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…
Minister abandons science, salmon, First Nations, for votes
“If this was an industry other than salmon aquaculture, there would be an inquiry into the minister’s actions.” By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Canada’s Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan keeps insisting she has full confidence in her scientists and the people who work…
“Let’s get the facts right about aquaculture Mr. Risley”
Former wild seafood mogul John Risley spouts false claims about aquaculture By Susan Farquharson Here’s an old adage that does not need an update: Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Atlantic Canada’s salmon farming sector will not sit idly…
Aquaculture carbon footprint study on BC salmon farms
Should BC succumb to the demands of anti-fish farm activists to move all ocean-based salmon farms to land based operations, the province will see a whopping increase of 22,881,000 kilograms of Greenhouse Gas (GhG) emissions. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The Government…
Quid-pro-quo poser in BC salmon farming ban
After ignoring her own scientists, Federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan also rebuffed her deputy minister when deciding to ban salmon farming in BC’s Discovery Islands, an internal government document shows. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan’s hasty…
Salmon farms key to Canada’s low carbon future
B.C. salmon farms emit only 2.2 kilograms of carbon dioxide for every kilogram of edible fish produced, not including the hot air by the anti-fish farm activists who want to shut them down. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The next time you…
Poseidon eyes net gains with new aquaculture investment
BC couple to take their made-in-Vancouver Island aquaculture technologies global and deliver innovations for sustainable seafood farming. By Samantha McLeodSeaWestNews Poseidon Ocean Systems, a Vancouver Island-based full-service aquaculture technology company, has raised $5million to further optimise and deliver its innovations…
DFO “structurally and culturally” unable to oversee aquaculture
In the divisive debate over aquaculture in Canada, anti-fish farm activists and seafood farmers seem to agree on one issue – the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has to go By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Canada’s seafood farmers are calling for the…
Thinking small helps BC salmon farmer grow big
Technology to grow salmon on land on a large scale in BC is fraught with challenges and years away. So land-based salmon farmer, Steve Atkinson says he has another plan. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews In a wooded area off the main…
Discovery Islands’ salmon farm closures will kill 1,498 jobs
Initial industry estimate pegs economic loss in North Vancouver Island’s coastal communities, dependent on salmon farms, at $379.7 million By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The closure of salmon farms in the Discovery Islands of BC will result in 1,498 people losing their…
Beyond the decision to close salmon farms in the Discovery Islands
MP and husband hold celebratory dinner as North Vancouver Island reacts to the closure of salmon farms in the Discovery Islands, that will likely kill hundreds of jobs. CommentaryBy Fabian Dawson Hundreds of jobs, both directly and indirectly related to…
BC salmon farms in Discovery Islands to go
Decision on Discovery Islands’ salmon farms more about social licence to operate in the area rather than sound science. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Salmon farms in the contentious Discovery Islands of British Columbia will be phased out over the next 18…
Salmon farmers “care deeply about our coastal waters” says NDP MP
Vancouver Island MP Gord Johns also hails BC salmon farmers’ commitment to coastal communities at parliamentary inquiry By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Vancouver Island MP Gord Johns told a parliamentary inquiry yesterday that BC’s salmon farmers and the people who work for…
Ocean Action Agenda aims for net gains globally
Seafood – both farmed and wild – will play a central and increasingly important role in realizing human, ocean and planetary health. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Canada’s fishers and seafood farmers say they support a global initiative led by 14…
Vancouver Island ready to grow with salmon farmers
Community support grows for BC’s salmon farmers as mayors and businesses call for their voices to be heard at the aquaculture-decision making tables. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Four Vancouver Island mayors and scores of businesses have thrown their support behind BC…
‘Salmon’ author pans Patagonia’s anti-fish farm activism
Ousting ocean-based farms to grow fish on land not a good idea, says Mark Kurlansky, the New York Times bestselling author of “Salmon”, published by Patagonia. By Fabian Dawson & Samantha McLeodSeaWestNews Mark Kurlansky, the New York Times bestselling author…
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…
Trudeau faces aquaculture conundrum with Green New Deal
When it comes to aquaculture, especially salmon farming, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is speaking out of both sides of his mouth with a Green New Deal CommentaryBy Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is gearing up for an election with…