Aquaculture takeover may be Nanaimo jobs windfall
Roughly 50 new positions will be created on Vancouver Island to regulate industry
Darrel Bellaart
July 13, 2010
Nanaimo Daily News
Nanaimo stands to gain new jobs when the federal government becomes the regulator of the B.C fish-farming industry.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans started writing fish-farming legislation for B.C. after the B.C. Supreme Court ruled last year the $600-million industry falls under federal jurisdiction.
The draft legislation is now under a 60-day public review.
When federal fisheries takes over, it will create an entirely new agency to manage and enforce the new rules regulating the industry, and that means about 50 good-paying new jobs.
About 10 to 15 enforcement officers will be needed, plus management and staff to collect and disseminate information to the public.
Nanaimo's central location, the expertise of Vancouver Island University and the Pacific Biological Station should all give it an edge.
How many jobs Nanaimo will get is unclear. Office space availability and proximity to fish farms must be considered.
"They will not be in Vancouver and they will not be in Victoria," said Trevor Swerdfager, DFO director-general of aquaculture management. "We expect the majority will be based on Vancouver Island.
Read the full story in the Nanaimo Daily News.
Read related stories in:
- North Island Gazette; July 29, 2010; "Politicians fighting to get new DFO staff"
- North Island Gazette; July 29, 2010; "DFO staffing needed here"
- Campbell River Mirror; July 13, 2010; "More federal fisheries officers expected to patrol aquaculture sites"
Posted July 13th, 2010
