Manitoba and Aquaculture

It is my humble opinion that the practice of aquaculture in Manitoba is still regarded as a fishing industry sector. This needs to be undone.

Aquaculture isn’t a term that should be misunderstood, yet it is. The Aquaculture Industry isn’t a flash in the pan, limited cycle, and limited opportunity hair brained make money fast scheme. It is a very productive fast growing sector of agriculture that has accomplished nothing more or nothing less than any other form of agriculture; it has delivered wholesome food to a world faced with crisis after crisis of diminishing sources of nutrition.

Somehow the general opinion and view of the Aquaculture industry in Manitoba is that it is a practice undertaken by some half crazed folks that have nothing better to do than invent some other agriculture opportunity, in an effort to cash in on the rush and to gain a foothold and be the first.

Such thinking makes it difficult; to an almost extreme, for a good number of well read individuals that study trends and decide to risk money and hard work in hopes of to a commercial scale alternative crop farm, to even consider banking on an aquaculture business in the Manitoba. They simply don’t.

I am very much educated on the history of aquaculture ventures within Manitoba and elsewhere. There have been many “firsts” in this province that were research based but have now gone by the wayside; this is disappointing to a fish farmer such as me and perhaps to numerous other similar people.

Over the years of promoting aquaculture in Manitoba I have realized that there have been numerous instances where enterprising persons have attempted to create both large and small scale aquaculture operations using family money, borrowed money or investor money, only to have one thing in common, a complete lack of any support structure and their farms can only gain agriculture farm status if grow some plants, bale some hay or work a few cows on the side, otherwise they had none of the protection measures offered by the province.
Their fish farming investments of time and money were not considered farming. It still isn’t today.

Any person that has stepped up to the plate and wished to start a new agriculture operation with fish as the principal product, has or well, at some point find themselves going without traditionally accepted support programs such as crop insurance. There are extreme comparisons that could also be made, such as Aqua farmers not having recognition under any farming act, including the Farm Protection Act.

To me this is a very unfortunate situation. A quick Google search and a resulting view of all the topics good or bad, will lead you to believe Aquaculture is Agriculture and the food needs of the world have to be addressed by some means of human intervention including fish farming that has been practiced for over 3000 years in China. Fish farming like any other activity that humans have created was intended to increase the food supply, along the way it has had its share of controversy, mistakes that were made in the creation of the “modern” industry that are now addressed and dealt with by increased ability to design better farming systems.

Aquaculture is a worldwide industry worth over several billion dollars each year. It is now fast becoming an industry where company managers have to make educated decisions while attempting to adhere to a plan that drives the need to adopt new technologies in order to ensure an improvement in the environmental footprints of fish farms.

On a world wide scale the industry has leaned to grow and adopt protection and farming measures that were created in a rapid sense and at a speed that excels that of any other agriculture operation in history. This gives or should give the industry, a status, of being a valuable agriculture group or at the very least the status of being an adaptable group of farmers if not even a cooperative group.

Changes made by incorporating better security and minimizing potential impacts to the environment are a large part of new generation fish farms. I am glad that such efforts have resulted in marked difference in operation performance and compliance and have greatly enhanced the industry. Yet there is no realization that such achievements have been made here in Manitoba, it remains a political environment that still struggles with 1972 advancements in hog farming.
Neglecting an entire proven food production industry in the bargain, to say nothing of ignoring advances achieved in sustainable production of food, by continuing to use antedated regulatory measures.

The new world fish farm is one that has a focus on new methods that can lead to the creation of almost zero impact farms. These, as David Suzuki has to say, are land based farms with every means of control.

Manitoba has locations that can fit the new criteria and can exceed the requirements of any consumer review and also gain acceptance from the entire world.
Yet our Manitoba industry cannot achieve the support of government even having after getting the nod from most environmental groups.

I ask you, should a farmer wishing to build a tested and proven farm have to suffer the inadequacies of any government department that at first does not recognize him/ her as a farmer and also goes on to ensure that there is nothing by way of support or value to foster his/her dreams of achieving family driven diversification on the farm.

So where are we? We have the ability to grow a significant amount of fish using disease free farms that require no chemical intervention to maintain stock health, we are positioned in a high level trade area that allows us the opportunity to service markets daily, we can negate any possibility of fish escapement because we are land based, we can volunteer to help restore wild fish stocks using our assets, we can offer the world an alternative to controversial supplies of fish. All of these are on the plus side of the ledger
Yet we have no industry support in Manitoba. That is the biggest negative.

Newfoundland and Aquaculture Training

New aquaculture program to start in August.

I am always on the look out for news relating to Aquaculture. I also have a self admitted fondness for reading about new things or events that demonstrate an educational improvement.

Recently I read a news story in "The coaster Online" and here is what I think.

First off, It's good news that the Keyin College will be offering it's first ever Aquaculture program at St. Alban’s Newfoundland, in August 2007. Early indications are that it is comprehensive program.

The press release states "'' The new program is designed to introduce students to the history of aquaculture, give them an overview of the state of the aquaculture industry and to prepare them for all facets of the industry which is growing rapidly, especially in the Coast of Bays region.""

Heidi Middleton, human resources manger with Cooke Aquaculture said "their hiring practice will give preference to candidates with a background in the industry".

Cooke Aquaculture is a significant stakeholder in the Atlantic Canada Aquaculture industry. The company in recent years, has enlarged it's business by expanding into new locations and diversifying it's operations.

Heidi goes on to say " A candidate can gain experience in the industry in one of two ways: by obtaining an Aquaculture Technician Certificate through a recognized learning institute like Keyin College or adequate years of hands-on industry experience. These employees will be compensated at a higher starting rate."

She also notes that " many existing Cooke Managers possess an Aquaculture Technician accreditation."

The press release also points out "Once they complete the program students will have the skills to become aquaculture technicians with the opportunity to obtain long-term employment in one of the growing industries in the province. Cooke Aquaculture has invested millions into its operations in the region, as well as companies such as the Barry Group of Companies."

I see this new program as another welcome sign of advancement within Aquaculture Industry, particularly as it relates to my home province. (I am not shy)

Certainly the duration of the program is lengthy enough to provide for a wide range of learning opportunities covering the important aspects of the industry. Experience has thought me that training programs which include a good effort at providing a backgrounder to the history and nature of the industry, combined with the fundamentals of practice, offer more for "both" the students and prospective employers.

Persons that achieve a good working knowledge of the industry while gaining an understanding of the history and of it's present day importance as a sustainable food source, are in my opinion "The Class Act", and represent the future of the industry.

I look forward reading future updates of this program and it's progress.

News Story Reference: Special To the Coaster June 5 20007