Perils and promises of a land-based salmon farmer
Critical incidents at Atlantic Sapphire is a cautionary tale for those pushing to move all ocean-based salmon farms to land-based closed containment systems in BC. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Atlantic Sapphire – the go to example for those wanting to grow…
Study shows challenges facing land-based salmon farms in B.C.
New aquaculture technologies, as well as conventional net-pen systems, will all play a role in contributing to global production of salmon states new government report By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Transitioning all open-net fish farms in British Columbia to land-based salmon farms…
Energy use, emissions will increase with land-based fish farms, but….
Canada’s Fisheries Minister, Bernadette Jordan, hints at what’s in the soon-to-be released State of Salmon Aquaculture Technologies study By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Growing salmon to full market size on land will require a high amount of energy, increase greenhouse gas emissions…
RAS in Peace: The quick and the dead in land-based fish farming
Those who think land-based fish farming can replace ocean-based aquaculture, may want to take a walk though this RAS cemetery By SeaWestNews Land-based fish farming seems to be the buzzword for the lobby groups who want to put an end…
Canadian-owned land-based fish farm goes bankrupt
VeroBlue Farms demise adds to the scepticism around the financial viability and environmental sustainability of land-based fish farm operations. By Fabian Dawson SeaWestNews A Canadian-owned land based fish farm in Iowa has gone belly-up with over US$100 million in debt,…
Land-based Salmon Farming
Aquaculture has been in the news lately and no two articles ever seem to agree on any one dialogue. In particular, salmon farming has become the center of a vicious debate on an ever-ranging list of topics. Topics too numerous…
Burping cows breathe new life into aquaculture for BC
Seaweed farming, especially near ocean aquaculture sites, can help British Columbia be a low-carbon producer of choice for seafood, milk and beef By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The BC government aims to show climate leadership with a comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse…
‘Transition’ does not mean removing ocean salmon farms
“In British Columbia aquaculture is perfectly positioned to help drive economic growth,” – Terry Beech, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, on the future of salmon farms in BC. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The government’s pre-election pledge to transition open-net…
Salmon farmers top global protein production rankings
Salmon farmers dominate the latest Coller FAIRR Protein Index, which ranks the world’s key food producers on sustainability By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Salmon farmers stand out as the top sustainable protein producers in a global ranking of the world’s largest publicly…
Cermaq-Kuterra salmon pact will enhance food security
Baby fish pact between different sides of the salmon farming industry shows the importance of working together for the benefit of local communities in BC. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Ocean-based salmon farmer Cermaq Canada has signed a three-year agreement to continue…
The NDP’s road to rebuild BC will have to go around activist-MLAs
From aquaculture to energy and other natural resource projects, NDP Premier John Horgan will have to deal with a new cabal of activist-politicians and an emerging coalition of NGOS. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Fresh from the election victory, John Horgan, the…
Lack of clarity creates chaos in Canada’s coastal communities
A lack of clarity on the governance of our oceans puts at risk Canada’s lofty ideal to lead the Blue Revolution for coastal communities CommentaryBy Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Canada’s lofty ideals to lead the global Blue Revolution for a shared prosperity…
BC salmon farmers to invest millions in aquaculture projects
BC salmon farmers plan $113 million in immediate aquaculture projects that will generate nearly 450 new well-paid jobs to help Vancouver Island in its post COVID-19 recovery efforts. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews BC salmon farmers say they plan to immediately invest…
‘Listen to us about aquaculture, forestry and tourism’
People of the North on Vancouver Island want strong support for aquaculture, forestry and tourism industries in the post COVID-19 economic recovery era By Fabian Dawson and Samantha McLeodSeaWestNews The people of the North on Vancouver Island have a message…
Anti-salmon farm activists vilify scientific facts to push fiction
“These activists are playing with our lives and our livelihoods…Unfortunately some of our First Nations brothers and sisters have been influenced by these activists, who really don’t know what they are talking about…they should be listening to us, and the…
