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New Pilot-Scale Hatchery for Halibut

The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI) and the Ocean Sciences Centre (OSC) of Memorial University of Newfoundland are introducing Norwegian halibut aquaculture technology to Newfoundland and Labrador through the development of a pilot-scale hatchery at the Ocean Sciences Centre in Logy Bay.

The project was announced today by Premier Brian Tobin and Fred Mifflin, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of Lawrence MacAulay, Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Veterans Affairs), during a news conference held at the OSC. Also participating in the event was John Efford, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The technology transfer project will receive an investment of $804,652 from the Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal as well as $203,716 from the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation and Memorial University.

Minister Mifflin said: "With its focus on halibut, this project brings a new dimension to the province's aquaculture sector. We are accessing a Norwegian technology that lends itself to application in Newfoundland and Labrador. This is part of an overall strategy by both levels of government and the private sector to foster innovative approaches in the aquaculture sector as a means of creating sustainable jobs and economic growth."

Premier Tobin characterized the project as, "a milestone that will help kickstart the rapid development of halibut aquaculture in Newfoundland and Labrador, and help position the province to take advantage of farmed halibut as the next major commercial marine species worldwide. It is one of many initiatives both governments are undertaking to develop a commercially viable aquaculture industry that is competitive with aquaculture producers around the world."

John Efford, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, emphasized the important role aquaculture is playing in the diversification of the economy. "Through innovative approaches, government is partnering with the private sector and academic institutions to capitalize on the growth potential of the aquaculture sector by exploring the commercial potential of new species and by creating a climate attractive to potential investors."

Alastair O'Rielly, managing director of the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation, pointed out: "CCFI is proud to see the start-up of this halibut aquaculture development which we have been pursuing and organizing for the past couple of years. This project forges an alliance between Memorial's scientific and engineering expertise and one of the world's leading aquaculture pioneers. We are confident that this collaboration will lead to rapid commercialization of halibut culture in the province."

This pilot project is contributing to the development of advanced aquaculture facilities and techniques and has led to increased research and training activity at Memorial's OSC. "By researching better ways to culture halibut and by training students and technicians in this field, Memorial is strengthening the aquaculture expertise in this province," said Dr. Arthur May, president of Memorial University. "This is especially fitting since one of Memorial's mandates is to provide training and to conduct research in areas which are particularly relevant to our maritime environment."

The project includes the establishment of a technology transfer arrangement between Memorial University of Newfoundland in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation and Maritime Mariculture Inc. (MMI). Maritime Mariculture Inc. is a Canadian company based in New Brunswick with ties to one of Norway's leading halibut aquaculture companies, AMY-AS. The technology transfer arrangement will obtain for the OSC full access to, and training in, the Norwegian halibut technology.

David Raymond, president of MMI, noted: "What makes halibut exciting as a candidate species for aquaculture is its phenomenal consumer demand. Halibut is the prime white flesh fish in Europe and North America. Fortunately, even with rapid development and expansion of halibut farming, it appears that it will take many years for this demand to be satisfied."

The Ocean Sciences Centre has been renovated at a cost of $319,067. The centre has a new culture facility specifically structured to accommodate halibut life-cycle requirements and hatchery production of juvenile halibut for Newfoundland aquaculture businesses. All halibut juveniles produced throughout this project will be made available for pilot-scale grow-out at licensed aquaculture sites in the province.

Active in halibut aquaculture research for more than 10 years, the OSC has concentrated efforts on the early rearing of halibut and development of a domesticated broodstock. These efforts resulted in limited success due to limitations of the facilities such as space restrictions and water quality control. During this period, however, the OSC developed a small domesticated broodstock and considerable expertise in broodstock management, live feed production and animal husbandry practices related to halibut aquaculture.

The Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal is a $100 million, five-year, federal-provincial program designed to generate long-term economic benefits for the province primarily in the growth areas of advanced technology, tourism and aquaculture.

Contact:

• Cathy Dornan
  Office of the Premier
  (709) 729-3564

  Josephine Cheeseman
  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
  (709) 729-3733

  Bonnie Mewdell
  Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  (613) 992-3474

  Ivan Muzychka
  Memorial University of Newfoundland
  (709) 737-8661

  Cathie Horan
  Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation
  (709) 778-0515

  Ellen Alcock
  Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal
  (709) 772-5116

