Funding for innovation at Marine Harvest Canada

June 17, 2010

Last week, Marine Harvest Canada was granted research funding from the federal government for two research project aimed at helping to improve current operation and investigate new technologies.“When our government invests in aquaculture, we are investing in a brighter future and stronger economy for Canada's rural and coastal communities”, said Minister of Fisheries and Ocean, Gail Shea, in a press release.

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), announced today 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. In addition to the funds being announced today, two previous rounds of AIMAP funding totaling $9.4 million have been made available over the past two years to fund innovative aquaculture projects that contribute to the industry's growth, through sustainable production, increased diversification and/or green technology.

Eight projects in the Pacific Region received a total of close to $1.08 million in funding from the Government of Canada through AIMAP:

"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," said Mary Ellen Walling, Executive Director of the BCSFA.

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.

Marine Harvest Canada received $200,000 in AIMAP funding 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).

To read the press release from Fisheries & Oceans Canada, please visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada Press Release.