New aquaculture field station opens
At least three new initiatives are underway at the Nanaimo-based University on Vancouver Island
- A new facility for sturgeon studies is opening and the university is hosting a major international conference about sturgeon sustainability and culture next month
- A new initiative is being funded for the purpose of increasing the benefits to coastal communities and others from the Province’s seafood resources, and to build bridges between the many segments of the seafood industry
- A new Field Station for research and development of the shellfish aquaculture industry
The last initiative was the subject of a Grand Opening Ceremony last week, and a University invitation provided some details about the building itself;
Designed to achieve LEED Platinum(tm) green building standards, the Field Station has already received its first national award, the 2011 SAB Canadian Green Building Award. This inspirational facility is a model of architectural innovation, sustainability and elegance, and will be a world-class community-based centre focused on the sustainable development of a seafood economy and the preservation of coastal ecosystems.
An article in the Nanaimo Daily News this week provided more details of the event;
Coastal aquaculture the focus of new research station
Finding new and more sustainable ways of farming shellfish, and helping re-energize BC's coastal aquaculture industry are the aims of a new research facility in Deep Bay. The Deep Bay Marine Field Station is an off-campus research facility of the Centre for Shellfish Research at Vancouver Island University that supports sustainable shellfish aquaculture development along with encouraging preservation of coastal ecosystems. In addition, it will help support First Nations shellfish aquaculture businesses through training and mentoring, strengthen innovation by increasing interaction between researchers and industry, and link research and training to support coastal economies.
The university received $5.5 million (~€3.9 million) for construction of the centre, including more than $2.1 million from the provincial government and $3.4 million from the federal government. The centre includes a seawater tank farm, laboratory, demonstration shellfish farm and a combined research facility for shellfish aquaculture, marine ecology and water quality."We are very proud of this project and grateful for the funding that has been made available to VIU to make the station a reality," says Ralph Nilson, president and vice-chancellor of Vancouver Island University. "This field station will provide leading-edge teaching and research through VIU's Centre for Shellfish Research. The field station will also stimulate job creation and demonstrate the innovative ways that our coastal environment can be protected and enhanced through consultation, collaboration and creative partnerships."
