Creating jobs for members of coastal First Nations
NWSFA continues to reclaim land
Aquaculture committee hears West Coast points of view
New PAA billboard conveys pride of BC salmon farmers
Sustaining BC’s wild salmon stocks
Stellar conference line-up announced for west coast event
Huge wake-up call for coastal BC
Spill response occurs coast wide
Aquaculture Association of Canada - what it is and how it works
Creating jobs for members of coastal First Nations
By Jerry Reeder
Photos courtesy of the BC Salmon Farmers Association".
The demise of the salmon and other fisheries over the past couple of decades has left coastal communities, Native and non-Native communities, with ever-growing numbers of unemployed fishermen. Add in the Aboriginal policies of government, coupled with the severe world-wide economic downturn happening at the same time, forced community leaders to make a choice – allow their communities to continue to suffer or to do something about it.
On the east coast of Swindle Island lies the picturesque village of Klemtu. For thousands of years the Kitasoo and Xai'Xais peoples have been fishing here.
Percy Starr, band manager and former chief of the Kitasoo/Xai'Xais Nation, saw the need for creating employment when the wild fisheries began their downward spiral twenty years ago. ”We had to create jobs for our members,” says Starr. “If wasn’t for the jobs created by aquaculture, we would have nothing.”
Band administration is the Klemtu’s other major employer. “Sure, we have a store and an education department that employ a few members,” says Starr, “but it is aquaculture that keeps our members off welfare.”
“We have 14 or 15 members working on the sites. The packer, a 70-foot fishing boat known as Seiner, provides work for seven members and our processing plant employs 30 to 40 people, depending on the need,” says Starr. He continues, “We pro-cess seven months a year, so many members are eligible for Employment Insurance when plant is not operating.”
Marine Harvest Canada is Kitasoo Aquafarm’s partner in this highly successful venture. Ian Roberts of Marine Harvest says their agreement with the Kitasoo/Xai'Xais Nation ensures Aboriginal participation. “We use their packer to harvest the fish and their processing plant gets the fish ready for shipping. These two operations are owned by the Kitasoo/ Xai'Xais Nation.”
“Furthermore,” Roberts continues, “The five sites where the farming takes place are owned by the Kitasoo/ Xai'Xais Nation as well. We are committed to provide at least 80 percent local employment on these sites.”
There are other nations practicing aquaculture on the west coast.
The Aboriginal Aquaculture Association was formed in 2003 to promote and assist the development of First Nations’ Aquaculture in British Columbia that respects and supports First Nation communities, culture and values.
Richard Harry, the president of Aboriginal Aquaculture Association, is a soft-spoken man who knows what he is talking about. He is a former chief of the Holmalco Band, a former commercial fisherman and sits on the board of directors of Aquanet, a research group comprised of universities, government agencies, industry and non-governmental organizations.
So you can’t help but sit up and listen carefully when he says: “Aquaculture fits well with the historical life style of many First Nations, and when done right, aquaculture can be done in a manner that respects First Nation values and needs.”
“I want to help Native communities create jobs for their members and provide much needed revenue for the First Nations,” says Harry. He goes on to say, “Jobs come after taking control of our title and rights to manage our own resources.”
With this in mind, the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association is developing Getting Started in Aquaculture, a booklet designed to help First Nations take control of their own maritime resources. The first edition of the booklet will specifically help First Nations in British Columbia begin operations.
Aquaculture provides skilled entrepreneurial opportunities and professional employment too.
“Aboriginal entrepreneurs can market, supply, service and assist band-owned operations,” Richard said in an interview with Native Journal. “There is a growing need for marine biologists, veterinarians, design engineers and other professions as the industry grows around the world.
You can get more information regarding the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association by phoning (250) 286 9939 or visiting the association on the web by pointing your browser to www.aboriginalaquaculture.com
NWSFA continues to reclaim land
By Malcolm McColl
The Nicola Watershed Stewardship and Fisheries Authority reclaims the ecology within the Nicola Watershed of south-central BC. They do riparian projects (stream-side reclamation) with native plants produced at their own Shackan Nursery. They work at mine sites in restoration and around river banks, and elsewhere in the Nicola Valley to keep it ecologically alive. Dave Coutlee is the Program Manager of the NWSFA.
