Marine Harvest Canada Wharfside newsletter September 2017

Wharfside

September 2017

Leading North America in ASC

In this issue Something to think about: Communicating aquaculture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 MHC lab manager volunteers to fight fires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 From Nova Scotia to Glacial Creek for the summer. . . . . . . . . . . 3 House of Prayer keeping cosy. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 $5000 worth of scrap metal to a local hospital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Keeping new employees safe. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Wee tipple whiskey salmon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 BC SPCA room sponsorship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 MH Riptide kicks off another season. . . . . . 5 Koomen completes transCanada trip. . . . . 5 Broughton farm staff rescue boaters. . . . . . 5 Quatsino twins are salmon farming legends. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Did You Know?

Chris Orr feeding ASC salmon at Shelter Pass

In August, Marine Harvest Canada achieved 12 farms with Aquaculture Stewardship Council certifications after Sonora Point and Shelter Pass successfully passed third party audits. The ASC standard, which focuses on environmental performance and contains over 500 individual compliance points, is the world’s strongest aquaculture standard. That nearly

half of MHC farms are now achieving this bar is a testament to our environmental commitment, investment in leading infrastructure, world-leading practices, and staff dedication. Recently, the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program recognized ASC certification as equivalent to a “yellow” or “good alternative” ranking for salmon.

There are 40,000 muscles and tendons in an elephant’s trunk.

Trivia time!

What German stronghold was seized by the Allies on Easter Monday, 1917?

Answer on Page 4

Comments about this Newsletter?

Please email comments, articles and ideas to Ian Roberts, Director of Public Affairs, at ian.roberts@marineharvest.com

Volunteer Fair What better way to end the charity BBQ season than at the Volunteer Fair, Saturday, September 16, where Marine Harvest will acknowledge how much its employees give back to their communities, like the processing plant employees who helped out at a busy barbeque for OrcaFest.

They worked all day and raised $1700 for Port McNeill Kids in Motion. < Paul Pang, Ada Chan and daughter Opihelia at Orcafest.

Something to think about: Communicating aquaculture “This essay’s purpose is not to whine about aquaculture’s unfair welcome to the food producing fraternity, but rather to help understand its genesis and explore opportunities to improve our practices, to communicate effectively, and help the public better understand our business and food products.”

Ian Roberts, Director of Public Affairs, Marine Harvest Canada, writing in The Journal of Ocean Technology Vol 12 No 2 2017.

Ian writes about the history of aquaculture in North America and the tragedy of the commons: how aquaculture was, and is, a response to poor fisheries management and increased demand. He writes about how pioneering fish farmers were too busy learning about aquaculture to communicate, especially on the internet, where campaigns against aquaculture gained traction. He explains how headline driven media misinterprets

research about seafood consumption, and details the effort required to counter bogus online claims about farm-raised seafood. It is an interesting insight from someone who has been a salmon farmer for 25 years, and spent the last decade specializing in the communication of this industry.

Got to thejot.net for a link to the journal, and read the full text of Ian’s essay on the Marine Harvest blog at marineharvest.ca/about/blog-marineharvest-canada/2017/communicatingaquaculture/

MHC lab manager volunteers to fight fires An emergency situation calls for extraordinary effort from near and afar.

Fish Health and Food Safety Lab Manager Jonathan Watkins took eight days leave from Marine Harvest to help fight wildfires in northern British Columbia last month.

Jonathan Watkins near the Kleena Kleene fire.

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Jonathan is a volunteer firefighter in Comox and he was one of six crew members who formed a structure protection unit working near Anahim Lake in the Cariboo Chilcotin.

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Jonathan says they worked near ground cover fires setting up pumps and sprinkler systems on houses and infrastructure.

“It was challenging because it was unpredictable work – some days we would be on standby awaiting assignment, and other days we would be working continuously. It changed hour to hour depending on fire conditions.”

It was the first time Jonathan has carried out this type of forest fire fighting, and he says he would volunteer again should a similar summer of wildfires occur.

From Nova Scotia to Glacial Creek for the summer

House of Prayer keeping cosy

By Jade Rioux

My name is Jade and I am 19 years old. I am completing a Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. I am not a fish eater myself; however, I am a lover of the ocean and admire all species inhabiting it. When I began my studies in aquaculture, I quickly realized it was the career path for me. I aspire to take the pressure off the wild fish stocks and to help in the conservation of our oceans.

