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B.C. sea-lice, closed-containment aquaculture projects receive funds

By Stephen Thomson, August 24, 2010

The federal government is providing more than $86,000 to two salmon aquaculture-related projects in B.C.

Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea yesterday (August 23) announced the plan to distribute the funds under the federal Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program.

In total, more than $638,000 will be available to six aquaculture industry initiatives in the province, according to the ministry.

Mama’omas Enterprises, a company controlled by the ”˜Namgis First Nation, will receive $49,800 to explore the potential for commercial closed-containment salmon farming on land.

Vancouver Island-based Microtek Industries will receive $36,438 to develop a vaccine against sea-lice that pose a threat to the health of infected salmon.

The other four projects involve automated feeding of farmed sablefish, white sturgeon cultivation, oyster pre-harvest finishing, and use of solar power for shellfish nurseries.

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Matt 13
Tue, 2010-08-24 22:41
I can't believe in today's day and age with all we know about open net fish farming we haven't moved them onto land yet. Namgis First Nations, I hope you get your in land operations going. Good for you. You can market your fish as the first environmentally friendly fish farming on the West Coast. Same on others for not doing the same.
 
Camero409
Wed, 2010-08-25 06:55
It's a pittance compared to the damage the sea lice do to natural salmon. They should have demanded the salmon farms be dismantled.
 
Dallas E. Weaver, Ph.D.
Wed, 2010-08-25 08:34
If the "closed containment" system has adequate waste treatment to prevent local pollution near the water discharge, it will be very energy intensive (ie. more CO2 pollution) and probably uneconomic (too much energy cost). Unless you consider our energy supply sustainable, this fish production technology won't be sustainable. Fish production is an international business and this project will just end up in bankruptcy as have hundreds of recycle systems, which didn't have point discharge pollution issues.

Unless either the influent or the effluent is treated, you will still have the lice problem. In "closed containment" it will just be easier to treat the problem with chemicals or salinity changes (if you have enough fresh water available).
 
Absolutely Disgusted
Thu, 2010-08-26 05:30
So I guess with the 'incredible run' this year; is really that the US isn't out there theiving like C.R.E.Z.E.. Somthing smells really FISHY.. And not the nice way!
 
 
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