Salmon farmer welcomes new regulations
As the federal government is in the process of taking over the regulatory responsibility for aquaculture development in British Columbia, this court-imposed decision is being accepted by the salmon farming industry as not a bad thing. The provincial government has been luke warm in its support for the business since it lost some seats in coastal communities a couple of elections ago. But the federal government is stating that aquaculture is a legitimate use of ocean resources (a statement previously made by the provincial government), and that aquaculture can provide much needed employment and economic activities for people along the coast of B.C., and this is good news for one salmon farming company, as this recent release by Mainstream Canada explains;
"We are optimistic about the new regulations, as they are very strict but fair," said Fernando Villarroel, Mainstream Canada's managing director. "They contain very strict conditions that will be enforced by conservation officers. They will also make information highly transparent on the DFO website. We hope that all of this will help the public be confident with aquaculture as a growing industry in Canada, and help them see how we are committed to farming salmon in a way that is sustainable and protects the ocean environment."
On Dec. 18, DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) took over responsibility for overseeing aquaculture in B.C. from the provincial government. DFO is now responsible for licensing sites, production volumes, overseeing species to be produced, fish health, sea lice levels, fish containment and waste management. The province of B.C. will continue to issue tenures where operations take place in either the marine or freshwater environment, licence marine plant cultivation, and manage workplace health and safety. "It will be business as usual for us, although we are dealing with a lot of paperwork for the province and DFO and likely will be for months to come," said Laurie Jensen, Mainstream Canada's Communications and Corporate Sustainability Manager. "When it comes to growing fish in a way that respects the ocean environment, we will continue to meet high standards as before."
Mainstream Canada is committed to transparency in its operations and will provide comprehensive data to DFO, similar to what was provided to the provincial government. Much of that information, including data about sea lice and fish health, will be published by DFO in a manner similar to annual fish health reports by the province. DFO will publish regular updates quarterly and may publish information more frequently as it sees fit. "We are not concerned about the increased amount of reporting about sea lice, antibiotic use and fish health, as well as many other reporting requirements. We believe that this will help the industry as we have nothing to hide," Jensen said.
The protocol agreement between the Ahousaht First Nation and Mainstream Canada will not be affected by the transfer of authority over aquaculture to the federal government. The protocol agreement, renewed in early 2010, permits the company to operate in Ahousaht territory. In return, the company employs nearly 80 members of the First Nation and provides skills training to band members as well as funding for the band's enhancement, social and community programs.
Mainstream Canada operates 27 farm sites, 16 on Vancouver Island's west coast and 11 on the Island's east coast, including a broodstock site. The company owns and operates a processing plant in Tofino and also has a contract with the Brown's Bay Packing north of Campbell River to process salmon farmed on the Island's east coast.