Working at the Glacial Creek brood stock site has been an experience for which I will forever be grateful. During my four months with Marine Harvest, I have gained a clearer understanding of numerous aspects of brood stock aquaculture and I was able to put my university knowledge to employment, meanwhile observing incredible wildlife every day.

I had a fantastic summer and I strongly encourage other students to come out and experience aquaculture in British Columbia for themselves.

A few months ago members of The House of Prayer in Alert Bay asked for new insulation to keep the congregation warm through

the winter. Our Broughton staff helped to purchase and install the insulation.

$5000 worth of scrap metal to a local hospital The annual scrap metal challenge is organized by the Campbell River Hospital Foundation, with proceeds this year going towards the purchase of ventilators for its emergency department.

Marine Harvest was the winner of the competition, raising a large portion of the record-breaking total of $16,795.

Corey Sillicker from the Middle Point Warehouse said they scavenged old equipment from many farming sites to contribute to the scrap metal challenge.

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Angela Schuk of ABC Recycling, along with Carly Pisterzi and Leslie Coates of the Campbell River Hospital Foundation, present Corey Sillicker of Marine Harvest with the coveted Scrap Metal Cup for winning this year’s Scrap Metal Challenge. Photo by Mike Davies/Campbell River Mirror

“It was mostly scrap chain we don’t plan on reusing, actually,” Corey says. “But there were also marine generators and other stuff from the sites.”

Read the full story in the Campbell River Mirror.

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Keeping new employees safe

By Joy Stowe, Freshwater/JHSC Secretary/Brainsafe Facilitator

“Just one in five workers in Canada received safety training in their first year with a new employer.” I was surprised to read that statement on a poster from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). I have an entirely different experience with Marine Harvest, of course!

We often think of new workers as being ‘young’ workers. In the workplace new

Wee tipple whiskey salmon

is new, regardless of age. Some statistics: the risk of a lost-time injury is highest among new workers over 45 years of age and, regardless of age, all workers have six times the risk of injury in the first month on the job.

What can new workers do? Be vocal: ask experienced co-workers or supervisors about safety hazards; ask supervisors to go over unfamiliar procedures and have them watch while the task is being done to ensure it’s being done correctly.

What can managers and supervisors do?

Provide clear instructions and review them often during the first few weeks of work. Encourage new workers to be vocal and ask first if not trained on a task or uncertain about what hazards need to be addressed during an EyeCheck. Observe often and provide opportunities for all employees to help make the workplace a safe work experience.

BC SPCA room sponsorship

We’ve got the recipe for Chef Ian Ver Teer’s cedar plank whiskey salmon, one of the delicious plates he prepares with Marine Harvest fish for the Wee Tipple fundraiser held each year at the Grand Hotel Nanaimo. Enjoy!

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Evan and Harrison McFee with two of the guinea pigs in the Marine Harvest small animal room

For many years, Marine Harvest has supported the Campbell River SPCA’s fundraising walk “Paws for a Cause” by bringing the charity salmon barbeque.

This year, the local branch decided to do something different to raise money, offering

kennel and room sponsorships to local businesses. Marine Harvest was pleased to sponsor the small animal communal room, a space that will keep hamsters, guinea pigs, rats and mice housed comfortably while awaiting adoption.

MarineHarvest.ca Answer: Vimy Ridge

INGREDIENTS 2 ounces of peaty whiskey handful of chopped dill ¼ cup maple syrup ½ cup kecap manis ¼ cup brown sugar ¼ cup plum sauce Mix together and marinate salmon fillet for 24 hours. Brush a soaked cedar plank with olive oil, place fillet on the plank, and bake at 350°C for 15 minutes or until done.

MH Riptide kicks off another season The Upper Island Riptide will enter its third year of major sponsorship from Marine Harvest Canada, with continuing success for its youth teams.

In 2016/2017 there were 130 children in the elite level soccer program and three teams qualified to represent the North Island at the Provincial A-cup finals.

The Marine Harvest funding helps make affordable training available to North Island families.

The program works closely with all Upper Island soccer clubs and attracts players from the Comox Valley to Port Hardy as well as the Sunshine Coast.

