More tax dollars to closed containment projects

Odd Grydeland

As another example of its support for the development of some form of “closed containment” and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (“RAS”), the Canadian government today announced a substantial grant to one such project- this time for the production of Steelhead (Rainbow trout) in British Columbia. Ten other projects- three for finfish and eight for shellfish- also received funding according to an announcement by the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island today (1CAN$=~ €0.8);

• FINFISH Sable Fish Canada (Salt Spring Island) has received $213,188. This project will design, construct, and test an innovative, modular, environmentally-controlled transportation system specifically designed for sablefish and suitable for other aquaculture species with minor modifications. 
• BC Salmon Farmers Association (Campbell River) has received $49,995. This project will deliver information technology that will be relevant to Fisheries and Oceans Canada's industry reporting requirements.  Canadian salmon farmers are collaborating to improve environmental data management and information sharing to increase accuracy and reduce costs.
• Taste of B.C. (Nanaimo) has received $450,000. This project will establish a land-based model aquaculture farm for steelhead as a pilot project.  It will demonstrate a novel, dual drain, round tank recirculating aquaculture system.  In addition, it will pilot the application of recirculating aquaculture systems for the production of steelhead in the Pacific Region.
• SHELLFISH Bees Islets Growers (Cortes Island) has received $49,865. This demonstration project will encapsulate existing spray foam floats in affordable sea-worthy plastic, extending the equipment lifespan and addressing aquaculture-related pollution in marine environments that can result from the breakdown of Styrofoam. 
• Island Scallops Limited (Qualicum Beach) has received $70,000. This project will develop and demonstrate a new type of nursery heating system, specifically suited for colder climates, to increase production and availability of domestic shellfish seed supplies. 
• IslandSea Farms (Salt Spring Island) has received $175,000. This project will design, install and assess an innovative duck predator deterrent system to reduce predation of farm-raised mussels and to minimize harm to ducks.
• Nova Harvest Limited (Bamfield) has received $69,800. This project will benchmark and demonstrate innovative land and ocean-based nursery technologies for high efficiency geoduck seed production using local algae for feed.
• Nootka Sound Shellfish (West Coast of Vancouver Island) has received $32,842. This project will develop, test and evaluate protective barriers to counter sea otter predation of Manila clams, which is a serious threat on the North Coast and North Vancouver Island of British Columbia.
• Aphrodite’s Garden (Pendrell Sound) has received $55,000. This project will develop and test handling equipment to produce single oyster seed in commercial quantities using recycled plastic pails and local wild spat (oyster larvae) fall from Pendrell Sound.
• Mac’s Oysters (Fanny Bay) has received $37,000. This project will develop, demonstrate and test an innovative rack and tray insert to improve performance of a “floating upweller system” for bivalve production (oysters).  This novel floating nursery will enable users to increase production on existing aquaculture sites without increasing the site's size. 
• B.C. Shellfish Growers Association (Comox) has received $55,125. This market access project will enable the Pacific shellfish industry to revise and improve their environmental code of practice.  It will specifically review best practices from other jurisdictions and address related requirements from the new Pacific Aquaculture Regulations managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 

Minister Ashfield said in his remarks during the ceremony that his government is proud to support aquaculture development in British Columbia, and that these projects will help to ensure that the Canadian aquaculture industry will remain globally competitive.