"We are the fisheries and natural resources arm of the Nicola Tribal Association," said Coutlee. "The authority monitors natural resources in the Nicola Watershed and in the past has conducted studies on wildlife in winter and summer habitats." He said the authority has done road deactivations and made representations to various political meetings. NWSFA covers all issues related to the environment.
"We run a greenhouse to supply plants for riparian management," said Coutlee. The first greenhouse for NWSFA native plants was built in 1996. They produce deciduous trees by collecting seeds or cuttings for propagation. The process is designed to improve the Nicola watershed that was once rich in fish. "We had early run chinook, coho, and steelhead fish species. These are very significant, especially Interior Fraser coho. It was a historically important food fish."
Sadly, those days are gone, and the Nlaka’mpux people were among the first to lose their rich food fishery to encroaching immigration. History records the loss of fish weirs from the Thompson River to Merritt where as many as seven were maintained on the Nicola River. "For quite a few years now it has not been good. Chinook lasted longer than the others, and with hatchery augmentation there are an average of 7,000 returns to the Nicola River. Returns of early run chinook not reaching very high in the watershed where recommendations may put the fish on the Species At Risk list."
Coutlee said change is occurring around Merritt so fast that locals can’t keep up with development, which is increasing because of the close proximity to Vancouver and special events like the Merritt Mountain Music Fest every July. To address one important area of the rapid change, Coutlee participates in a Planning Team regarding a water management plan for the watershed. "The commitee reports to stakeholders and public forums, and on average 30 to 50 people show up."
The water management plan includes all levels of government and First Nations with agriculture, recreation sites, and other regional interests. "Add to that we now have the mountain pine beetle problem in full bloom. The forecast is that the area will be 80% logged of pine in 10 years. Meanwhile, we are trying to regenerate natural vegetation and reclaim berry picking areas. The logging industry decimates bush by not replacing indigenous plants like berry bushes and shrubs. Forests require that a more natural environment be put back in the reclamation effort."
Coutlee noted that the Nicola River has been the most endangered river in province at one time or another in recent years. "The problems of the Nicola and Thompson Rivers relate to temperature and reduced spring run-offs that occur earlier in the year." Add to the mix an intensive amount of human traffic. "The intrusion is now on. It happens everytime government gives another permit or approval to land development in the traditional territory. The land is disappearing beneath our feet and we cannot keep up. We don’t have the capacity to address every issue."
He said the process escalated with arrival of the Coquihalla Highway, which made Merritt a key junction between Kamloops and Kelowna. "We’re the crossroads, and it has changed everything. Now we have Canadian Tire, Walmart, and all kinds of box stores, even a Boston Pizza." He said it is good for employment. "We have joint ventures and alliances that are working," however, it is hard to watch lakes become occupied on both sides, ensuring the loss of ecological control and access to the lake. Meanwhile, they do possess a great sports fishery. "Steelhead come to spawn and there is a catch and release sport fishery that attracts a lot of tourist dollars."
The Nicola watershed has always been identified as the terminal area of the spawning cycle. Often the NWSFA goal is to repair stream banks that are damaged by human or natural erosion or cattle. They are trying to save some of the fish spawning grounds and stabilize in-stream juvenile rearing habitat.
Problems ensue when the river becomes wider due to erosion and suffers a loss of depth. Without the depth, terminal conditions occur because the water heats up. Fish cannot spawn successfully in the over-heated water. Neil Todd, NWSFA's manager of the Shackan Native Plant Nursery Program, says, "We can see a difference in the 12-13 years of the NWSFA," however, the federal funding only flows for salmon enhancement, and "we need more funding from the province to work in reclamation of forests and streams."