The Upper Island Riptide is a regional soccer program that is committed to producing high level players and coaches by following their established Guiding Principles of “Accessibility, Attainability and Player Focused”. Learn more about the program at RiptideSoccer.ca.

U14 boys at training with Ken Garraway (left) Shel Brodsgaard (right) and Dave Ashcroft from Marine Harvest (far right).

The first Riptide Academy was held from April to June 2017 with 180 children from across Vancouver Island attending intensive training sessions in Comox. Elite level coaches Shel Brodsgaard and Ken Garraway will continue to lead the Riptide program.

Cape Speer is the most eastern part of Canada, east of St John’s, Newfoundland

Koomen completes transCanada trip Former Marine Harvester Jacob Koomen completed his dream of cycling across Canada to raise money for cancer research.

It took him 72 days, including 64 days cycling and 8 rest days, to cover 7911km at an average of 123.6 km/h.

The biggest and most important number is the $16,000 raised (so far!) for the Canadian Cancer Society.

“It was a fantastic experience and one I will never forget, “ Jacob says.

Broughton farm staff rescue boaters saved in the nick of time.

Because all other rescue vessels were too far away, Chris Mathews and Maria Martin were first responders to the VHF distress call: a 24ft Bayliner boat hit a rock in Tribune Channel.

Thanks to the quick thinking employees at Glacier Falls, this boat’s passengers were

With water pump on-hand, Chris and Maria very carefully approached the vessel, removed an injured man, and transported MarineHarvest.ca

him to a neighbouring boat. After reassessing the situation, they went back to help remove the other two men from the boat along with some important items.

With everyone safe, they stayed with the passengers until the Coast Guard arrived to take over.

From all your peers at Marine Harvest, thank you very much Chris and Maria!

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Quatsino twins are salmon farming legends For thirty years identical twins Terri and Sherri Tromley have grown fish together in Quatsino Sound. Over the last three decades, they’ve only worked apart during maternity leave.

“We always wanted to be landscapers, our Mom really liked gardening and we really enjoy working outdoors,” Terri says.

But when they started working on other people’s gardens in Coal Harbour, they realized their own gardens were neglected, so they decided to become fish farmers and garden for pleasure on their days off.

Aquaculture met their post-high school job criteria such as earning a decent wage, working outdoors, and living in Coal Harbour. The most important factor was being able to work together.

The twins started fish farming in 1987 for Will Moore at Thorpe Point (Tidal Rush Marine Farms). Being the closest site to Coal Harbour, they were able to come home to their family every evening.

They found partners about the same time, Sherri was engaged in 1989 and Terri followed in 1990. Sherri was the first to become pregnant with Telisha, 27, while

Terri followed with Carmen, 23, (who also works for Marine Harvest) and Courtney, 20.

When salmon farming expanded to Mahatta East, Mahatta West, Koskimo and Monday Rock, the twins changed to a camp shift. In order to continue working

together, they agreed that Terri would become an assistant manager, as less people were needed on each site.

“We’ve quietened down which suits camp life,” Terri says.

Sherri and Terri describe fish farming in Quatsino as a constant challenge because of plankton, which is common in the Sound in summer.

The twins briefly grew Chinook salmon, rainbow trout and sable fish at Thorpe Point. They even spent some years growing

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brookstock for wild Chinook for the Marble River hatchery as a community service.

But most of their careers have been spent caring for Atlantic salmon.

The twins have spent brief stretches of time at other Marine Harvest operations.

In 2011 they worked a few months at the Tsulton broodstock hatchery near Port McNeil, and in 2015 they worked at the Port Hardy Processing Plant sampling broodstock. Last year they worked at Port Hardy farm Shelter Pass when the Quatsino farms were fallow.

“We like it here.

Quatsino is our backyard. We live a five minute walk from the Coal Harbour dock,” Terri says.

The twins will celebrate turning 48 at the end of the month.

The first photo was taken by their proud mother during their first week of work in 1987. The second one was taken a few months ago at Monday Rock.

For further reading, click here for a story written in 2010: http://marineharvest.ca/ about/blog-marine-harvest-canada/2010container-blog/april-23-2010/

bit.ly/MHCanada