News we found of interest this week

February 20, 2015
News items we followed this week - Feb. 16 to Feb. 20, 2015

New Aquaculture Licensing in British Columbia to Improve Business Planning and Encourage Investments in Sustainable Practices
Multi-Year Licensing Will Allow for More Operational Certainty for B.C.'s Aquaculture Industry
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 16, 2015) - The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced today that the Department will be implementing multi-year licensing for aquaculture operators in British Columbia. The changes will provide the industry with more operational certainty and longer term planning capacity while allowing them to invest in sustainable practices.
 
Ottawa extends multi-year aquaculture licences in B.C.
Licences issued in B.C. by Fisheries and Oceans Canada have previously been limited to one year, which may have discouraged operators from making significant investments
By Randy Shore, Vancouver Sun February 16, 2015
...Multi-year licences may be issued for up to nine years, according to the Fisheries Act. “We have been working with one-year renewable licences, which presents some challenges when your fish are in the water for upwards of 18 months,” said Dunn. Companies are looking for long-term security when they consider multi-million-dollar investments in pens and hatcheries that supply ocean-based facilities with young fish, he said. “Having multi-year licences would provide more certainty, but we would still need to meet all DFO’s standards and conditions,” said Dunn.
 
Licencing breakthrough for BC farmers
FishfarmingXpert, Feb. 17, 2015
Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Gail Shea, announced yesterday that the Department will be implementing multi-year licensing for aquaculture operators in British Columbia.
Farmers have long argued that it's not reasonable for an aquaculture licence to be issued for only one year, when it can take two years to produce a crop of salmon in ocean pens, and about 7-8 years to grow a geoduck clam from seed to market size. What's more, for a company to commit to the application for a salmon farm licence can demand a required investment of over $10 million (~€7 million) by the time the first crop is ready for harvest. The changes, which will allow licences to be granted for up to 9 years, will bring the licensing system in the province in line with other Canadian regions, providing the industry with more operational certainty and longer term planning capacity while allowing them to invest in sustainable practices.
 
Implementing multi-year licenses will boost B. C. aquaculture operators’ operational certainty and planning http://ow.ly/J9pZ9
 
Government of Canada improves aquaculture licensing in British Columbia http://ow.ly/J9pHH 
Aquaculture Regulations
 
Statement: Aquaculture Activities Regulations
ACFFA, February 19, 2015
The federal government’s proposed Aquaculture Activities Regulations will do the opposite of what detractors are claiming. They will, in fact, strengthen environmental protection measures, ensure greater public reporting and transparency while at the same time allowing farmers to continue to grow healthy and sustainable seafood in a responsible manner.
 
Industry defends proposed aquaculture rules
New regulations would allow regular use of pesticides in open water
By Neville Crabbe, CBC News Posted: Feb 19, 2015
New rules proposed for the aquaculture industry will improve the environmental performance of salmon farmers, says the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers' Association.
 
Official: Proposed aquaculture changes will increase oversight
FRANCIS CAMPBELL TRURO BUREAU, Herald News, February 19, 2015 -
Concerns about proposed changes to aquaculture regulations are unfounded, says a Fisheries and Oceans Canada spokesman. “I’ve read the letter that was sent to the prime minister, and I was a bit surprised with words like exemptions to the Fisheries Act and less oversight,” said Eric Gilbert, aquaculture management director with Fisheries and Oceans....“Our mandate is all about protecting the commercial fishery. Aquaculture is a legal fishery, but to allow a product to be used by that industry, we need to be totally confident that the impacts are manageable and that the mitigation measures in place are doing their jobs.”... He said Fisheries and Oceans is working with the provinces and Health Canada in “saying that in order for the (aquaculture) industry to comply with the Fisheries Act, here are the rules, the conditions.” http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1270127-official-proposed-aquaculture-changes-will-increase-oversight
 
Regulators and industry defend BC's new rules
Both parties have issued a robust defence of the new legislation, following an open letter criticizing proposals to extend BC farmers' aquaculture licences.
Odd Grydeland, FishfarmingXpert, February 20, 2015
 