"We work with smaller numbers of plants and cover the riparian work on specific sites on specific streams." NWSFA also engages ranchers in dialogue where discussions lead to planning for fish habitat restoration. NWSFA is a leading authority in this kind of stewardship, and, Todd said, "One of the advantages of our watershed is that it is small enough where everybody knows everybody."
Aquaculture committee hears West Coast points of view
By Jennifer Dart
Twenty people gave testimony to the Special Legislative Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture when it stopped in Tofino June 6 and the majority of those spoke in defense of an industry that has filled the employment gap left by the decline of the wild salmon fishery.
The contentious issue also brought out passionate appeals in opposition to current practises, the environmental effects of which, some argued, are not fully known. The polarization included members of the same First Nation, and even of the same family.
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation chief councillor Moses Martin told the committee he wouldn't have supported the industry 15 years ago. He said he fought against destructive logging practices in Clayoquot Sound, and against logging on Meares Island. But the disappearance of his granddaughter in Nanaimo and the fact his grandson is in jail have caused Martin to reconsider his stance. He said he feels responsible for both occurrences, which he linked to unemployment in his community.
"Well, I paid a hell of a price for what I did in those days," said an emotional Martin. "I feel responsible for that because of what I did, fighting hard on zero impact to the environment. We closed down the logging industry, pretty much, in Clayoquot Sound. We've done other things that left people with no employment opportunities."
Martin spoke of the benefits his people receive from Creative Salmon, a company holding six fish farm tenures in his traditional territory. In addition to employment, the company provides funding for various social and sports programs for youth to keep them away from drugs and alcohol, he said.
Rather than the confrontational stance he took in the past, Martin said he's focused on how he can work to "minimize the impact, if there are impacts, to the environment."
Joe Martin (Moses' nephew) also spoke of the values of respect and of iisaak (Nuu-chah-nulth for everything is interconnected). He said he believes the logging industry is responsible for the destruction of salmon habitat, and the future of the remaining stocks is threatened by fish farming.
“I have been a member of the wolf clan of our tribe. We are the people who are to protect this land and to speak about it when we can’t [protect it]. That’s a responsibility given to us,” said Joe Martin.
Joe also said he couldn’t blame workers in the industry for wanting jobs, but emphasized, “it’s important to be careful with what we have left.”
Joe Martin testified along with Suzanne Hare and Mitlanova (Misty) Lawson. Hare also spoke to the need to protect wild stocks and how Alaskan wild stocks are flourishing where there are no fish farms.
She said bottom dwelling basking sharks and herring are staying away from farm sites, and escaped Atlantic salmon aren’t dying off as commonly thought, but rather flourishing in the area’s streams.
Other testimony against salmon farming came from Steve Lawson, with the First Nations Environmental Network and Friends of Clayoquot Sound campaigner Celina Tuttle.
Both Lawson and Tuttle questioned the timing of the meeting, saying they hadn’t been given much warning. Committee member Scott Fraser (Alberni-Qualicum MLA) said the committee had a “small window of opportunity to hit the road”.
Submissions to the committee are due by July 1.
Lawson said his organization is not in favour of salmon farming the way it’s currently happening on the West Coast and expressed concern that siting a high concentration of farms where the “last five wild rivers remain” is not “good science or good common sense.”
“It’s not all about jobs,” said Lawson.
Tuttle also wondered why her requests to accompany committee members to farm sites in the area were ignored. She pointed to pollution from feed and feces at farm sites as a major problem, as well the depletion of “subsistence” fish stocks in developing nations to convert into feed for the farmed fishing industry.
Tourism, a larger industry, could also be impacted, said Tuttle, referring to the recent discovery of several dead sea lions (which got caught in predator nets surrounding two farm sites) by a local bear watching company.
Tuttle called on the committee to exert their influence to delay the expansion of the industry until they had completed their reporting. The final report of the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture is due May 31, 2007.
The committee heard extensive testimony from fish farm company representatives, as well as others who rely on the industry.
Many spoke against closed containment land-based systems, saying densities are too high (thereby necessitating antibiotic use), power is an issue, as well as waste disposal.
