British Columbia Salmon Farmers Make Significant Research Investment

CAMPBELL RIVER, British Columbia, May 10, 2016 /3BL Media/ – The BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) is helping to bridge knowledge gaps on B.C.’s wild stocks and coastal environment by developing collaborations on seven research projects, with over 30 researchers from 10 organizations, providing almost $420,000 in funding.

In December 2014, BCSFA created the Marine Environmental Research Program (MERP) and committed $1.5-million over five years (2015 – 2020) to fund research, through a competitive process, that will provide a better understanding of the marine environment and B.C.’s wild marine species, particularly wild salmon stocks. To date, $417,108 has been committed to funding research.

The research-funding program, open to all research organizations, is managed by a third-party Science Advisory Council (SAC) comprised of members from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Island University, B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Salmon Foundation, and Vancouver Aquarium, as well as industry experts.

“This investment will improve our understanding of B.C.’s coastal environment, particularly in terms of wild and farm-raised salmon interactions,” said Dr. Don Noakes, SAC Chair and Dean of Science at Vancouver Island University. “The goal is to ensure future generations can enjoy the economic, social and cultural benefits that both wild and farm-raised salmon provide.”

“As active members of the coastal community, salmon farmers are committed to ensuring long-term sustainability of the sector, the ocean environment, and wild marine species,” said Jeremy Dunn, Executive Director, BC Salmon Farmers Association. “While there is still much to learn about wild salmon migration, life cycles and how they are adapting to our changing climate, funding these important projects is a step towards ensuring the best researchers are doing quality science in an objective and transparent manner.”

Project highlights include:

-          Pacific Salmon Foundation and the University of British Columbia: This project will be using acoustic tag tracking technology to follow migration routes and rates of juvenile Sockeye, Coho and Chinook salmon, and the survival of tagged fish through the Strait of Georgia, and the Discovery Islands area. The work is part of the wider Salish Sea Marine Survival Project (marinesurivalproject.com), and is being conducted in collaboration with Kintama Research, Canada’s Ocean Tracking Network, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

-          Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre: This project will be exploring the effectiveness of a local fish species to “clean” sea lice from cultured Atlantic salmon. This research is the first of its kind in B.C., and results are expected to determine if kelp perch or pile perch are effective in picking sea lice from salmon - an alternative method for managing sea lice in salmon culture.

-          North Island College: This project seeks to gain a better understanding of the aquatic environment around salmon farms, and how wild marine species interact with the habitats that are created by the presence of a salmon farm.

BCSFA is also funding research projects being led by the Centre for Coastal Health and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, investigating a range of topics related to fish health, data management and ocean health.

For a full list of projects, visit the BCSFA website at http://bcsalmonfarmers.ca/research-innovation/

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About the BC Salmon Farmers Association:

B.C. salmon farmers grow 58% of all salmon raised in Canada and account for 60% of the total landed value of seafood in British Columbia, generating more than $1.14-billion towards the provincial economy.  The BCSFA represents the province’s vibrant and diversified salmon aquaculture sector, inclusive of companies raising salmon, as well as the businesses that proudly provide services and supplies.

For more information visit BCSalmonFarmers.ca

Media Contacts:
Sabrina Santoro                                                         Neha Prihar
Sabrina@bcsalmonfarmers.ca                        Neha@bcsalmonfarmers.ca
604.202.4417                                                              604.209.1559