October 4, 2010

Canadian firms move forward in closed-containment aquaculture project

AgriMarine Holdings, a leader in floating closed containment technology and production for sustainable aquaculture, and the Middle Bay Sustainable Aquaculture Institute (MBSAI) have announced the delivery in British Columbia of the first marine-based, commercial-scale, solid wall, closed-containment tank for the Middle Bay Project located at Campbell River.

AgriMarine and MBSAI have partnered together on the Middle Bay Project and will now begin the construction and installation of the first of a marine based four-tank system with an initial commercial volume of 3,000 cubic metres.

When complete, the Middle Bay Project will demonstrate a new marine-based commercially adaptable technology that will offer the socio-economic benefits of fish farming without many of the negative environmental issues associated with traditional net cage fish farms. The completed tank will be stocked with Chinook salmon fingerlings.

MBSAI is a not for-profit organisation formed for the purpose of researching and developing the use of commercial-scale solid wall containment systems for aquaculture.

Contributing to this project are the following Consortium members: AgriMarine Industries Inc., Coast Sustainability Trust, the US-based Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF) and Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), an arm's-length, not-for-profit corporation created by the Government of Canada.

The project is also supported by the following environmental non-governmental organisations; the David Suzuki Foundation, Living Oceans Society, Coast Sustainability Trust, Georgia Strait Alliance, T. Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation, and the Wilderness Tourism Association. AgriMarine and MBSAI are also very grateful to have the cooperation and support of the K'ómoks, Campbell River, Cape Mudge, and Homalco First Nation Bands.