Closed-containment farm fails?
Salmon Farm Science, 24 03 2012
We have been hearing some interesting rumors going through the salmon farming grapevine the last few days. Apparently, the Agrimarine ‘closed containment’ farm near Campbell River suffered some serious damage during intense storms last week.
How serious? Apparently the circular tank is flopping open and closed like a broken hula hoop and Agrimarine has had to put in a net to keep the fish from escaping. With that kind of damage it seems very likely fish escaped through the broken tank wall.
As well, we hear that most of the farm’s 50,000 or so fish have had to be harvested because the tank is too badly damaged to hold them. Judging by when the fish were first entered with much fanfare they would only be at about half their target weight.
That’s unfortunate but technology pilots are prone to failure and this shouldn’t be too surprising.
Except from day one this project has been pitched as the savior of the aquaculture industry, and has been sold as so much better than conventional net pens.
Richard Buchanan, Agrimarine’s president and CEO said as much in an interview when he said:... To read more Click Here.
For your convenience and reference, here are links to news items we have already posted on our news pages:
“Closed containment” project fails
After much promotion and spending of investor’s money and government tax dollars, AgriMarine sends fish to market at less than half the projected harvest size
Fish farmingXpert, March 23, 2012
The fish farming industry based in Campbell River on Vancouver Island is a lot smaller than it could have been, and one of the main reasons for this is the continuous insistence by environmental groups and Provincial political parties like the Green Party and the New Democratic Party that all salmon farms should be moved from ocean-based net pens to some form of “closed containment” rearing system. The justification for this is supposedly concerns about environmental impacts from conventional salmon farms due to –among else- the escape and subsequent crossbreeding with native, purely wild salmon stocks. The fact that most of the salmon farmed in British Columbia is Atlantic salmon- which can-not cross-breed with the native Pacific salmon species- doesn’t seem to matter.
One of the projects advocated by the anti-salmon farming industry and anti-net pen technology is the floating, solid-wall project initiated by AgriMarine Holdings at a site just outside Campbell River. One of the stated benefits of the company’s “Green technology” is stated to be “No Escapes”. As reported last week by FishfarmingXpert, damage was incurred during a recent storm to the facility’s 3,000 m³ tank which was stocked with some 56,000 native Chinook salmon smolt a year ago. A company statement at the time of the damage suggested that..” weather conditions compromised an outlet panel of the demonstration floating rearing tank and may have allowed some storm related losses”...To read more Click Here.
Agrimarine Holdings Ltd: broken system and broken promises
BC salmon farmers have been very patient with Agrimarine Holdings Ltd., but that patience is wearing thin.
For those that don't know, Agrimarine is a salmon farming company based in British Columbia. A company that touts itself as being on the leading edge of salmon growing technology - finding new ways of sustainably growing fish. We don't think anyone inside or outside the business of aquaculture would argue that this isn't a great goal. After all, growing salmon sustainably is what all BC salmon farming companies do, and all strive to continually improve their sustainability.
But Agrimarine has driven for this goal the wrong way. Playing on the public's fears of salmon aquaculture generated by a few anti-salmon farming zealots and a few more funding driven environmental groups (no disrespect to the 99.999% that may have concerns but also listen to fact), Agrimarine has touted themselves as being better than everyone else - while not yet producing a fish to market. It has promoted itself on the backs of the alleged "ills" of all other salmon farmers. According to Agrimarine, fish raised in nets is inherently bad and therefore anything different is better...To read more Click Here
A floating tank farm damaged, no damage for conventional net pen farms
March 15, 2012
“Closed Containment” fish farm reports storm damage
Canada: A floating tank farm near Campbell River on Vancouver Island may have experienced an incident of fish escape- the second in the company’s history. No losses reported from conventional net pen farms
FishfarmingXpert, Odd Grydeland, March 15, 2012
A vicious storm blew across eastern Vancouver Island earlier this week, causing trees to topple and roads to be closed. The Canadian company AgriMarine Holdings Inc. has for some time presented itself as “The leader in floating solid-wall containment technology and production for sustainable aquaculture” and in the process quite openly criticized the environmental performance of conventional, ocean net pen technology as inferior with respect to its environmental performance. The company installed a 3,000 m³ floating demonstration tank at a marine facility just north of Campbell River just over a year ago, and stocked it with more than 50,000 Chinook salmon smolts. More tanks were to be installed this spring, but all of the salmon currently in stock were to be grown to a weight of some 4.0 Kg average size in the current tank before scheduled harvesting this summer.