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BACKGROUNDER

• The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI) provides the fishing and aquaculture industry with the scientific and technological services resident at Memorial University. It is a unique organization, being owned by MUN, financed by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and managed by an industry-led Board of Directors. Its staff focuses on solving the technical and scientific problems of individual clients and helping them meet opportunities. In many strategic areas, the centre also proactively pursues industry-wide opportunities.
• The development of halibut aquaculture in Newfoundland was targeted as a top-priority research activity in 1995. With the species' strong marketing position as the attraction, CCFI has worked closely with the Ocean Sciences Centre (OSC) on identifying the technical obstacles to commercial halibut farming. CCFI has also sought out industry partners to work on commercialization. The OSC-CCFI-MMI project is the culmination of that first phase in the development of a viable halibut farming industry. Through this initiative, we can learn how leaders in this field have cleared the major hurdles and how to adapt and refine their techniques.
• The opportunity for rapid commercialization is real. In fact, P. Janes and Sons, Woodman Fisheries and E.J. Green and Co. have already formed a consortium for development and are partners with CCFI in commercializing halibut aquaculture.
• CCFI's strategic research program in aquaculture includes six other cold-water species: sea urchins, Arctic char, scallops, wolffish, cod and yellowtail flounder. Blue mussels and salmon/steelhead trout are already recognized as commercial species with considerable promise and are being supported for further development.
• Research on fisheries-related biotechnology is gaining in importance as well. Researchers are developing new delivery mechanisms for aquaculture vaccines, and working on ways to control reproduction in fish through nutrition. If successful, these new advances could form the basis of new local industries. Elsewhere at Memorial, geneticists are collaborating with industry on DNA technology to speed up the development of commercial broodstock with optimal commercial traits.
• In addition to aquaculture and biotechnology, the centre undertakes applied industrial research for the harvesting and processing sectors. Recent major initiatives include the design, development and testing of an innovative crab processing technology to enhance productivity and quality, and the development of new anti-roll technology for 65-foot fishing vessels.

HALIBUT TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROJECT

• The transfer of Norwegian halibut aquaculture technology is being accomplished through a technology transfer agreement with Maritime Mariculture Inc. (MMI), a Canadian company with ties to one of Norway's leading halibut aquaculture companies, AMY-AS. MMI has experience in halibut aquaculture both in Europe and North America.
• The Ocean Sciences Centre was selected because of the scientific and technological expertise resident in this facility of Memorial University of Newfoundland.
• The project is contributing to training of skilled persons in halibut aquaculture thus further enhancing the current expertise housed at the Ocean Sciences Centre. Knowledge is being passed on to seven research assistants and two students.
• The project at the Ocean Sciences Centre required modifications to existing facilities such as the installation of halibut silos as well as the installation of equipment to clean, de-gas, and control water temperatures. It is projected that the facility will produce several thousand juvenile halibut during its first year of operation.
• New tanks and equipment, valued at $339,067, have been installed at the Ocean Sciences Centre to improve the effectiveness of existing facilities for future research.
• Operating costs will be shared between Maritime Mariculture Inc. and the Ocean Sciences Centre. Maritime Mariculture Inc.'s costs include salaries for two biologists and overhead costs. In the long-term, the technology will move from the Ocean Sciences Centre to commercial producers.
• In total, this phase of the project will cost $1,008,367. Project contributions include commitments of $94,382 from the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation and $109,334 from Memorial University of Newfoundland as well as $804,652 from the Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal.
• Upwards of 16 litres of eggs have already been collected from two of the broodstock halibut ("White-Eye" and "Johnnie"), fertilized, and placed in 11 of the 12 tanks (250 litres each) in the hatchery area. Once the eggs hatch, they are transferred to 8,000-litre silos, nine of which have been installed in the former annex at the rear of the OSC's main building. The silos, each one five metres high, became operational on February 23, 1997.
• Larvae are only six to seven mm in length when they first hatch from eggs. They survive on nutrients in their attached yolk-sacs for 30 to 50 days. The next stage is to present live food to the larvae once they have used up their yolk-sacs and developed the ability to capture and fully digest live food.
• Artemia (brine shrimp), rotifers (tiny marine animals) and algae will be added to the tanks as a food source until the larvae approach metamorphosis, the stage of development where the left eye migrates to the right side of the fish and the halibut assumes the typical flatfish appearance.
• Atlantic halibut is a prized food fish commanding a premium market price of around $12 U.S. per kilogram, and for this reason has gained significant attention as a potential aquaculture species.

Aquaculture component
Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal

The investment of $20 million in aquaculture allows a range of projects to be undertaken in the following five strategic directions:

• Financial and Marketing ($1 million): to facilitate development of the industry based on the identification of sound, sustainable competitive advantages e.g. benchmarking, inter-firm comparisons, market demand analysis, investment prospecting, and generic promotion.
• Coastal Zone Aquaculture Planning ($1 million): to assist in maximizing sustainable development opportunities by reducing the potential for conflict, harmonizing policies and procedures, and providing data analysis tools. This component will be achieved through development of a GIS data base to facilitate government and industry planning; review of government policies and procedures; and collection, analysis and distribution of relevant data.
• Communications, Advocacy and Education ($1 million): to improve skills, knowledge and awareness within the industry; to support the industry association in meeting its mandate particularly in the production and delivery of educational materials and training programs.
• Applied Research and Development ($9 million): to establish research programs to provide a basis for achieving sustainable development of the industry. This will be accomplished through the establishment of research facilities aimed at ensuring the sustainability of finfish and shellfish aquaculture in the Newfoundland environment.
• Extension Services ($8 million): to provide for expansion of the industry through creation of supporting infrastructure and industry services. Programs include provision of extension and fish health services, collection of regional site suitability information, and establishment and operation of demonstration facilities.