Growing fish on land will exacerbate climate change
Sounding the alarm about climate change, 80,000 scientists across the world call for immediate cuts to global Greenhouse Gas Emissions, which will increase substantially, should Canada decree salmon farmers grow fish on land. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews More than 80,000 scientists…
A September to remember for Grieg Seafood in BC
Multi-site certification, digital drive and the deployment of a $40-million specially designed ship highlight Grieg Seafood BC’s 20th anniversary By SeaWestNews Grieg Seafood has announced it has received its sixth and final Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) nod for a multi-site…
The future of food is from the sea
Researchers say the ocean and seafood have big roles to play as the world’s population grows. By SeaWestNews Growing fish on land faces various environmental and health concerns associated with large-scale agriculture concludes an international collaboration of scientists that studied…
“Salmon are a precious gift to all of us”
After an illustrious career in fisheries and aquaculture spanning four decades, Dr. Jim Powell retires from his role at the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews From lecture halls to laboratories, to salmon farms and while addressing…
Grieg Seafood BC gets a high five overcoming COVID-19 challenges
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in British Columbia, Greig Seafood BC becomes only the second salmon farmer in the world to achieve ASC’s multi-site certification By SeaWestNews Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Grieg Seafood BC has achieved multi-site…
UBC, Mowi to study new salmon smolt strategy
Two million dollar project will help improve both the sustainability and productivity of BC’s salmon aquaculture industry, says DFO By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Can bigger baby salmon survive better in ocean net pens to improve the sustainability and productivity of BC’s…
New tech making waves for salmon farmers in B.C.
Cermaq Canada trials new system which will essentially eliminate lateral contact between wild and farmed salmon By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews New technology is making waves in B.C.’s oceans as salmon farmers continue to make their operations more sustainable to feed the…
No sea lice violations at B.C. salmon farms, says DFO
This Canada Day, fact check the claims being made by a noisy few who threaten our food supply security CommentaryBy Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews More so than ever before, the COVID-19 pandemic is showing Canadians why we need to improve our access…
‘Sea lies’ plague fish farmers in Nova Scotia
“COVID-19 has shown us the importance of local food production and the essential role aquaculture plays.” CommentaryBy Tom Smith It is an unfortunate reality that fish farming has been the subject of sustained misinformation campaigns in recent months. What makes…
Salmon farmers cut antibiotic use by 50 percent: report
“This progress has been made thanks to a concerted effort to rear fish in a healthy environment that limits stress and reduces susceptibility to pathogens,” – BCSFA By SeaWestNews Salmon farmers around the world have halved their antibiotic use over…
Passing thoughts about wild salmon near fish farms
Canadian researchers describe key finding in new fish health study as “contrary to our expectation” about wild salmon passing fish farms By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Wild salmon returning to their home rivers don’t show any increased rates of infection after passing…
Cooke Aquaculture forges ahead in Canada, U.S.
Cooke Aquaculture Inc. reaffirms its support for projects in Washington State and Nova Scotia By SeaWestNews The Atlantic Canadian salmon farming division of Cooke Aquaculture Inc. has reaffirmed its support to investing and creating marine and land-based jobs in the…
Aquaculture firms to the fore in the fight against COVID-19
“We are actively seeking additional ways we can make a true difference in helping our communities weather this storm as we stand together against COVID-19.” – Shawn Hall, BCSFA By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Aquaculture giants in British Columbia and around the…
Wild and farmed seafood critical to future food supply
“Building a strong domestic aquaculture industry is a win-win. It’s good for the economy and good for the planet,” – NOAA By SeaWestNews Danielle Blacklock is a firm believer that wild and farmed seafood are critical to America’s future food…
Grieg Seafood invests in the West, expands in the East
Aquaculture giant, Grieg Seafood, celebrates 20th anniversary in B.C., with expansion plans in Eastern Canada, new gold standard for sustainability and a $40 million wellboat in Western Canada. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews It’s been a very merry February for Grieg Seafood…