The federal aid package will help make the industry more competitive, said DFO Minister Gail Shea. (Photo: G. Shea)

British Columbia receives CAD 930K for eco-aquaculture projects

CANADA
Monday, July 13, 2009, 10:50 (GMT + 9)

Minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Gail Shea announced last week that six British Columbia (BC) businesses will receive over CAD 930,000 (USD 800,758) in federal aid. The aquaculture entrepreneurs will use the funds to upgrade their environmental performance, and increase productivity and economic output.

“When we invest in a stronger aquaculture sector, we are investing in more jobs and new business opportunities for communities throughout coastal BC,” Shea said. “Our goal is to make the Canadian aquaculture industry stronger, more innovative and more environmentally sustainable in this increasingly competitive sector.”

Federal funds are being offered through the Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Programme (AIMAP). An additional CAD 848,000 (USD 730,153) will go to the six businesses courtesy of the BC Government and industry and universities.

The six businesses are the BC Shellfish Growers Association, Odyssey Shellfish Ltd, Marine Harvest Canada, Walcan Seafoods Ltd, Deane V. Larson and Agrimarine Industries Inc.

Some specific projects supported by the funds consist of:

• Testing net biofouling management technology
• Capturing and reusing fish effluent
• Introducing new mechanized clam harvest and automated oyster grading technology to BC
• Testing ultraviolet light as a water discharge sterilizer
• Adopting a parasite suppression technology for farmed salmon

The BC Shellfish Growers Association has received CAD 100,000 (USD 86,103). Shellfish growers harvest 1,600 tonnes of Manila clams by hand digging every year, and mechanising the process can swell efficiency and reduce costs.

Odyssey Shellfish Ltd grades millions of oysters individually and by hand. The business has received CAD 82,500 (USD 71,035) to import an Australian oyster grading machine and to modify the equipment already in use. The new technology will enhance oyster grading standards, product consistency and quality assurance, thereby elevating profitability. 

Marine Harvest Canada has received nearly CAD 142,500 (USD 122,697) for the development and implementation of a parasite suppression technology for soft-flesh syndrome, a parasitic infection that can affect farmed salmon.

Walcan Seafoods Ltd has received nearly CAD 190,000 (USD 163,596) to develop and implement an environmentally-friendly, industrial-sized scale, ultraviolet (UV) sterilization system for their fish processing plant on Quadra Island.

Deane V. Larson received CAD 350,000 (USD 301,360) to manufacture an environmentally-friendly, efficient and relatively cheap way to maintain fish pen nets clean from biofouling.

AgriMarine Industries Inc will use CAD 73,400 (USD 63,200) to hasten the testing of a process it has developed to capture closed containment wastewater and sterilise it before it is released back into the environment.

Related articles:

- Investments earmarked for deep water mussels
- DFO invests USD 306 mln in maritime economy

By Natalia Real
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com