The fish farm industry in B.C. is about to meet the future of transition with a new player and new technology geared to closed containment that leaves a minimal impact on ocean quality. Growing Akvafuture salmon in closed containment meets the highest standards of ecological integrity in a proven 10 year production cycle in Norway. (The Registered Trademark is EcoSalmon.)
"The fish have zero sea lice," for example, said Dean Trethewey, Managing Director of Akvafuture Salmon Ltd. in Canada, speaking to the roll-out of AkvaFuture possibly in B.C., in the weeks and months to come.
The mortality rates are reduced to low single digits in these closed containment fish farms. "The fish are some of the healthiest we have ever seen in any conditions," says Trethewey.
Akvafuture announced the company's interest in B.C. in a July 7th, 2023, news release from Campbell River. The company is using field-proven technology tested and optimized in the Norwegian fjords, and Akvafuture aims to enter the industry in B.C. to take part in the transition underway from open ocean netpens to a more environmentally acceptable and sustainable form of fish production.
"We strive to be the most sustainable salmon farmer. In many ways, we are enhancing nutrients around the farm which is why kelp and mussel farming opportunities are something we are interested in."
The company is shedding light on the sustainable development of fish farms through technology. Through the recent video release (at top), the viewer gets insight into the company's practices that minimize environmental impact and promote the well-being of the fish and surrounding ecosystems.
The goal is to become the world’s most sustainable salmon farmers. Akvafuture envisions a future where salmon farming harmonizes with the natural environment. By using closed barrier technology, the company aims to contribute to responsible farming practices that prioritize ecological balance while ensuring the production of high-quality harvestable salmon – and most importantly, completely free of lice.
Trethewey is responsible for the Canadian venture and believes the technology they represent can contribute to tackle the biological and environmental challenges the industry in British Columbia is facing. They want to preserve the long-term health and vitality of oceans while meeting the growing demand for sustainable food, worldwide.
"First Nations and Coastal communities in British Columbia are experiencing drastic changes being implemented to the Salmon Farming sector due to the recent closures implemented by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
"Our goal is to farm the most sustainable salmon on the market so that the next generation of Salmon Farmers can continue to grow communities and salmon. One cannot deny the negative impact the closures have on these communities," he says.
"This video reflects our passion for innovation and our belief that responsible aquaculture can be a catalyst for positive change. We hope to influence politicians and stakeholders, as well as people passionate about the industry, that there are farming practices out there that solve the biggest problems of the industry without the sacrifice of workplaces."
The Akvafuture investment in Canada will include Indigenous economic development and partnerships. The company has been engaged in discussions with Indigenous leadership about participation in this Blue Economy initiative. Sustainable fish farming is the aim of all stakeholders and investors on the west coast.
"One of the areas I believe we are proactive in, is our intent to align to Indigenous knowledge with our relationship agreements and create a framework with the rights and title holders in each territory together. We believe that the First Nations who’s territory wherein we operate will have the stewardship support from us to hold a high standard of transparency and practices. We hope this approach can set a new standard on how business approach First Nations and align together.
"As farmers, we know how important it is to work with nature and cultivate our learning into future crops. By integrating biology with engineering, we are creating stronger fish welfare systems and growing the seafood potential in B.C.. Who knows how the industry will look like 10-20 years in the future, but it will certainly depend on the decisions that are being made right now."
The Akvafuture fish farm production comes from a decade of R&D culminating into robust salmon farming facilities. Through continuous research and collaboration with the Norwegian Veterinary Institute carried out over the last decade, Akvafuture has found an environmentally robust solution that will add nutritious Salmon to families around the globe.
Not only does it yield significantly improved fish welfare, but it also prevents the interaction between wild and farmed allowing both to co-exist in nature. As seen in the promotional video, the concept is far from any distant utopia, this is technology being operated in northern Norway right now.
The news release says, "As of May 2023, Akvafuture has produced a total of 150 million servings of EcoSalmon. This is an exciting time for the entire team of women and men at Akvafuture who are dedicated to raising healthy nutritious salmon with the highest standard of farming practices today. Every salmon grown is a wild salmon saved."
About Akvafuture:
Akvafuture AS is a company based in Northern Norway that has produced some of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable salmon on the market since 2016. The company's own patented, closed barrier technology ensures that the salmon is lice-free throughout the entire production cycle by bringing fresh seawater from the depths. As a result of good living conditions for the salmon, it gets a bright and healthy appearance and maintains optimal fat and protein levels. By eliminating sea lice, bi-catch and potential escapes, we can continue to increase farm salmon abundance and remove the pressures currently associated with extracting from the wild. Biological material from the production is reused in new value chains – nutrients are turned into kelp, mussels, or biogas that powers buses and organic fertilizer for food production.
With sustainability in focus, Akvafuture ensures that the best of the salmon is taken care of from the time it is put in the sea until it is on the dinner plate. Akvafuture has pioneered technology that closes the door on many of the perceived risks that environmental groups claim against the industry.
Read more about Akvafuture at: www.akvafuture.com