Vancouver Island and Danish companies have been awarded a three-year deal to build new pen systems for British Columbia’s largest salmon aquaculture company.
The construction of 87, 120-metre-diameter high-density polyethylene circular fish pens, branded HD 500 Extreme, was awarded by Marine Harvest Canada to Poseidon Ocean Systems dealing on behalf of manufacturer Hvalpsund Net.
“The HD 500 Extreme pens are a wider and more stable platform than existing pens in use at Marine Harvest Canada, and are particularly well-suited to dual-net predator-exclusion programs,” Matt Clarke, President of Campbell River-based Poseidon Ocean Systems, said in a press release. “In addition, the pens were supplied with alternative supplementary flotation that allowed us to eliminate the use of polystyrene foam inside the float pipes, which is a nice environmental benefit.”
The first orders for 29 pens were immediately placed by Marine Harvest and will be built on Vancouver Island.
The contract is also important to Poseidon retaining Vancouver Island talent, Clarke says.
“Our company is just two years old, but already we employ eleven full-time employees and twenty local contractors, so this contract is going to secure work for many local families.”
Marine Harvest’s Production Director, Dougie Hunter, is pleased to see investment into improved infrastructure, saying “These new cages are one part of a multi-million dollar investment to further improve our farming operations, which has also recently included feed and monitoring systems and staff accommodations. It’s great to see local businesses on Vancouver Island with the ability to supply these vital services to our company.”
About:
Marine Harvest Canada is British Columbia’s leading aquaculture company and supplier of Sterling brand salmon.
Poseidon Ocean Systems Ltd. is a full-service aquaculture engineering and support company, specializing in aquaculture infrastructure design, engineering, development, supply and installation.
Hvalpsund Net is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and developers of fish farm solutions, from a single piece of netting to turnkey solutions.