Tim Rundle, of Creative Salmon, urged the committee to consider those who rely on salmon farming in their deliberations: “I just want to make the point that any recommendations your committee makes need to be workable, otherwise you are jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands of people like myself who make a living from salmon farming.”
Lions Gate Fisheries manager Jack Greig says his processing plant relies on Creative Salmon fish for 80 percent of their business and to maintain 24 full-time jobs. One of those 24 employees, Hee-in-na-tu-quis, wondered what would happen if the plant were to close: “If anything happens, like if anything shuts down, what are we going to do? Who is going to help put food on our table if anything happens to this industry up here? Are you willing to do that for us?”
Mainstream general manager Alistair Houghton said his organization has improved from a 24 percent compliance rate with Fisheries and Oceans roughly three years ago to 100 percent. He said at first the company’s relations were “tense to say the least” with the Ahousaht First Nation where their farms are located, but they have since improved.
Dr. David Groves provided evidence concerning the trouble his organization, the Pacific Organic Seafood Association, is having meeting organic certification standards for farmed salmon.
Whitey Bernard and David Griffiths of the Tofino Business Association also spoke in favour of salmon farming in the area. Bernard confirmed Atlantic salmon had been found in rivers in the area, but said none had been seen in the past two years.
Griffiths urged the committee to undertake “legitimate and responsible scientific research into the impact of aquaculture on the environment and wild fish stocks.” He said environmental groups have used “suspect science and spurious claims in what essentially amounts to a faith-based campaign to persecute honest, hard-working people.” Fraser said the committee is travelling north from here, but will then break for the Kelowna caucus meetings.
The committee is made up of six NDP and four Liberal MLAs, and was tasked by the legislature to “examine, inquire into, and make recommendations with respect to sustainable aquaculture” in B.C., considering economic and environmental impacts and sustainable options that focus on the “interaction between aquaculture, wild fish and the marine environment.”
New PAA billboard conveys pride of BC salmon farmers
PAA reminds aquaculture committee to hear workers’ voices
Positive Aquaculture Awareness (PAA), a grassroots organization representing aquaculture workers and their families, announced May 17th the placement of its new “Proud to be a Salmon Farmer” billboard along the Pat Bay highway in Victoria.
“There are 4000 workers in the salmon farming sector that are extremely proud of the work they do day in and day out,” said Ian Roberts, President, PAA.
“We want to communicate that pride and environmental responsibility through this billboard campaign,” said Roberts.
The billboard, which includes the photo of a Campbell River-based salmon farmer, is designed to elicit attention from people traveling between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.
“We’re aware the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture is beginning its work, and we want the Committee to recognize how vital a healthy and growing aquaculture sector is to BC coastal communities and First Nations,” said Roberts.
“This industry is about people, in particular, it’s an industry that employs a majority of women, who rely on the sector to support their families and maintain their livelihoods,” said Leanne Brunt, PAA Vice President.
“As the Committee begins its research, it’s important they hear from the thousands of BC salmon farmers that make this industry work and have invested so much effort in ensuring it grows,” said Brunt.
“There are so many dedicated aquaculture employees who are working responsibly to ensure a sustainable sector that takes pressure off the wild fishery while providing consumers with a healthy, affordable food product that’s available year-round,” said Roberts.
“We want this Committee to pay close attention to the voices of BC’s aquaculture workers and their families and develop recommendations that will see this industry prosper for the benefit of all British Columbians,” said Roberts.
Sustaining BC’s wild salmon stocks
First Nations must cooperate among their communities -- as well as with the commercial and recreational fisheries -- to rebuild and sustain British Columbia's wild salmon stocks. That is the conclusion of a background paper on First Nations salmon conservation perspectives released in May by the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council.
The background paper cites the partnerships and co-management initiatives that have been successful in conserving salmon runs and sharing knowledge about fish populations. It also points to the importance of resolving intertribal issues over the allocation of salmon resources. This can be done through the adoption of principles to settle conflicts over competing fishing claims, and build cooperation to replace the current ad hoc fishing access arrangements among First Nations communities along salmon migration routes. The authors explain that this is essential for effective fisheries conservation while recognizing legally protected priority rights to salmon.
