Derby
Crew Member
Contained-fish project deemed a success
Despite storm damage, early harvest, fish farmer notes minimal sea lice
By Dan MacLennan, Campbell River Courier-Islander; With File From Times Colonist April 7, 2012
AgriMarine Industries officials say they're pleased with the first harvest of chinook salmon from their solid-wall containment pilot project at Middle Bay, just north of Campbell River - even though the fish had to be harvested early because of storm damage to the 3,000-cubic-metre tank.
"We didn't achieve the biomass that we'd like to have," said AgriMarine CEO Richard Buchanan.
"Because of the storm we've stopped this growout. [We had] amazing growth in the 13 months. We didn't believe that salmon could grow so quickly. It's really proven that the quality of the rearing system for fish is excellent."
The Middle Bay Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative saw AgriMarine fill a floating tank with roughly 50,000 six-inch chinook in late January 2011. The plan was to harvest the fish 18 to 20 months later when they reached an average of four kilograms.
The plan changed quickly last month when the powerful storm that dropped trees all over Campbell River March 12 also caused cracks in the tank.
In order to properly assess the damage, the tank had to be raised and inspected, meaning the fish had to come out.
Buchanan said more than 95 per cent of the orig-inal stock were harvested and sold to Safeway in the U.S.
"There is some damage and we don't want to take a chance on any structural failure so we're going to remove the tank and check the damage," he said.
"We've changed the design. Future designs are different than this. We learned what we needed to learn."
AgriMarine's Rob Walker was pleased with the end result. He said the fish averaged two kilograms. "We had hoped to harvest them later in the summer, probably July, anticipating a roughly 3.5-kilo average, but are really pleased with the growth rate to date," he said. "Our retail partner was able to take all the fish so we were able to sell what we grew."
The demonstration project drew sea water into the 24-metre-diameter tank, creating a gentle whirlpool effect. This provided current for the fish to swim against. It also funneled waste to the bottom of the tank so it could be collected. The fish waste was then drained and sold for fertilizer. An oxygenation system maintained proper oxygen levels in the tank water. Walker said everything worked as it should.
"Our backup systems worked beautifully, alarm systems, monitoring systems, all worked really well," he said. "We're really pleased with what happened in the last year. It was Jan. 28 when we put the fish in the water. We've seen a pretty rough winter for storms. It's been terrific. The fish have done really well. Basically disease-free. We haven't treated at all, no antibiotics in here. That's been a real bonus."
He said three sea lice were found in the tank.
"We know they're in the water. They don't seem to stick to the fish in here, so we're pleased with that. They didn't multiply. I'm hoping we can take credit for that," he said. "But I think we need some more research before we can make that claim."
The company said it is proceeding with the demonstration project, which is partly funded by Sustainable Development Technology Canada. Subsequent tanks that are currently being manufactured have been redesigned and will be installed on schedule, including the upgraded pilot tank.
The company said the demonstration project showed that excellent growth rates are achievable with the AgriMarine system.
AgriMarine has been in the above-ground fish farming business for years. In 2003, AgriMarine raised a number of salmon species in on-land concrete tanks at Cedar in a pilot project. The Thrifty Foods grocery chain bought all its production, selling what was a popular product as "ecosalmon."
Investors are showing interest in the project as well. Late last month Buchanan and Walker took a delegation of government representatives from Liaoning province in China through the site and the company's processing plant in the Middle Point industrial park. The group was headed by the president of the Liaoning Overseas Economy Promotion Committee, who is tasked to investigate investment opportunities outside of China. AgriMarine's flagship salmon-farm operation is located in Liaoning province.
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/Contained+fish+project+deemed+success/6424912/story.html#ixzz1rMx8fWFJ
Despite storm damage, early harvest, fish farmer notes minimal sea lice
By Dan MacLennan, Campbell River Courier-Islander; With File From Times Colonist April 7, 2012
AgriMarine Industries officials say they're pleased with the first harvest of chinook salmon from their solid-wall containment pilot project at Middle Bay, just north of Campbell River - even though the fish had to be harvested early because of storm damage to the 3,000-cubic-metre tank.
"We didn't achieve the biomass that we'd like to have," said AgriMarine CEO Richard Buchanan.
"Because of the storm we've stopped this growout. [We had] amazing growth in the 13 months. We didn't believe that salmon could grow so quickly. It's really proven that the quality of the rearing system for fish is excellent."
The Middle Bay Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative saw AgriMarine fill a floating tank with roughly 50,000 six-inch chinook in late January 2011. The plan was to harvest the fish 18 to 20 months later when they reached an average of four kilograms.
The plan changed quickly last month when the powerful storm that dropped trees all over Campbell River March 12 also caused cracks in the tank.
In order to properly assess the damage, the tank had to be raised and inspected, meaning the fish had to come out.
Buchanan said more than 95 per cent of the orig-inal stock were harvested and sold to Safeway in the U.S.
"There is some damage and we don't want to take a chance on any structural failure so we're going to remove the tank and check the damage," he said.
"We've changed the design. Future designs are different than this. We learned what we needed to learn."
AgriMarine's Rob Walker was pleased with the end result. He said the fish averaged two kilograms. "We had hoped to harvest them later in the summer, probably July, anticipating a roughly 3.5-kilo average, but are really pleased with the growth rate to date," he said. "Our retail partner was able to take all the fish so we were able to sell what we grew."
The demonstration project drew sea water into the 24-metre-diameter tank, creating a gentle whirlpool effect. This provided current for the fish to swim against. It also funneled waste to the bottom of the tank so it could be collected. The fish waste was then drained and sold for fertilizer. An oxygenation system maintained proper oxygen levels in the tank water. Walker said everything worked as it should.
"Our backup systems worked beautifully, alarm systems, monitoring systems, all worked really well," he said. "We're really pleased with what happened in the last year. It was Jan. 28 when we put the fish in the water. We've seen a pretty rough winter for storms. It's been terrific. The fish have done really well. Basically disease-free. We haven't treated at all, no antibiotics in here. That's been a real bonus."
He said three sea lice were found in the tank.
"We know they're in the water. They don't seem to stick to the fish in here, so we're pleased with that. They didn't multiply. I'm hoping we can take credit for that," he said. "But I think we need some more research before we can make that claim."
The company said it is proceeding with the demonstration project, which is partly funded by Sustainable Development Technology Canada. Subsequent tanks that are currently being manufactured have been redesigned and will be installed on schedule, including the upgraded pilot tank.
The company said the demonstration project showed that excellent growth rates are achievable with the AgriMarine system.
AgriMarine has been in the above-ground fish farming business for years. In 2003, AgriMarine raised a number of salmon species in on-land concrete tanks at Cedar in a pilot project. The Thrifty Foods grocery chain bought all its production, selling what was a popular product as "ecosalmon."
Investors are showing interest in the project as well. Late last month Buchanan and Walker took a delegation of government representatives from Liaoning province in China through the site and the company's processing plant in the Middle Point industrial park. The group was headed by the president of the Liaoning Overseas Economy Promotion Committee, who is tasked to investigate investment opportunities outside of China. AgriMarine's flagship salmon-farm operation is located in Liaoning province.
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/Contained+fish+project+deemed+success/6424912/story.html#ixzz1rMx8fWFJ
