April 16, 2007 - 5:00pm
First Nations students will have the opportunity to learn about shellfish aquaculture in Malaspina University-College’s new shellfish aquaculture training program.
This certificate program provides shellfish aquaculture education and training for students hoping to work as production/farm labourers, technicians, crew supervisors and farm managers with 16 courses ranging from beach management to business management. While the emphasis on enrolment for this program is First Nations students, it is open to anyone interested in shellfish aquaculture training.
“There is no other formal training of this kind in the province,” said Koren Bear, Malaspina’s shellfish aquaculture program manager. “This program is very helpful for people who want to learn how to manage farms in a sustainable manner. We will be teaching students how to keep the shellfish aquaculture industry productive and healthy for years to come. Until now, the industry had to rely on consultants for training, so we are proud to make this program available and create such an opportunity for students.”
This comprehensive training program emphasizes practical knowledge and skills development. With so much potential growth in the industry and so few training opportunities, this program has come just at the right time for First Nations groups, who are already heavily involved in the industry.
“There are almost 500 farms that harvest clams along the BC coast,” said Randy Fred, who works in capacity building and economic development with the Uu-a-thluk, a group dedicated to protect natural resources, while building an increasingly strong Nuu-chah-nulth culture. “Knowing how to efficiently manage shellfish farms is necessary for the survival of the industry, which has changed so much because of different factors like government regulations. This new program meets the needs that have been created by those changes.”
More than 35 First Nations groups in British Columbia are already involved in, or are planning shellfish aquaculture businesses. Initial interest in the training program is coast-wide from Sooke in the south to Prince Rupert in the north.
The economic and job creation potential for shellfish aquaculture as an activity supporting revitalization of coastal communities has been well documented. Most recently, the Central and North Coast Shellfish Aquaculture Development Initiative (2003) indicated the potential for 282 jobs with an annual payroll of $7.5 million over a 5-10 year period. This study specifically identified the training program at Malaspina as essential to this outcome.
“We need a sustainable, environmentally friendly industry,” said Fred. “This program will teach people how to do things properly and how not to deplete the resources and the surrounding environment. In order to compete in the global marketplace, we need to have quality training that teaches sustainability and increased production. This program is a step in that direction.”
In the past, studies have calculated that shellfish aquaculture has the potential to become a $100 million industry that could create over 1,000 new jobs. The employment potential of sustainable shellfish aquaculture represents a significant opportunity to address North Coast First Nations’ unemployment, which averages 60%.
Shellfish aquaculture provides permanent, year-round employment in rural and coastal areas where jobs are scarce and the percentage of displaced workers is high. Malaspina will work with First Nations groups to accommodate any educational needs that are required outside of the current shellfish aquaculture curriculum, including business training, management skills and strategic planning.
For more information, please contact Koren Bear at (250)740-6537 or beark@viu.ca or visit the website at www.viu.ca/shellfishresearch
Tags: In the Community
