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AL > Fisheries & Aquaculture > New Technology

New Technology Development

In 2000, as part of the Salmon Aquaculture Policy Framework, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (MAL), in conjunction with the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (now Ministry of Environment) and BC Assets and Lands (now Integrated Land Management Bureau), issued a request for proposals to develop alternative (“green”) salmon farming technologies. At the time a moratorium on new salmon farm tenures had been in place for several years, and new salmon farm tenures were offered as an incentive to attract interest and investment in these untested technologies.

Several proposals for experimental projects were received following the initial request for proposals.  Ultimately, three of six proposed projects became operational.  These were for Marine Harvest Canada, Agrimarine Industries, and Totem Oysters.  Each project involved various versions of closed-containment systems, along with other ‘green’ technologies and production approaches.

Marine Harvest’s project trialed two experimental technologies, one being a closed containment net-bag system.  The other trial project involved feeds containing alternative oils and proteins, and evaluated their impact on fish production. 

Agrimarine’s pilot project involved trials of a land-based system for growing Atlantic, Coho and Chinook salmon.

Totem Oysters’ project focused on using closed containment net-bag systems to produce a variety of species including Pacific salmon, rainbow trout, sablefish and Pacific oysters. 

Update

Over the past five years MAL has been monitoring these projects, with the companies submitting economic and environmental data on the performance of the technologies being tested.  The province will use this information to assess the viability of these technologies and identify any critical limiting factors regarding their feasibility.  As limiting factors are identified, the province will work with the industry to attempt to bridge these constraints.  For updates on each of these pilot projects, please refer to the following links:

Updated:  April 18, 2005

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