Grant: Industrial Research Chairs for Colleges Grants

Resource-based industries such as forestry and fishing that were historically key economic drivers in coastal communities have in recent years seen considerable contraction and consequent job loss. As a result, the development of new industries in affected regions has become paramount. Key among these has been the emergence of salmon aquaculture, which is now a critical economic driver in many coastal areas across Canada. However, future environmental challenges may have consequences for the aquaculture industry. To address these challenges, it is extremely important for coastal communities to invest in environmental monitoring programs in order to understand precisely how these challenges will manifest and to promote sustainable farming practices. We propose here to implement innovative monitoring of environmental conditions, assess alternative farming site-restoration methods, and develop unique educational tools to increase opportunities for training and awareness. Specific innovative and novel concepts will include: 1) Development of an industry-driven, coast-wide environmental surveillance program with associated farm site system configuration, sampling data relay protocols, and database software that will comprise historical data as well as ongoing program inputs; 2) Development of a reliable benthic biomontoring tool, based on a Reference Condition Approach, that would represent a significant salmon production innovation, and arguably an improvement for current regulatory approach; 3) Commercial co-cultivation of kelp at marine salmon grow out sites, facilitating nutrient extraction at an industry scale, and provision of a kelp production model to assess environmental and socio-economic benefits of the opportunity; 4) Installation and operation of Educational Interface Technology that will facilitate learning and public awareness issues with coastal aquaculture. The outcomes of this research program are intended to improve the production efficiency of salmon farming practices in British Columbia, while also strengthening Canada's competitiveness in the international seafood market and capacity to supply rising global seafood demand.