Wharfside
October 2015
New underwater eyes help deliver
In this issue New underwater eyes help deliver. . . . . . . . 1 Holy Mola!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Congratulations to the Campbell River Volunteer Centre!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Purchasing Agent Kelsey Briker enjoying the team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Winter driving is here. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Over $100,000!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Bandits on the run. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Hear the beep where you sleep. . . . . . . . . . . 6
Did you Know? Canada consumes more “mac & cheese” than any other country.
Trivia time! When was the first electric traffic light installed? 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
Phil McKirgan, Fish Technician, navigates the Steinsvik camera system
A new high-tech underwater camera system purchased by Marine Harvest Canada is helping farmers keep a close eye on feeding fish. The Steinsvik camera system allows for 360 degree views above and below the water’s surface, and provides even more confidence that feed is getting to where it’s intended. Although site manager Paul Pattison is new to the equipment, he is quickly seeing the benefits of what the new system provides over the old stationary camera. “Pan and tilt operation gives the farmers peace of mind knowing that every pellet hits the mouth,” Paul says. “We can continue to push the envelope to increase growth every day and improve feed conversion.”
The Steinsvik feeding system camera provides the operator with images and sensor information from all areas of the fish cage by moving the camera both horizontally and vertically with a winch system. The winch is controlled by a videogame-like controller. The camera can rotate 360 degrees in all directions, and together with the surface camera with a zoom-lens, the feeder gets a high quality picture of the activity both above and below the surface. Paul adds that the built-in dissolved oxygen data monitoring allows the controller to pick and choose the “best feeding plan” for the site. During periods of poor environmental conditions, one can make quick adjustments Continued on page 2
Holy Mola! Marine Harvest’s Sarah Harding took this picture of a large sunfish (Mola mola) swimming in Quatsino Sound in September.
Congratulations to the Campbell River Volunteer Centre! James Rogers, MHC’s Marine Logistics & Project Manager, was on hand last month to award the Campbell River Volunteer Centre with the Not-ForProfit Award of Distinction hosted by
the Campbell River Chamber. Marine Harvest Canada is proud to sponsor and recognize the importance of local notfor-profits with this award each year.
Over the last few years, staff in the Quatsino area have reported seeing many exotic species swimming in Quatsino Sound, including large Humboldt squid. Check out Sarah’s underwater footage of the large sunfish at https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=gBdU7L1w08E
New underwater eyes help deliver Continued from page 1
to the feed regime, giving the feeder real-time information about how the fish are performing and what is happening to environmental conditions. The sensor data and video are sent from the cages to the computer system in the nearby control room through a wireless transmitter or via a fiber cable with power. The operator 2
of the system can see up to nine images per screen depending on setup and camera types. Perhaps best of all, Paul notes, is that “We can do all this from the comfort of our feed office, keeping the farmers safe, warm, and happy.”
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Marine Harvest Canada has three salmon farm sites now fitted with Steinsvik camera systems. Over the next two months, the company will be rolling out another 15 systems, showing a significant commitment by the company to provide its farmers even better feeding control.
Purchasing Agent Kelsey Briker enjoying the team “People are appreciative of everything I do for them,” added Kelsey with a bright smile. The Prince Rupert native completed high school in 2011 and moved to Nanaimo with her partner Jeff, where they worked at Hub City Fisheries, a processing facility. They wanted to invest in a house and had their eye on a place here in Campbell River which they had fallen in love with as soon as they saw the town. “It’s a hidden gem, we just feel good here” enthused Kelsey.
By Gina Forsyth
A key position that contributes to the smooth running of Marine Harvest Canada is that of Purchasing Agent. And Kelsey Briker fills it well. Her responsibilities include processing orders from farm site staff, filling them, and ensuring they are delivered to the distribution point at the Middlepoint warehouse. “I’m a personal shopper with a budget,” said Kelsey adding that her team has been wonderfully patient with her as she learns the details of the myriad of items they require to keep the farm sites running safely and smoothly.
Upon arriving in Campbell River in December 2012, Kelsey worked briefly in the restaurant industry and was then hired in the clothing department of Target in March 2013, eventually being promoted to freight team/promotional signing. “While I was working at Target, I played recreational soccer where I met Gary (Knowles). He told me Marine Harvest had an opening and encouraged me to apply. Two days after he handed me the application, it was announced that Target
was closing,” Kelsey said, adding that it was a stressful time because her partner Jeff also worked at Target. “I was so excited when Gary told me I got the job,” she said. “I’m so grateful to work here. My coworkers are the friendliest people I’ve ever met.” Away from the office, Kelsey and Jeff enjoy riding dirt bikes, kayaking and hiking. They also recently became pet parents to 5 month old Goldendoodle called Zeya. Kelsey said, “It’s a lot of work. I’ve realized what it’s like to be a parent. She’s into everything, including the dishwasher,” adding that “Zeya keeps us active and on our toes”. “(Working at Marine Harvest) has been an amazing experience thus far and hopefully there are many more years to come,” Kelsey said, adding that it’s exciting to have no idea what the future holds. And for now, the present means bringing passion and commitment to work every day.
Winter driving is here Believe it or not, winter has arrived! Don’t become complacent. By October 1st, all Marine Harvest drivers must have winter-rated tires on their vehicles. These are winter tires or all-weather tires that display the mountain and snowflake logo.
“I buy a huge range of items, from household appliances for the staff to tools, clamps, and everything in between. Little things such as a fan or an air purifier in the summer can make a huge difference to site staff ”, she explained. MarineHarvest.ca
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Over $100,000! The Marine Harvest charitable salmon barbeque season is now complete and total donations for the last five seasons is $106,000!
cook and serve, and to those who brought their healthy appetites and supported these well deserving groups
This year, the company assisted 22 Vancouver Island charities. Thank you to all those who volunteered their time to help
Applications for the 2016 season will be announced on our website – www.MarineHarvest. ca – in February.
Nanaimo
Campbell River
MarineHarvest.ca Answer: In 1912 by Lester Wire, a policeman in Salt Lake City, Utah. U.S.A.
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Sayward
Comox Valley
Merville
Port McNeill Port Hardy
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Bandits on the run Marine Harvest Bandits soccer players received new strips from Marine Harvest for the 2015/2016 season, and they’re ready to tear up the pitch. The company has sponsored the Mid-Island Women’s Soccer League team for the past seven seasons.
Hear the beep where you sleep By Dan Pattison, Health & Safety Coordinator
Since 1922, Fire Prevention Week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire was at its greatest point of destruction on October 9th. Every year the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) carefully chooses a theme to help the public lower the risk of injury and loss due to fires. The key message of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign is to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home, including the basement. Did
you know that roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep? Smoke alarms save lives. If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out. In fact, having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a fire by half.
For information on the campaign and to get several facts regarding fire prevention and awareness, visit the NFPA Fire Prevention Week Website @ www.nfpa. org/safety-information/fire-preventionweek
NFPA is excited to share this important information so everyone better understands the life-saving value of
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home smoke alarms. - Excerpts from NFPA campaign website
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bit.ly/MHCanada