Norway, British Columbia II (Farming Atlantic Salmon in The Pacific)

norwaybc_smlIn February 2006, Deconstructing Dinner aired an episode that explored salmon farming off the coast of BC. Three years later, we’re revisiting the topic and creating a new multi-part series of the same name.

While the structure of the industry has not changed much over the past three years, public opposition has remained strong. Catherine Stewart of the Living Oceans Society believes this opposition has been pivotal in keeping the growth of the industry at bay. Stewart suggests that this static growth is much to the chagrin of the Liberal government who had announced that the industry would increase 10-fold when they came into power in 2001.

On this Part II, we’ll learn of expansion plans at one of the hatcheries of Marine Harvest Canada – the largest aquaculture company operating in BC. As the industry has been running into many barriers to get new farm sites approved, we’ll examine whether this expansion is a sign that the industry is getting prepared to grow? With an election looming, activists believe that a re-elected Liberal government will pave the way for a string of rubber-stamped site approvals. There are currently many applications before the Province requesting amendments to production limits and along with the history of over-production violations within the industry, open-net salmon farm opponents like the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform (CAAR), are deeply concerned.

The broadcast will also explore the Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) outbreak that has caused massive restructuring in Chile’s salmon farming industry. With the virus popping up in Scotland in January 2009, British Columbians should be left to wonder whether ISA will hit BC next?

Guests

Catherine StewartSalmon Farming Campaiagn Manager, Living Oceans Society (Vancouver, BC) – Living Oceans Society is Canada’s largest organization focusing exclusively on marine conservation issues. They are based in Sointula, a small fishing village on the Central Coast of British Columbia. Prior to her role with Living Oceans, Catherine worked with Greenpeace for seventeen years, holding the positions of Regional Director and oceans and forests campaigner.

Clare BackmanEnvironmental Compliance and Community Relations, Marine Harvest Canada (Campbell River, BC) – Marine Harvest is one of the world’s largest aquaculture companies and is based in Norway. Their Canadian division is the largest aquaculture company operating in the Province of British Columbia. With 75 farm licenses, the company produces more than half (55%) of the total production of farmed salmon in BC.

Barb AddisonManager, Big Tree Creek Hatchery, Marine Harvest Canada (Sayward, BC) – Big Tree Creek is one of five hatcheries currently being managed by the company. It’s in the process of a $3-million expansion.

Other Voices

Jay RitchlinDirector Marine and Freshwater Conservation, David Suzuki Foundation (Vancouver, BC)

Ian RobertsCommunications, Marine Harvest Canada (Campbell River, BC)

Bill HarrowerManager of Regional Operations for Aquaculture Development, Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands – (Courtenay, BC)