Seafood farmers elect new national board of directors

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA), which represents a diversity of farm-raised seafood production across Canada, has elected its new board of directors and executive committee.

The elections were held at CAIA’s annual general meeting in Ottawa in February, which capped off the organization’s Advocacy Day 2020, bringing together more than 50 members of Canada’s seafood farming community to advocate for their sector.

On the executive committee of the board are:

• Jennifer Woodland, Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood LP (chair)
• Joel Richardson, Cooke Aquaculture Ltd. (vice-chair)
• John Rose, Icy Waters Ltd. (treasurer)
• Marta Gameiro, Elanco Canada Limited (secretary)
• Cyr Couturier, Memorial University (past chair)
• Jason Card, Mowi Canada East
• Sharon DeDominicis, Mowi Canada West
• Dean Threthewey, Grieg Seafood BC Ltd.
• Brian Yip, Fanny Bay Oysters

New board members are:

• Jason Card, Mowi Canada East
• Erin Latham, k’awat’si Shellfish Company
• Edgar Luck, Cargill Canada
• Dean Threthewey, Grieg Seafood BC Ltd.
• Peter Warris, PEI Aquaculture Alliance

Returning board members are

• Sharon DeDominicis, Mowi Canada West
• Terry Drost, Four Links Marketing
• Sue Farquharson, Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association
• John Paul Fraser, BC Salmon Farmers Association
• Marta Gameiro, Elanco Canada Limited
• Kim Gill, Aquaculture Association of Canada
• Brad Hicks, Taplow Feeds
• Brian Kingzett, Coastal Shellfish LP
• Mark Lane, Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association
• Rich Moccia, Aquaculture Centre, University of Guelph
• Joel Richardson, Cooke Aquaculture Ltd.
• John Rose, Icy Waters Ltd.
• Tim Rundle, Creative Salmon Co. Ltd.
• Linda Sams, Cermaq Canada Ltd.
• Amédée Savoie, Maison BeauSoleil
• Tom Smith, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia
• Trevor Stanley, Skretting Canada Inc.
• RJ Taylor, Ontario Aquaculture Association
• Jennifer Woodland, Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood LP
• Brian Yip, Fanny Bay Oysters

“We’re very pleased to welcome these new and returning members to our national board of directors,” Timothy Kennedy, president and CEO of CAIA, said in a press release. “Together, they represent finfish and shellfish producers, suppliers and regional associations from across Canada – united in their passion for the sustainable growth of seafood farming.

“This sector has incredible potential for Canada. Low-carbon, sustainable food production, great jobs in coastal communities, Indigenous partnership, leadership and reconciliation, and innovation,” continued Kennedy. “Together with federal, provincial and Indigenous partners we will continue our work to realize this sector’s great future in Canada.

“I’d like to specially thank Cyr Couturier for his service on the board for over 25 years and as chair for the past four years. He has been instrumental in shaping the future of this organization, and I am glad he will continue on the board as past chair.”

CAIA is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally to regulators, policymakers and political leaders. CAIA members generate more than $6 billion in economic activity, $2.45 billion in GDP, and employ more than 25,000 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada.