More money for closed containment project
The federal government has already poured millions of dollars into a floating tank system for the production of farmed salmon at a site near Campbell River. The program which provided this new injection of cash into the ‘Namgis First Nation’s recirculating aquaculture project on the north end of Vancouver Island near the town of Port McNeill a few years ago refused to fund a project aimed at fine tuning the technology for the production of sablefish juveniles- a species identified by the same government agency as a priority species for commercialization in B.C. Farmed sablefish currently sells for about CAD$9.15 a pound (~€15.40 per kilo), while the price for farmed salmon has plummeted in recent months.
Three other projects also received funding during the ceremony in Campbell River, according to a Fisheries and Oceans Canada release, stating that the Government of Canada Supports Jobs and Growth in B.C. Through Funding of Four Innovative Vancouver Island Aquaculture Projects;
The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced funding today for four innovative Vancouver Island aquaculture projects, including a project to develop closed-containment technology. In total, the four projects will receive over $925,000 (~€706,600) in federal government funding. “Our government is committed to enhancing the global competitiveness, economic prospects and environmental performance of Canada’s aquaculture industry. The industry is developing new technologies that will make our country a world leader in aquaculture and create jobs and opportunities here at home,” said Minister Ashfield. “We are proud that our government can play a role in supporting this innovation.”
The federal funding announced today, and provided through the Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP), is supporting two finfish and two shellfish aquaculture projects in B.C. These projects are designed to help the industry expand its market potential through new technologies. The companies receiving project funding are: the ‘Namgis First Nation (near Port McNeill), Pfizer Animal Health (Saanichton), Fanny Bay Oysters (Union Bay) and Maplestar Seafood (Nanoose Bay).
AIMAP is intended to support innovation and sustainability in the aquaculture industry across Canada. Nationally, aquaculture production has increased four-fold in the past 20 years. Approximately 70 per cent of all Canadian aquaculture products are sold to foreign markets, and the world increasingly depends on aquaculture as an essential source of nutrition. In fact, globally, half of all fish and seafood consumed is now farmed. “The B.C aquaculture industry currently provides an estimated 6,000 jobs and over $224 million (~€171 million) in wages for British Columbians,” said Minister Ashfield. “As Canada’s aquaculture industry continues to expand, the Government of Canada is committed to supporting responsible growth that provides economic benefits to Canadians.”