The background paper entitled First Nations, Salmon Fisheries and the Rising Importance of Conservation was authored by Kerri Garner and Ben Parfitt. It is the second in a series of three papers commissioned by the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council. The first paper was issued last year on the commercial fishery, while the final one on the recreational fishery will be released shortly.
The authors explained that: "...improperly conducted and timed harvesting – no matter who conducts it – can have tremendous negative consequences for all involved. For that reason, all who are involved need to do so in a matter of cooperation and respect, never losing sight of the fact that the resource itself is what matters most."
The history and development of First Nations involvement in the commercial salmon fishery is a focal point of the background paper. It notes the significance of selective fishing methods that are meant to enable salmon to be caught while protecting stocks, such as Thompson coho, that have been depleted. It refers to examples across the province's rivers and coastal areas, including Vancouver Island and Skeena River.
The Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council provides information and advice to the governments of Canada and British Columbia. It commissions reports such this background paper to help inform the public discussion on wild salmon and steelhead stocks and their freshwater and ocean habitats.
To obtain an on-line version of this background paper, go to: www.fish.bc.ca.
Stellar conference line-up announced for west coast event
The Aquaculture Pacific Exchange will return to Campbell River, BC September 14-15, 2006. Held biennially since 1997, this event continues to grow in depth and scope and this year will be the centerpiece of a planned “Aquaculture Week” in the Campbell River community.
The Aquaculture Pacific Exchange takes place at Strathcona Gardens and involves a world-class trade show with a very strong two-day conference. Conference Coordinator Linda Hiemstra, along with her Steering Committee, has done an amazing job developing a program full of high profile speakers addressing topics and issues pertinent to today’s aquaculture industry. Addressing the theme of “Good for You – Good for BC” the conference sessions will address broad topics such as: Good For You; Good For BC; New initiatives in Marketing BC Products; Geoduck Culture; BC Catches the Wave; Shellfish Research Projects; Talking About Salmon Farming; Commercialization of New Species; Technically Speaking – Advances in Fish Culture and Abalone Culture and Marketing. A complete listing of the speakers and topics being addressed under these broad topics as well as on-line registration for the Conference is available on line at www.aquaculturepacifcexchange.com.
The Trade Show will feature companies from across North America exhibiting the very latest products and services available for the Industry. According to Show Manager Jeff Lacey, “Booth sales are very brisk, particularly given the depth of the Conference Program. This program and the speakers involved will attract industry decision makers who are looking for ways to make their operations more efficient. This is a win-win for Exhibitors.” There are still a few booths available in the Trade Show, so if you are interested contact Jeff Lacey toll free at 1-888-454-7469 or email jlacey@masterpromotions.ca.
The Aquaculture Pacific Exchange is presented by Northern Aquaculture, sponsored by Rivercorp and endorsed by the BC Salmon Farmers Association, the BC Shellfish Growers Association; the Centre for Shellfish Research and the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences.
By Malcolm McColl
In Klemtu, BC on Swindle Island in the Pacific Ocean they find it hard to keep going with the economic development of fish, but they do anyway. What keeps them going is the endless prosperity that results from a community’s self-defined initiative to grow fish. Around 500 people live in Klemtu, a community that enjoys a spectacular location on the central coast of BC. With the same determination they used to carve out a place in the world, the Kitsoo people are carving a place in the modern seafood economy.
Ben Robinson runs Kitasoo Seafoods Ltd. "I guess we get pockets of support but in most communities where the majority is needed to pass a vote on aquaculture, the question would be voted down." Robinson said the reasons for this are a bit mysterious, and contributes the opposition to things that go back a few years. "The ‘Greens’ have gotten ahold of our people in a way that has not been positive."
Robinson said in Klemtu they have a keen awareness of what they are doing. He said, "We started by comparing what we would produce as food with what other foods we consume. You know we discovered, of course, that when comparing farmed salmon to things like baloney, weiners, potato chips, the salmon has not produced the devastation to our people in diet. And there has been devastation in our communities due to diet, but diabetes is not being caused by farmed salmon."
