May 12, 2011

Mainstream Canada adopts new initiative

Mainstream Canada Aquaculture is now certified under a new third-party standard to ensure that sustainable aquaculture management takes First Nations' values and interests into account.

"The Aboriginal Principles for Sustainable Aquaculture (APSA) is a First Nation-driven initiative that will ensure that aquaculture is carried out in a manner that respects First Nations' culture, values and ensures protection of First Nations' aquatic resources," said Richard Harry, president of the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association (AAA). "This is the first step forward to a nationally-recognised aboriginal inclusive certification programme," he added.

In March, an independent audit found that Mainstream Canada's fish farming practices in Clayoquot Sound within the traditional territory of the Ahousaht First Nation satisfied the requirements of the APSA standard founded by the AAA.

"With this certification we can see that the high standards that we expect from Mainstream are being met and that the company is serious about their sustainable practices and commitments to First Nation communities," said Wally Samuel, chair of the Ahousaht Fish Farm Committee.

Established in 2003, the AAA gives guidance and advice to First Nations on sustainable aquaculture development and collaborates with government and industry on matters pertaining to aquaculture management and regulation impacting First Nations.

APSA's standard requires that First Nations and the applicant work together to come up with a local sustainability plan. The goal is to ensure aquaculture operations in the Nations' area abide by certain principles and support the local First Nation's values and interests.

The second biggest aquaculture firm in British Columbia, Mainstream Canada runs 27 sea sites, three hatcheries and a processing plant. With support from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' (DFO) Aquaculture and Innovation and Market Access Programme, the company partook in the pilot project testing this third-party accreditation process. The APSA standard entails transparency and First Nations' inclusiveness and social, environmental and economic responsibility.

The First Nation has a protocol agreement with Mainstream Canada outlining the principles for collaborating and developing a sustainable as well as mutually beneficial salmon farming operation.

"We look forward to using this certification to work with Ahousaht to make the partnership even better and we recognize that it will be an important tool in the development of new partnerships with First Nations' communities," said Mainstream Canada's Communications and Corporate Sustainability Manager Laurie Jensen.