Minister of Fisheries and Ocean, Gail Shea, in a press release admits the government has given good fund to Marine Harvest Canada for two research projects aimed at helping to improve current operation and investigate new technologies. She said that her government in invests in aquaculture, we are investing in a brighter future and stronger economy for Canada’s rural and coastal communities.
DFO announced that $4.7 million in funding will be made available this year for the Canadian aquaculture industry to help create jobs and stimulate growth in rural communities. Projects funded through the Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) aim to offer growth opportunities for Canadian aquaculture operations.
Mary Ellen Walling, Executive Director of the BCSFA, told that eight projects in the Pacific Region received a total of close to $1.08 million in funding from the Government of Canada through AIMAP. She added that these projects are examples of how BC’s salmon farmers are always looking for ways to improve their operations so they can continue to be sustainable in the far future.
According to Minister Shea Marine Harvest Canada received $250,000 in AIMAP funding to lead a project that will explore the use of an innovative treatment to disinfect or sterilize fish processing wastewater. If successful, this project will also support a key supplier to enter the international fish processing market. The AIMAP funding will be complemented by close to $1.8 million from other funding sources.
Another $200,000 in AIMAP funding was given to Marine Harvest to test alternative offshore salmon cage nets (pen nets) against traditional nylon nets. A side-by-side comparison of the net types will test for biofouling, net durability and fish growth. This project, which has leveraged nearly $1.6 million in additional funds, will be carried out in Marsh Bay (northern Vancouver Island).
