aquaculture pioneers (25+ years in the business) were thanked for their perseverance in helping build salmon farming to what it is today: 6000 British Columbians helping to grow BC’s highest-valued agricultural export. A highlight of the meeting was a very interesting panel discussion that included Dr. Brad Hicks, Kevin Onclin, and Clare Backman. With over 75 years’ experience between them,
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(l-r) Dr. Brad Hicks, Kevin Onclin, and Clare Backman
there were many stories to share about the trials and tribulations of learning to grow fish 30 years ago, and the evolution
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of the business to its current worldleading practices.
From Scotland to Canada, Michelle Stuart keeps numbers balanced By Gina Forsyth
When Financial Accountant Michelle Stuart arrived in the Campbell River office this summer, she already knew people’s names and the route to the lunchroom. Michelle has been with Marine Harvest since 1999, the majority of time spent in Scotland. She first worked in Canada for three months in 2009, assisting with the AquaFarmer software. She returned in 2010 and stayed for three years, leaving for a short period last year to finalize permanent residency. Now that her permanent residency has been approved, she’s not going anywhere. “Without the support and patience of Vincent Erenst, Chris Leighton, and the entire Finance Department who helped me gain permanent residency, I wouldn’t be here,” said Michelle. Gathering information from everyone in the finance department and ensuring it all balances keeps Michelle busy at month end. She is also the Canadian finance representative for the new financial reporting software that is coming to Scotland early next year and to Canada in subsequent years. Born in Ashburton, New Zealand, Michelle grew up in Christchurch. From a young age, she felt an affinity for numbers. “My dad ran a shop and I started counting money
Michelle Stuart in Peru
with him when I was five”. This connection continues to run deeply. After high school, she was responsible for payroll, providing sales data, approving invoices and balancing cash at a New Zealand ‘Big Box Store’. Michelle then spent four years at a chartered accountant’s office doing payroll, providing support to small business and preparing tax returns. In 1998, Michelle bought a one-way ticket to London for her 28th birthday. She arrived with no job and nowhere to live. “Going from a country of three or four million to a city of ten million was a shock,” but added that “it was the best decision of my life”. Within two weeks Michelle was working for a temp agency and met musical notables such as Sinead O’Connor. After that, “I had an interview in a London phone booth as a nine month Accounts Payable Supervisor at Marine Harvest Scotland,” said Michelle. The job was a go and Michelle and her now husband Bernie (who also works at MHC as a Freshwater Technician) drove overnight to Edinburgh. MarineHarvestCanada.com
Michelle was offered a permanent position that was specifically created for her. “I was a Trainee Financial Accountant. I learned about financial reporting and also supervised staff. I was fortunate to have a very good boss who was well known and respected”. She also worked in Fort William as the Farms and Factory Financial Accountant. Michelle and husband Bernie Stuart were married in 1999 in Scotland, where they each have family ties. Michelle is devoted to her three cats, Smokey (15), Ozzie (13) and Cairo (3). “There’s always been a cat in the house”. Ozzie used one of his nine lives recently when he was shot by a pellet gun at their home in Willow Point. “He’ll make a full recovery but it was really scary,” she said. “Every March you’ll find me in Austin for South by Southwest,” enthused Michelle. This was the fourth year she’s attended the 10 day movie and music extravaganza. She also enjoys travel and going to the gym.
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Feeding the Future
population is expected to grow to 9.3 billion by 2050; current food production will need to double to keep up. Jose focused much of his discussion on the efficiencies of aquaculture compared to land based proteins, stating that “aquaculture should lead the discussion on how to farm responsibly”. Aquaculture uses a fraction of the freshwater and produces half the carbon as pork (and merely 1/7 that of beef production) per kilogram, while obtaining an 86% harvest yield.
As part of the BC Salmon Farmers 30th anniversary event, the Association welcomed keynote speaker Jose Villalon, Corporate Sustainability Director for Nutreco. Jose also spoke at the Vancouver Aquarium on importance of aquaculture in feeding a growing planet. The world’s
To end his speech, Jose discussed the ways in which aquaculture has taken the lead on sustainable farming. Industry has reacted positively to criticism by achieving third party certification against environmental and social standards. Additionally, salmon
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Stephen Hall, Dean Dobrinsky, and Clare Backman (l-r) were there to receive the honours from the award co-sponsors: Shannon Baikie (left), Manager with NIEFS, and Cheryl O’Connell (right), Dean, School of Continuing Education and Training with North Island College.
(you can view Mr. Villalon’s presentation at the Vancouver Aquarium at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=GC1lAwWU0XU)
Twenty Marine Harvest staff had a blast at the 14th annual BC Aquaculture golf tournament held in Comox in September. Pictured here is: (l-r) Andre, Brad, Brett, and Paul (horizontal). More photos are posted on Marine Harvest Canada’s Facebook site.