Even so, the goal of their success has been to provide economic activity in the community, so people can buy weiners and baloney and white bread and other stuff to ruin their health. At least they are happy and have a slice of life with the mayo and mustard, and, ""We looked at the ways and means to get a revenue machine going. We have to create an economy here that works year-round."
Robinson has been there long enough to learn a few secrets. "Nobody benefits from the lifestyle in DFO [Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans] management stock reviews. Stock reviews like this year get everybody’s hopes up. I’ve been commercial fishing 40 years and it never unfolds the way the DFO management plan says." The assessments to make plans fall short, then more financial hardship ensues. Nobody can make a living under economic conditions that fail due to inept bureaucratic management that misses the truth about fish stocks.
They have a saying in Klemtu, "The scientists put us on the beach. He called this year’s optimistic stock assessments so much hype, "Hype, like a prostpector looking at mountain full of gold that isn’t there, only a few nuggets at most." Klemtu knows the gold rush of wild salmon is all but over. It is a reality of the global fish market that there isn’t enough salmon to go around.
In the face of this failure the community at Klemtu continues to grow lots of fish and selling it every week. "We looked at the global trends in the market of fish. We realized that it was no longer viable in the commercial game on boats, and it wasn’t going to make people a half decent living anymore." In Klemtu they stopped listening to the department heads and their ‘influential scientists’, said Robinson, noting that bureaucrats who never get fired end up bringing about chaos.
Klemtu set a different course, and it is growing great returns in their partnership with Marine Harvest, as well as their own exclusive contracts to process seafood like sea cucumbers, herring, and other catches. Their DFO quota for halibut is too low to open their lines to processing, but they process 1.2 million lbs. of farmed salmon per month.
Even with all this success, "We don’t get the support for our effort except a few pockets, but no broad community support. I think people should examine what they are consuming. There is a reason they put expiry dates on food products, and when it comes to processed foods, the shelf life on products is because of all the dope in it."
Robinson has seen people objecting to farmed salmon while lighting a cigarette. He wonders about their respect for toxins while that is going on, "killing themselves with a cigarette and mandating that Kitasoo cannot sell farmed salmon." With some relief he points to the global reality of marketing fresh fish. He marvels at the technology to produce high quality salmon that is professionally processed and shipped to dinner tables in Canada and the United States and beyond. He must sigh at the obstacles they’ve overcome to put the food out there.
Huge wake-up call for coastal BC
By Malcolm McColl
Hartley Bay was awarded the first-ever Community Achievement Award by the Province of British Columbia for actions taken to save lives during the sinking of Queen of the North, March 22, 2006. "Special circumstances call for special recognition," BC Premier Gordon Campbell said. "This award recognizes the outstanding contribution this community has made to help others in a very serious situation."
Hartley Bay may be setting the bar high for this new award, but Chief Robert Hill, Hartley Bay First Nation, said, "We took the first step, which was the rescue, and the second step, taking care of peoples needs. Now we are in the third step, and here is the bottom line: this was a huge wake-up call for all levels of government." He said the process fortunately began with the successful rescue of passengers.
The ship, "was large and heavy," 500 ft. with capacity for 700 passengers and 115 cars. It sank in 1,400 feet of water, in Tsimshian territory, whose people have concerns about longterm damage to the environment. "We learned that preparedness for such a large disaster is low," said Chief Hill. Hartley Bay and other coastal communities are short of resources to deal large ship disasters.
"We don’t even have enough booms to prevent the spread of a spill. I went to inspect the high tide mark on Gil Island near the site of the sinking, and the rocks were slippery with diesel and the high water mark was pure diesel The tide was rising when the ship sank." The community is not entirely satisfied with the assurances about a clean ocean.
