ACERA: A great boost to salmonid aquaculture
operations in Bay D’Espoir
The salmon and steelhead aquaculture industry in Bay
D’Espoir has derived great benefit over the past 5 years through assistance from the
Aquaculture Component of the Economic Renewal Agreement (ACERA). The program was part of
the 5 year, $100 million Canada/ Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal.
Since its inception, ACERA has funded 34 projects in salmonid aquaculture, totaling $5,743,005. The projects were classed under 5 divisions. Of the total projects, 27 were awarded under the Extension Services division, including $1.6 million combined for Fish Health Services, and the Road to Roti Bay projects. Through actions of the Newfoundland Salmonid Growers Association (NSGA) and the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA), ACERA became an integral part of the research and development of salmonid aquaculture in the Bay D’Espoir region. The NSGA was responsible for implementation of many of the ACERA projects. It has been a great source of revenue for the Association, a boost to the regions economy, and huge foster to the salmonid industry.
Some of the projects funded by ACERA, whole or in part, consisted of the following:
This project began in the early stages of the ACERA program to develop broodstocks for the Bay D’Espoir aquaculture Industry.
This was a comprehensive scientific study to determine the salmonid holding capacity in Bay D’Espoir. It involved the collection and analysis of biological, oceanographic and aquaculture production data over the period of the project. The results indicated no environmental impact at the present levels of production and presented the basis for a model to show that a capacity of 5000 tonnes may be feasible.
While all grower in the Bay D’Espoir salmonid aquaculture industry have developed and adopted practices to minimize fish escapement through the NSGA Code of Practice, this project developed methods to recapture those that do. It included the experimental deployment of herring and caplin traps with various modifications. Results indicated that escaped fish tend to stay close to the cages for an initial period, and can be recaptured by these trapping methods. The project has allowed strict compliance to the DFA/DFO Code of Containment Implementation Plan.
The objective of this project was to make equipment available to the industry to improve production efficiency, provide accurate fish counting, and help prevent escapes by improved handling practices. The equipment consisted of an harvesting pump, grading/counting portable pumps, graders, de-watering units, and various counters. The equipment has been in use during 2001/2002. The NSGA has since establishing guidelines for equipment use by its members, including rental rates.
The main objectives of this project were to have a standardized record keeping system used by all growers, and to attain a more accurate inventorying of fish, as required by the Code of Containment. The Superior Control Inventory Program was purchased from Superior Systems AS of Trondheim, Norway. All six (6) growers received the software and training for its use. A Superior Control Base was installed at the NSGA office. Superior, now AKVAsmart, charge each grower and the NSGA a quarterly fee for use of the system. Although the system is still employed on some farms, the high fees and technical difficulties has cause some growers to pursue other acceptable methods of keeping inventory.
The focus of this project was to give Newfoundland farm managers experience with their peers in British Columbia. Four farm managers from Bay D’Espoir visited various farm sites in British Columbia over an eight (8) week period during January to March, 2000. The effort was a good learning exercise, and as a result new ideas are being successfully applied in fish husbandry and cost reduction strategies.
An efficient fish mort disposal system was the goal of this project. Incineration of morts prevents the spread of any disease, by eliminating any air and water pollution and decreasing attraction to scavengers, etc. Eight units were purchased and issued to the growers for installation on the farm sites. Each unit consisted of the incinerator, a burner unit, a generator and a 200 gal. oil storage tank. Upon receiving the necessary environment permits these incinerators were install and are now in use.
This project was initiated in conjunction with approval from government to provide growers with a strain of diploid female rainbow trout for improved growth rates, feed conversion and other farm business advantages. It also assisted the industry to deal with a local shortage of juvenile stock for grow-out in year 2000. The project covered the transportation cost of transporting 785,387 fish from Big Falls Hatchery in Wolfville, Nova Scotia to Bay D’Espoir. This project was essential to the salmonid growers in Bay D’Espoir in 2000. It allowed the industry to grow and experience the new strain of trout. Its report also notes that the real solution to the supply problem is increased hatchery capacity in the area.
This project involved the development of an intermediate grow-out site for rainbow trout produced at the local hatchery. This would allow the hatchery to maintain a certain level of production without over crowding at the hatchery and /or having to transfer directly to sea cage grow-out sites at smaller sizes. Establishment of the site involved the fabrication of a six-cage system complete with walkways, nets and a mooring system and ice boom.
The purpose of this project was to study the effects of over-wintering temperatures in NorthWest Cove, East Bay. One cage, holding 1275 grilse salmon were placed on site in January and harvested on May 24. The results were positive for over-wintering at this site. However, caution is noted in the final report that in recent years water temperatures do not reach the super chill levels as frequently as recorded 6–7 years ago.
The objectives of this project were to develop and test three (3) surface mortality retrieval systems, and to assist in retrofitting existing net cages in the Bay D’Espoir with the appropriate system. Upon selection of the best retrieval system, 125 units were subsequently constructed, and are currently in use on farms.
The existence, and ultimate closure, of the ACERA program has had a deep impact on salmonid aquaculture research and development in the Bay D’Espoir region. Advancements made in the industry through various scientific studies, education and training, acquisition of gear, and extension services have been immense. Its legacy is a larger, and stronger, salmonid aquaculture industry ready for the next challenge. ACERA, I’m sure you will be missed.
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