C.R.-based closed containment aquaculture project gets go-ahead

Dan Maclennan
June 11, 2010
Courier Islander

It's been years in the making, but a Campbell River-based closed containment aquaculture project has finally received the go-ahead.

Proponents of the Middle Bay Sustainable Aquaculture project say funding has come through for the first of four huge tanks to be moored out at Middle Bay.

"In just the last few weeks everything's just suddenly coming to a head," Rob Walker, director of development for the Middle Bay Sustainable Aquaculture Institute, told the Courier-Islander. "It's amazing how fast things are moving.

"We're all really excited. It's finally happening. We've been at this a long time."

The project, a partnership between the Institute and Agrimarine Industries, has been on the drawing board in one form or another for years. It's taken years to find funding, line up investors, get regulatory approvals, complete engineering and much more, but the project appears to finally be getting into the nuts-and-bolts stages. The partnership will see the institute providing assets such as tanks, walkways, mooring and equipment, while Agrimarine will handle the operating side including fish and labor. Additional funding is coming from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. 

Read the full story in the Courier Islander