The chief said, "We have concerns about fuel, and we don’t agree with the timing of its removal. We think the wait is too long. They monitor and say the vessel is upwelling a litre a day. Even a litre a day spreads rapidly." The upwelling is diesel, "Burrard Clean Operations told us nature is taking care of it. We say that is not good enough. We are not up to that level of comfort about the process, especially on monitoring."
Haste is not the rule so far, Hill said, "They are using a complicated formula to measure the upwelling," that the chief is not too fond of. Basically, "Diesel is harder to retrieve. It is lighter and floats and spreads, harder to mop up compared to oil, and diesel flows away with underwater currents." Diesel escapes the usual practice of laying a boom around the upwelling site.
He said, "The ship was fully laden with fuel, 220,000 litres when it left Prince Rupert. They estimate there is 200,000 litres still on-board, in seven separate tanks that conform to the keel of hull. This is adding to the difficulty of unloading in 1,400 ft of water." The technology is available to remove the dangerous load, but is hard to retrieve quick enough. He said the machinery is down in Gulf of Mexico.
To some degree, "Nature is taking its course, which we see when we go to beaches and mop up. We discovered that in some cases it is better to leave it alone than to track around and mess things up worse. We know where the problems lie. This community found the vessel," and many of them suspect something went awry on the bridge. "The investigation showed preoccupation with two people manning the bridge instead of the usual three. Also, they had installed $1 million in new navigation equipment and may have been preoccupied with that."
He said, "If they missed the turn and the vessel did not change course it would have glanced off Gil Rock at 18 to 20 knots and drifted off Gil Island. It ran into severe winds after the impact, then sat in slack water while the winds changed direction, so they sat adrift in dead calm, and listing. You can imagine the panic of the crew, wondering where the passengers are, where the captain was. My reaction would have been to beach it. Beach it and try to prop it up against something, nose it into the trees."
Hill has no doubt there was panic on the vessel. The only lifeboats available would be on the opposite side of the list, "and even those are at risk." Fortunately the actions of Hartley Bay were instant, "we were practically on site at transmission of the ‘may-day’. The first rescue vessel to arrive was the Hartley Bay hatchery crew boat."
People on board the ship were fortunate that Hartley Bay communicates readily by VHF Radio. "We are mari-time people," said Hill, "and VHF is in common use with everybody, with our young people going out to fish or harvest our food. We are always listening to who is going out. This is the everyday practice in this community."
Meanwhile, the waters are sound and the community is benefitting from a huge influx of spring salmon right now. They conduct a variety of harvests throughout the year. Clams were underway at the tailend of the harvest when the ship went down. "The clams were in the egg laying state when sinking occured." A Hartley Bay biologist continues to monitor beaches but no one is sure what the outcome will be for a community that utilizes these resources so well.
In the aftermath, the authorities made two dives at the site and will be back. "Engineers are making plans for the next dive, and they are being cautious." Knowing tanker traffic will soon expand to create a large demand for preparedness, "Our coasts are not prepared. The upside is that Hartley Bay is on the map, and now we can apply direct pressure to governments for a centre of excellence to deal with this problem," said Chief Hill.
Spill response occurs coast wide
By Malcolm McColl
Burrard Clean Operations (BCO) is certified by Transport Canada to respond to marine oil spills according to mandate created by an act of Canadian parliament. BCO is the organization used by BC Ferries to monitor and contain fuel spillage at the site of the sunken Queen of the North, beside Gil Island, near Hartley Bay, BC. "We have 6,000 feet of boom laid out there to capture oil and fuel," said Craig Dougans, BCO public affairs, "We are finding negligible amounts of spillage or leakage so far."
Burrard Clean Operations began as a cooperative in the 1970s that operated in Vancouver harbours to clean up oil spills. It suddenly transformed into a coast-wide response organization under the Canada Shipping Act of the early 1990s. "We went from five shareholders to 1,400 members overnight, and now we have a membership of 1,800," drawn from all commercial ships plying the waters of the Canadian west coast that exceed 400 tonnes.
"Members include BC Ferries with 41 vessels, most commercial ships, the bigger ferries and tugs along the coast, and C-Span and Riv-Tow barges and tugs," said Dougans. "We conduct oil spill operations in the west coast marine waters."