Opposition to licence extensions
Campbell River environmentalist Leona Adams is raising the alarm over proposals by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to grant aquaculture licences for up to 9 years.
Odd Grydeland, FishfarmingXpert, February 19, 2015
It is problematic when journalists write about things they don’t know anything about. Take for example the article posted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in New Brunswick on Canada’s east coast this morning. The story was about the same subject matter as one posted in the Campbell River Mirror this week - about environmentalists objecting to proposed changes to the antiquated federal Fisheries Act, under which aquaculture in BC now has to be regulated.
Land Base Farm - Kuterra
 
Land-based farm nets another grant
"North America's only land-based Atlantic salmon farm" claims to be on track to meet its production cost targets next year.
Odd Grydeland, FishfarmingXpert, February 18, 2015
The Kuterra land-based salmon farm on Northern Vancouver Island is the beneficiary of a $600,000 (~€424,000) grant from the University of British Columbia (UBC) that “will be applied to optimize strategies”, according to an article in today’s Vancouver Sun by writer Randy Shore. But the writer fails to acknowledge…
Eat more fish!
 
Indian salmon for a healthy heart
Asian Pacific Post,  By Samantha McLeod, Special to The Province, February 17, 2015
In conjunction with Heart Month in Canada, Coast Fresh - a proud supporter of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, BC and Yukon - brings you a month of salmon recipes in The Province. Salmon, farmed or wild, provides numerous and significant nutritional benefits when eaten on a regular basis.
 
If you’re feeling the winter blues, eat fish
Washington Post, By Ellie Krieger February 18, 2015
If your typical February night involves searching the kitchen for a snack to lift your spirits, you are not alone...Actually, herring and other fatty fish such as salmon, trout and sardines are all top sources of omega-3s. A mere three-ounce portion of salmon provides a day’s worth of the essential fat, for example.
Pacific Northwest Salmon
 
Hot off the (digital) presses, new Salmon Steward E-News. To get this delivered straight to your inbox and be eligible for monthly contest giveaways, join our subscriber list. Go to psf.ca, enter your email and click subscribe. That's it!
 
Global warming to increase ocean upwelling, but fisheries impact uncertain
Oregon State University, February 18, 2015
CORVALLIS, Ore. - A report to be published Thursday in the journal Nature suggests that global warming may increase upwelling in several ocean current systems around the world by the end of this century, especially at high latitudes, and will cause major changes in marine biodiversity.
Tweets & Links  of Interest
 
 
Aquaculture Aware retweeted - Alanna Z Solberg @AlannaZulkifli  ·  R.Salmon from CAIA speaking at @seafood_norway seminar: big opportunities for aquaculture in Canada @CanadaNorway pic.twitter.com/G9KpYDunPP
 
Skuna Bay @SkunaBay  · Countdown for the Skuna Bay Salmon Seduction dinner begins! 1 week to go Chefs! @beardfoundation – Note: Twitter Link re: pictures posted: https://twitter.com/SkunaBay
 
 
Marine HarvestCanada ‏@MHCanada  - Learn all about Marine Harvest Canada's farm raised Atlantic salmon product here: http://www.marineharvest.ca/product/ 
 
Sterling Salmon @SterlingSalmon  ·  #SterlingSalmon​ has launched a new and improved website today! Check it out: http://www.sterlingsalmon.com 
 
Recipes we tweeted out this week:  Aquaculture Aware ‏@BCAquaculture

Herb Crusted Salmon with Pasta Florentine http://harrisondaily.com/living_better/recipes/herb-crusted-salmon-with-pasta-florentine/article_e582c09e-b7b8-11e4-a0f6-43d7a66ca9bd.html#.VOX_7oufz6w.twitter … via @harrisondaily #salmon #recipe #eatmorefish
 
Patricia Chuey ‏@patriciachuey :  ...and here's dinner! Made a sweet+savoury batch. #PancakeDay #FoodieChats @BCSalmonFarmers #CarrotGreenOnion pic.twitter.com/B2KNZMXaAS
 
Heart healthy #salmon recipe http://medicinehatnews.com/life/cuisine/2015/02/17/from-our-table-heart-health-month/ … #heartmonth #omega3