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by Denise August
Ha-Shilth-Sa Central Region Reporter
June 3, 2004

Tofino - Mainstream Canada, a multinational aquaculture company once known as Pacific National Aquaculture, is restocking net pens after more than a year of inactivity following a salmon disease outbreak. In March 2002, Pacific National Aquaculture Operations Manager, Kevin Onclin issued a memo to PNA staff informing them that IHN (Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus) had been discovered in the farmed Atlantic Salmon in Ahousaht area net pens.

PNA responded by implementing strict quarantine procedures in order to minimize the spread of the disease to neighboring salmon farms. These measures included: enforcement of strict disinfection procedures; limiting the movement of all personnel, equipment and boats; separate dive teams to survey sites; special procedures for removal and disposal of dead fish; and special precautions for harvesting to prevent spread of disease.

Despite all their efforts, the virus spread from net pen to net pen, infecting almost all of PNA's tenures in the area. The outbreak resulted in the immediate shutdown of several farms to allow them to fallow (a period of inactivity to allow the site to cleanse itself). One hundred and seventy employees were laid off and private charter boats and other businesses that relied on the company for their livelihoods were deeply impacted.

Alistair Haughton is the Chief Operating Officer for Mainstream Canada, formerly PNA. He says PNA changed its name because the parent company, Cermaq Group, made a decision in May 2003 to join together their farming industry under one common name, 'Mainstream' followed by their geographical location (i.e. Mainstream Scotland, Mainstream Chile).

He says while Mainstream Canada started restocking net pens this year, "We are approaching this area with caution and due-diligence, carefully assessing each operational area to ensure the fallow time is well beyond government standards and that the area has had plenty of time to remediate."

According to government guidelines, sites that have experienced an IHN outbreak should remain fallow for a minimum of three months prior to restocking fish into the site.

Haughton says some sites have been fallow for over one year. "We will not restock just for the sake of putting fish in the water, it will be done based on market demand, environmental considerations, and other things," he wrote. In regard to stocking, he says all sites must be designed by a marine engineer and anchored by professionals.

"We will stock under the government-rated capacity for the site and now have a no-handling policy, thus reducing stress on the fish and promoting a healthy stock," he said, adding they are in the process of getting ISO 14000 certification.

Mainstream Canada now has eight sites stocked and may stock two or three more this year. Two sites are currently being harvested.

The company is also proud to announce that two of its current sites are stocked with Chinook, an indigenous species of salmon. Haughton advises that one of those sites is currently being harvested and this site "has never received an antibiotic or any treatment of any sort," he claims.

Haughton says the company is slowly and carefully moving forward. "We laid off approximately 170 employees and are now operating with 70 (employees) on the sea-sites, management and operation crews." He says they have another 30 employees at the plant and 20 at their hatchery. Manistream Canada has been recalling employees as of March 2004.

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Copyright Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper, published by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. Reproduction of this article or photographs, in whole or in part, is illegal without the written consent of Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper (hashilth@nuuchahnulth.org)

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