BCO is an experienced environmental response organization in a sector of activity that is not huge around world "We are one of four certified spill response organizations in Canada Three are operating in eastern Canada. Out here we liaise with spill response organizations from Alaska and the north western US."
Spill response certification is the result of environmental issues increasingly becoming part of public policy in Canada. Oil companies provided the initial capital for equipment, and that changed in 90's although as active members they are still involved. "We have 12 full time employees and use a lot of contractors, boat owners, or local fishermenn. Response depends on the communications network, and maintaining communication is a critical part of the work," said Dougans.
In the Hartley Bay area, he said, "our role is working for BC Ferries to protect the sensitive areas and monitor what’s coming to the surface. We have had excellent cooperation with community members of Hartley Bay. We have been employing local personnel, training people in oil spill response, using others as crew." Dougans said the Hartley Bay people are working hard in this area because of their vested interests in the environmental response.
"We’ve had a tremendous relationship with these folks. Our crews have been helped with all the basics (laundry, showers) and they’ve been adding the extras found in a warm community, things like baking pies and inviting them to dinner. Dougans said it has been a good interface between the company and the community. BCO crews are living on a seigner in the town harbour and passing evenings in activities like playing floor hockey in the community.
Aquaculture Association of Canada - what it is and how it works
The Aquaculture Association of Canada (AAC) is a national organization of producers, suppliers, students, scientists, educators, and government representatives that is concerned about the promotion of knowledge pertinent to the aquaculture of finfish, aquatic plants, and shellfish. The AAC was incorporated in February 1984 when the aquaculture industry in Canada needed a vehicle to disseminate information, as the industry’s development and knowledgebase were each approaching an exponential growth rate.
The AAC is managed by a Board of Directors and Association office staff. Each year, at least three members of the Board of Directors are elected for a two-year term by the membership. Since 1984, the AAC has had Board representation from industry, academic institutions, government agencies (provincial and federal), and students, and from all across Canada. The Executive is selected by and among the Board of Directors.
The objectives of the AAC are:
- to foster an aquaculture industry in Canada, to promote the study of aquaculture and related science in Canada, to gather and disseminate information relating to aquaculture, and to create public awareness and understanding of aquaculture
- to promote, support, and encourage educational, scientific, and technological development and advancement of aquaculture in Canada;
- to gather and disseminate technical and scientific information on aquaculture development in Canada and throughout the world;
- to conduct seminars for the presentation, exchange, and discussion of information, findings, and experiences on all subject and techniques related to aquaculture;
- to encourage the teaching of all phases of aquaculture and the training of aquaculture and the training of aquaculturists in accredited colleges and universities in the field of aquaculture; and
- to encourage private industry and government agencies, both provincial and federal, to support education, research and development.
AAC carries out these objectives primarily through annual Aquaculture CanadaOM meetings, where workshops, seminars, contributed papers and posters, and discussions take place. Aquaculture CanadaOM has taken place annually in cities all across Canada at various times of the year. In addition, the AAC has also co-hosted or jointly held these meetings in conjunction with local or other organizations with similar audiences. AC06 - co-hosted by the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia (AANS), Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture - will take place in Halifax, NS from November 19-22, 2006.
The AAC makes much effort to both recognize the achievements of individuals in aquaculture in Canada and foster the growth of students into the Canadian aquaculture sector. The former is accomplished through two special awards offered annually: the Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award (HLAA) and the Research Award of Excellence (RAE). In the case of students, the AAC provides travel awards to eligible students to help cover costs of attending the annual meeting, presentation awards at the annual meetings, and the AAC Student Scholarship. So far, the AAC has awarded sixteen national Student Scholarships.
With almost 1000 members in over 15 countries worldwide and attendance at the annual meetings surpassing 500 in recent years, it is evident that the objectives of the AAC are being realized, and its contributions to the Canadian aquaculture sector in doing so are apparent.
Further information can be found at www.aquacultureassociation.ca.