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Transporting Fish Translates into Gratifying Career

May 30, 2011

Filed under: What We Do — Tags: Aquaculture Program, Bhutan, Capilano College, Dalrymple Hatchery, England, farm sites, Freshwater Transport Manager, hatcheries, hiking, kayak, marathon runner, marine harvest canada, Nelson Island, North Vancouver, Norwegian Enterprises, Paul Kendrick, Sayward, Sechelt, smolts, Stolt Sea Farm, Victoria Marathon, writing, Yorkshire — marineharvestcanada @ 1:34 pm

A chance outdoor trip led Paul Kendrick, Freshwater Transport Manager, into a long term career.

After more than two decades, Paul feels gratitude for both his job and for the people he works with on a daily basis.

He’s responsible for moving fry between hatcheries and smolts from hatcheries to farm sites. “I love the sense of teamwork and energy that comes from working with people who have a ‘we can do this’ attitude all the time,” shared Paul.

Paul was born in Yorkshire, England and moved to Canada when he was four. The Kendrick family, which also includes Paul’s two brothers, settled in North Vancouver.

A winter kayak trip around Nelson Island on the Sunshine Coast changed the course of Paul’s life. It was 1985. He caught sight of a salmon farm and camped nearby, talking to the employees, and learning about an industry in its early stages. Being outside and working with fish, living in a smaller community, everything about it appealed to Paul, and he thought, “This is fantastic.”

Intrigued by salmon aquaculture, Paul enrolled in Capilano College’s aquaculture program in Sechelt, the first full-time course the college offered.

Following graduation in 1988, Paul landed work right away, first for Norwegian Enterprises, and then with Stolt Sea Farm as Assistant Manager at Dalrymple Hatchery, where he lived on-site in Sayward for six years. As the company expanded,his specialized skills in successfully moving fish translated into a full-time commitment.

Paul has a passion for travel (his favorite place is Bhutan), and running. He is currently focused on training for his first marathon in October in Victoria. “I love running; it settles down the mental noise, releases stress and keeps me fit.” Paul also enjoys writing, hiking and continues to make time for kayaking.

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U18 boys three-peat at Island Cup

May 19, 2011

Filed under: Community Support — Tags: Campbell River, Courier Islander, Eric Christensson, Gold, Gorge, Island Cup, July, Justin Gjerde, Kyle Fawkes, Lakehill, Malcolm Maundrell, marine harvest, Michael Park, Neil Pomeroy, Niclas Javervall, Penticton, Provincial championship, Samuel Jepson, Shane Dumanoir, Victoria, Wyatt Bryce, Zach Hamilton — marineharvestcanada @ 8:24 am

Courier-Islander May 18, 2011

Marine Harvest, CRYSA U18 Boys enjoyed a “three peat” last weekend as they claimed their third back to back Island Cup Championship with a commanding victory over Gorge FC of Victoria.

The two previous years had seen the local boys team claim hard fought victories over Lakehill 2-0 and 3-2 at U16 and U17. Prior to that, the early history of the group shows an Island Championship shoot-out win at U12. This season the victory was much more emphatic than any other year as the boys won 7-0.

The boys put together a commanding performance against a team that had some pace and passion but in no way matched the soccer experience garnished since these boys were at Under 8 level. It was a fitting final performance on Island soil for the boys before they head to the Provincial Championships in Penticton in July.

Shane Dumanoir led the way with an MVP performance up front alongside the ever energetic and tricky Michael Park. The central midfield duo of Zach Hamilton and Wyatt Bryce simply overpowered the Gorge and wide midfield players Niclas Javervall, Samuel Jepson and Kyle Fawkes were a constant threat on the flanks. Defensively the partnership of Eric Christensson and Neil Pomeroy was solid and full backs Malcolm Maundrell and Justin Gjerde was strong in the tackle.

Despite their lack of soccer experience the Gorge did have a number of strong athletes with pace and despite two early goals from Marine Harvest the game was an even affair for the first 20 minutes. Further clinical finishing from the Campbell River team before the half made it a 4-0 game and the second half was a stress free affair as the boys contained a now tired Gorge outfit and they added a further three goals.

The boys will take a short break before embarking on a tilt at a second Provincial Championship Gold to add to the one they earned at U13. The lads have enjoyed some great success over their youth soccer tenure and this will be their 5th trip to the “Show” with a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th finish in previous seasons. It would cap quite the era if the team could finish their youth soccer years with a provincial gold.

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Company & regulator pleased with positive farm site amendement results.