MarineHarvestCanada.com Answer: A twit
Marine Harvest Canada was honoured to receive the “Excellence in Workforce Development (over 50) Award” at the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce 2014 Business Awards of Distinction. The award night was held at the Tidemark Theatre on September 27. Marine Harvest’s
farmers are the first food producers to ever join together “pre-competitively” in creation of the Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) - a group which will work collectively on environmental and social improvements. The GSI can provide a platform to demonstrate how far aquaculture has come, and showcase the common goals (including ASC certification by 2020). Quoting Michael Porter, Jose says “the worst error in strategy is to compete with rivals in the same direction”; through GSI and other unique strategies, aquaculture is effectively showing the world “I’m different than you”.
Our pleasure!
Marine Harvest Canada barbeque helps build B.C. Burn Centre
A big ‘thank you’ for your donation to the clinic at the Oscar Daze ball tournament in August. Evalyn Hrybko, Sayward Health Clinic.
Many, many thanks for the great food at the Volunteer Fair. Thank you so much for being there. Geri Arkell, Campbell River Hospice board member and Volunteer.
We are extremely grateful that your company participated in the year’s Paws for a Cause. Thank you again for your continued support of the BCSPCA. Stephanie Arkwright, Branch Manager, Campbell River BCSPCA
Thank you so much for your donation of salmon – it was delicious. We truly appreciated your kindness. Ron Hollingshead, Recreation Manager, New Horizons Care Home.
(l-r): Mike Hurley, Burn Fund President; Stu Dumont, Local 1668 firefighter; Ian Roberts, MHC; Gord Ditchburn, Burn Fund Secretary
Campbell River firefighter Stewart Dumont and Marine Harvest’s Ian Roberts were thrilled to attend the groundbreaking celebration for the new Burn Fund Centre in Vancouver on September 17. For more than ten years, Campbell River Professional Firefighters Local 1668, Marine Harvest Canada, and the community of Campbell River have teamed up to fundraise for the B.C. Burn Fund. Dumont and Roberts are excited to see years of local effort helping to fund a project that will support burn and trauma patients from across British Columbia. The money was raised by selling barbecued salmon at Campbell River’s Canada Day festivities at Ostler Park, and in the ten years since salmon sales began Marine Harvest and Local 1668 members have raised more than $20,000 for the B.C. Burn Fund. The Burn Fund Centre – to be built on the corner of 23rd Avenue and Main Street MarineHarvestCanada.com
– will provide eight short-term, free of charge, furnished suites to help meet the current critical shortfall in accommodation for burn and trauma patients and their family caregivers. Construction will begin this month and is planned for completion within a year. While Dumont and Roberts were proud to represent their organizations, they know fundraising has been a team effort over the years. “There have been many individuals who have helped at our salmon barbecues, and groups including The Fraternal Order of Eagles Ladies Auxiliary and Associated Tire have been integral to our fundraising efforts,” said Dumont. “We wish everyone could attend the ground breaking celebration, including every customer who bought a salmon burger in the last ten years.”
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And the grand total is… Summer 2014 turned out to be a busy one for our charity barbeque team. Twenty-one fundraising barbeques later, we’ve counted every last penny and have totaled over
The salmon barbeque assisted the following charities and societies in 2014:
Wow!
$31,000!!
A BIG thank you to each and every volunteer who helped prepare, cook, serve, set up and tear down. Another BIG thanks to every community member who donated and enjoyed a delicious Marine Harvest salmon burger. Applications for 2015 charitable barbeque events will be made available on our website in February.
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Mt Washington Ski Club
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St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation
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Campbell River Christian School
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Campbell River Beacon Club
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Campbell River Head Injury Society
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North Island Relay for Life
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Quatse Salmon Stewardship Centre
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Habitat for Humanity
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Black Creek Community Association
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Campbell River Hospice Society
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Willow Point Lions Club
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Petrie family fundraiser
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BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund
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Salmon Kings Swim Club
Gale, Gerry, Pauline from Volunteer Campbell River worked with Marine Harvest’s Mike Brazier at the barbeque event in September.
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Filomi Days
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North Island Harvest Food Bank
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Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society
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Volunteer Campbell River
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BCSPCA – Paws for a Cause
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Greenways Land Trust
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Heart & Stroke Foundation
Future aquaculturists? Marine Harvest is pleased to support local students through educational bursaries. Hazel Pausang received the North Island Secondary School Scholarship in Port McNeill this past summer. Last month, Marine Harvest Human Resources Manager, Tina Gonsky, attended the North Island College scholarship event in Port Alberni to award the Bob Minkler Memorial Bursary to Mariah de Koninck. Mariah looks forward to a career as a biologist studying aquaculture.
Hazel Pausang (right) received the Marine Harvest Aquaculture Scholarship in Port McNeill. She is pictured here with her teacher, Ms. Rena Sweeney.
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Marine Harvest’s Tina Gonsky (left) was obviously overjoyed to award Mariah de Koninck with the Bob Minkler Memorial Bursary at the Port Alberni North Island College campus.
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