Sea lice research, closed-containment aquaculture project receive federal $$$

Alistair Taylor
August 24, 2010
Campbell River Mirror

Sea lice vaccine research and a First Nations closed-containment aquaculture project were among six to receive almost $638,000 in funding from Fisheries and Oceans in Campbell River Monday.

Fisheries Minister Gail Shea announced the funding at the Campbell River Museum.

The 'Namgis First Nation's Mama'omas Enterprises received nearly $49,800 in funding from the Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) to pilot a land-based closed-containment facility on the bank of the Nimpkish River near the First Nation's existing salmon hatchery. The project, which will raise coho and Atlantic salmon to full size, has leveraged another $230,200 in additional funding. The project will be developed with the SOS Marine Conservation Foundation.

'Namgis Chief Bill Cranmer thanked Shea for the funding, saying it will allow completion of front-end engineering and design for the pilot facility. The company hopes to investigate alternative energy sources, composting of solid waste and use of liquid waste as fertilizer. It's hoped the pilot project will lead to a large scale commercial facility.

"Minister Shea, I hope to invite you to join us at our Big House for dinner in August 2012 to celebrate our first harvest of salmon from this project," he said.

"It would be quite a breakthrough," Shea said, "quite a change for the industry if this project is successful."

Read the full story in the Courier Islander

Read related stories:

• Campbell River Mirror; August 24, 2010; "Feds fund sea lice vaccine, closed containment experiments" 
• On FIS (Fish Information and Services); August 24, 2010; "BC aquaculture sector gets USD 608,000"
• On CBC News; August 24, 2010; "Fish farming projects in B.C. get funding boost - Vaccine against sea lice blamed for wild salmon decline 1 of 6 to get grant"