May 17, 2011

Filed under: What We Do — Tags: Canada, DFO, Doyle Island, Duncan Island, Environmental Assessment Biologist, environmental impact, Fisheries and Oceans, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Greg Gibson, Kerra Hoyseth, Marsh Bay, Mike La Course, peak biomass, Port Hardy, sea floor, Senior Aqauculture Biologist, Shelter Bay, Site Manager — marineharvestcanada @ 9:11 am

An amendment approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 2009 for a farm site near Port Hardy is today showing positive outcomes for both the environment and the business.

The approved changes at Doyle Island, allowing larger cages to be positioned in deeper water, have resulted in a smaller environmental footprint as well as streamlined operations, said Environmental Assessment Biologist Greg Gibson.

The peak biomass – the maximum allowable total weight of fish on site – was increased from 2,550 to 3,500 metric tons. As part of the operational agreement for all its farms, the company ensures that the peak biomass of the fish doesn’t go beyond this approved ceiling.

“Through careful monitoring of fish weight samples, feed consumption and cage inventories, we know when harvesting needs to start to stay beneath the maximum allowable tonnage,” said Greg.

Last summer the cage system was changed from metal to plastic, something the company has been working towards wherever weather conditions allow. The plastic cages are larger in diameter than the former steel ones – 38 metres across instead of 25 – and the larger volume allows more room for the fish to move around as well as providing for increased water flow between the cages to better dissipate the fish waste products.

The switch to new cages also led to a decrease in the number of cages from 18 to seven. Mike La Course, Site Manager at Doyle said, “We’ve been able to streamline our feeding and net washing so the switch to fewer cages has made operations more efficient for site staff.”

The cages were also moved into deeper water, further from shore, added Greg. In general, Fisheries and Oceans’ policy is to protect marine environments in depths of less than 30 meters. The majority of life is found within this range where light can penetrate so we do whatever we can do to minimize the environmental impact in this zone, explained Greg.

Fisheries and Oceans visited Doyle mid-way through this latest and larger production cycle taking bottom samples confirming that the farm nutrient releases were not exceeding the assimilative capacity of the sea floor. In fact, sea floor characteristics were nearly indistinguishable from baseline conditions, indicating the success of the farm repositioning.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Senior Aquaculture Biologist Kerra Hoyseth said, “Past sea floor monitoring results showed limited environmental impact and we’re pleased to see evidence of continuing low impact even with the production increase amendment to the facility.”

Marine Harvest Canada’s farm sites at Duncan Island, Marsh Bay, and Shelter Bay have also received amendments but, unlike Doyle, these other sites are at rest and have yet to produce a crop of fish under the improvements allowed by the amendments. It’s anticipated that sea floor testing will show similar positive results for the business and the environment once fish are restocked at the farms in the near future.

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Sales suits well-rounded and happy guy

May 11, 2011

Filed under: What We Do — Tags: Biology Degree, Campbell River, Dave Ashcroft, Debbie Ashcroft, England, Gina Forsyth, Hamilton, Japan, Kyuquot, Kyuquot Sound, Liverpool, Logistics & Sales, marine harvest, marine harvest canada, Mark Asman, North Island College, Ontario, Orchard Bay, Paradise Bay Seafoarms, Sales Manager, Skretting, Supply Chain, the Pond, University of Waterloo — marineharvestcanada @ 12:56 pm

As a kid who loved the water, it made sense for Sales Manager Dave Ashcroft to look west after graduating from the University of Waterloo with his degree in biology. Now responsible for supplying Marine Harvest’s 30+ American customers with fresh product, Dave is getting ready to celebrate 18 years with the company in March.

Born near Liverpool, England, Dave’s family moved across The Pond and settled in Hamilton, Ontario. In the early 90’s, he visited the Campbell River area, where his brother had settled, looking for work. Ten days after applying for jobs, first at government hatcheries and then in aquaculture, Dave had seven offers. For some reason he chose Mark Asman and Paradise Bay Seafarms, where he began his aquaculture career at Orchard Bay as a diver and site tech.

Along the way, Dave worked in Japan for six months as a feed consultant for Skretting and for him it was “the job of a lifetime”. Following that international adventure, Dave returned to Marine Harvest before taking a sabbatical to work for North Island College teaching Aquaculture in Kyuquot. Since then he has been immersed in the world of Supply Chain, Logistics & Sales.

Dave met his wife Debbie, who also works for Marine Harvest in the IT department, when they were youngsters in Ontario and began dating in their teens. They married in 1993 and are parents to two girls ages 12 and 10. “My kids are my life,” said Dave, who is well known for his sense of humor and ability to make those around him laugh.

For Dave, what’s the best thing about working at Marine Harvest? “I make sure I have fun every day”.

By Gina Forsyth

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