Today, AgriMarine issued an advisory stating that the farm “sustained damage from a powerful wind storm that hit the coast of British Columbia on Monday, March 12, 2012”. From its web site, the company provides these details, although no estimates of number of potentially lost fish were made;...To read more Click Here
AgriMarine Reports Damage to BC Demonstration Tank in Severe Storm
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 14, 2012) - AgriMarine Holdings Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FSH)(OTCQX:AGMHF)(FRANKFURT:A2G) (the "Company" or "AgriMarine"), the leader in floating solid-wall containment technology and production for sustainable aquaculture, advises that the Middle Bay demonstration farm in Campbell River, British Columbia, sustained damage from a powerful wind storm that hit the coast of British Columbia on Monday, March 12, 2012.
The severe storm that brought winds gusting over 130 kilometres per hour caused extensive damage to Vancouver Island, affecting the Company's farm as well as other coastal operators. The extreme weather conditions compromised an outlet panel of the demonstration floating rearing tank and may have allowed some storm related losses. The Company took immediate actions to contain the damage and an early assessment confirmed that there was little impact on fish health.
Although there was some structural damage to the upper part of the tank, the Company is pleased to report that all back-up power, oxygen supply and monitoring systems operated as designed throughout the storm related power failure and that all mooring systems remained intact...To read more Click Here
Preparing for the unexpected
Submitted by BC Salmon Facts
On March 12 and 14, 2012, Vancouver Island experienced one of the most violent storms in years. Sustained winds of 70-100 kilometres per hour (gusting up to 137 kms/hr) wreaked havoc on the Island; uprooting massive trees, knocking out power and cancelling air and boat travel. About 35,000 homes were without power on Vancouver Island - some for over three days. There were no injuries or major damage done to any farm sites run by Mainstream Canada, Marine Harvest Canada, Grieg Seafood or Creative salmon...To read more Click Here
Marine Harvest, Mainstream operations weather the storms
Courier-Islander, Thursday, March 15, 2012
Despite some of the most severe weather to ever hit Vancouver Island both Marine Harvest Canada (MHC) and Mainstream Canada said there was no major damage to their salmon farming operations or injuries to staff.
Meanwhile Agrimarine Holdings floating solid-wall containment demonstration fish farm at Middle Bay sustained damage that "may have allowed some storm related losses." It is not known how many fish, Chinook, may have escaped but the company reported no damage to the health of its remaining stock.
On March 12 and 14, sustained winds of 70-100 kilometres per hour (gusting up to 137 kms/hr) wreaked havoc on the Island; uprooting massive trees, knocking out power and cancelling air and boat travel. About 35,000 homes were without power on Vancouver Island - some for over three days.
"This was one of the strongest storms I can remember," said Matt Clarke, MHC's Marine Engineering Manager, "but our marine-based operations fared well against massive waves and high winds. Some minor equipment damage occurred as could be expected, but nothing that would be deemed critical or life threatening."
An incident of serious concern did occur at one of Marine Harvest's land-based aquaculture facilities 55 kms north of Campbell River. Falling trees dropped power lines perilously close to propane storage tanks, and very close to three family homes that are on the property.
"Back-up generators at our land-based operations have been running successfully for several days now to provide water flow and oxygen to the fish," said Philip Redmond, MHC's Freshwater Operations Manager.
James Rogers, Health and Safety Manager, said no incidents of injury to any employees requiring medical attention have been reported.
Marine Harvest Canada is British Columbia's largest salmon aquaculture company with a staff of 500. It's processing plants, marine and land based operations are located on and around Vancouver Island and Klemtu.
Mainstream Canada reported there were no injuries, no fish escapes and no major damage done to any of the company's ocean farm sites.
"Thanks to the skill of our employees, and our best management practices, our farm sites weathered the storm without incident," said Laurie Jensen, Mainstream Canada's Communications and Corporate Sustainability Manager.
Mainstream Canada grows salmon in 27 sea sites near Tofino, Campbell River and Port McNeill.
