Aquaculture, fisheries giants recognised as drivers of BC’s economy

Dr. Diane Morrison ,managing director of Mowi Canada West, shares honours with five other leaders of BC’s aquaculture and fisheries industry

By SeaWestNews

The giants of aquaculture and fisheries on Canada’s West Coast have been recognised as being among the 500 most influential business leaders in a list of drivers of British Columbia’s economic success and prosperity.

In its inaugural year, the BC500 publication is the result of months of research by Business In Vancouver’s editorial team and advisors.

Listed in the Fisheries and Aquaculture category are Dr. Diane Morrison, managing director of Mowi Canada West, Brian Yip, general manager of Fanny Bay Oysters and Michael Uehara, president and CEO of Coastal Shellfish, a First Nations-owned aquaculture company.

Others include James Lawson, the president of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Union–Unifor, Dan Nomura, president of the Canadian Fishing Co. (Canfisco) and Chief Darren Blaney of the Homalco First Nation.

“I am very honoured to have received this recognition, and would like to share this honour with the thousands of hardworking woman and men that together grow our province’s number one food export, the many hundreds of suppliers throughout our value chain in BC, and our First Nation business partners,” said Dr. Morrison.

On its webpage, BC500 notes Dr. Morrison’s career highlights, which includes the 20-year partnership with the Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation.

Twenty BC First Nations have partnership agreements for farming salmon in their territories resulting in 80% of all salmon farmed in the province falling under a beneficial partnership with a First Nation.

Farmed Atlantic salmon is BC’s top international food export at $562 million playing a key role in the local and sustainable food supply, while supporting about 6,500 full-time, year round jobs near rural and remote Vancouver Island, Central Coast, and Sunshine Coast communities.

Brian Yip was recognised for helming the world renowned operations of Fanny Bay Oysters, which has been farming oysters, clams, and mussels in the Baynes, Desolation, and Okeover Sounds in BC for over three decades.

(Image shows Dr. Diane Morrison)