B.C. aquaculture and fisheries companies receiving funding for clean technology solutions

The Government of Canada is making targeted investments in deploying clean technology solutions that will help fisheries-related businesses become more clean, green and sustainable.

Approximately $1.1 million in funding has been allocated to 15 projects from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program to support and accelerate clean economic growth. Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan and co-chair of B.C.’s Wild Salmon Advisory Council, from the Province of British Columbia also announced a contribution of $183,448 in funding towards these projects.

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption program is a $20 million instrument that provides funding to help businesses incorporate clean technologies into their day-to-day operations. It is intended to accelerate the use of more sustainable and efficient tools, practices and techniques.

Commercial fisheries and aquaculture are important contributors to the Canadian economy. These sectors contribute approximately $4.5 billion annually in gross domestic product and provide thousands of jobs across our country — many in Indigenous, rural and coastal communities.

The 15 projects announced will help B.C. based fisheries and aquaculture businesses adopt greener practices that will improve energy efficiency, reduce waste and lessen climate change causing carbon dioxide emissions. Projects include $424,219 in funding to Brown’s Bay Packing Co, which will prevent bacteria and viruses from fish processing waste from entering the marine environment, $74,437 to the Sport Fishing Institute of B.C. to support rockfish conservation, $43,488 to Taste of B.C. Aquafarms Inc to install a solar hot water system, eliminating fossil fuel consumption and reducing carbon emissions, over $100,000 to Sth’oqi aquaculture Ltd Partnership to install a machine to convert fish waste to fertilizer and low-carbon energy to power their land-based aquaculture facility, and almost$100,000 to Atchison Fishing Ltd to support a new efficient engine that will reduce fuel use and carbon emissions.

The funding will directly support a variety of fisheries and aquaculture projects in adopting clean technologies:

• Brown’s Bay Packing Co. – $424,219 to install effluent treatment equipment that will significantly reduce bacteria and suspended solids, kill viruses and remove blood color from fish processing plant waste water;
• Sth’oqi Aquaculture Ltd Partnership – $101,817 to install an anaerobic digester to convert fish waste to biogas fertilizer and water producing low carbon energy to power their land-based aquaculture facility;
• Atchison Fishing Ltd – $99,999 to support a new efficient engine that will reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions;
• Miracle Springs Inc. – $97,500  to install a re-circulating aquaculture system to reduce water use by 95 per cent;
• Sport Fishing Institute of B.C. – $74,437 to purchase and distribute 1,300 Seaqualizer rockfish descending devices, support training and increase awareness of rockfish conservation;
• D. Malcom Fishing Ltd. –  $74,582 to purchase and install new trawl doors, elevated sweeps and sensors that will reduce disturbance of the marine floor and reduce bycatch of non-target species while improving fuel efficiency;
• Manatee Holdings Ltd. – $51,953 to install an automated photobioreactor that will increase the efficiency of algae production;
• Coastal Shellfish Corporation Limited Partnership – $50,000 to replace natural gas boilers with electric powered water-based heat pumps to reduce use of non-renewable energy and carbon emissions;
• Taste of B.C. Aquafarms Inc. – $43,488 to replace an oil-fired water boiler with a solar hot water system, eliminating oil consumption and reducing carbon emissions;
• Canadian Fishing Company –  $22,431; Leader Fishing Ltd.-  $10,107; and Moon Dancer Fishing Co. – $7,155 to support the installation of oil-extractor devices on commercial fishing vessels to reduce oil and bilge detergent discharges into the ocean where it could harm sea life;
• Little Wing Oysters Ltd. – $19,900 to replace styrofoam with new and more durable molded foam-filled floatation blocks; and
• Ocean Cloud Joint Venture – $16,312 to replace diesel engine with fuel efficient motor for increased fuel efficiency and reduced emissions;
• D. Ritchie Holdings Ltd. – $5,391 to replace a gas generator with an energy-efficient solar-power system, eliminating fuel consumption, noise and air pollution.