Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland

The Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) of Memorial University of Newfoundland has launched a new Technical Certificate - Aquaculture Management in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA).

“Aquaculture has been identified as an important social and economic priority both here in Canada and around the world,” said Carey Bonnell, Head of MI’s School of Fisheries. “As demand for leaders in the aquaculture sector continues to grow, we believe this program will provide aquaculture farm managers with the necessary skills to effectively manage the day-to-day operations of an aquaculture operation.”

This 12 day program (3 days per course) consists of two required courses and two elective courses that can be selected from six possible options. Courses span a wide range of aquaculture management skills and include topics as diverse as human resources, project management, farm management, communications, regulations and policy, as well as computer skills. All courses were developed from the national occupational standard validated by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) and the Canadian aquaculture industry.

“In the provision of this training today, we are investing in a skilled workforce and its leaders of the future. A skilled workforce further enables future development, expansion and growth of the aquaculture industry; providing high quality jobs to rural coastal communities and premium seafood to the world,” said Mark Lane, Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA).

The new Technical Certificate - Aquaculture Management is funded in part by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation (TCII), Cooke Aquaculture, Northern Harvest Sea Farms and Sunrise Fish Farms.

“The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is committed to investing in key sectors like aquaculture that drive economic growth, help create jobs and build a strong middle class.  We are pleased to support NAIA with an investment of $111,267 towards this initiative to better equip workers with the skills and knowledge needed to strengthen aquaculture operations throughout the province and foster the continued growth and sustainable development of this important sector of our economy, especially in rural areas,” said Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA.

Recently, the training was offered in Harbour Breton, NL in the Coast of Bays Area and several employees of Cold Ocean Salmon and Northern Harvest Sea Farms took part.

“The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased to support the Fisheries and Marine Institute, and the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association with the launch of a new certificate in Aquaculture Management. Investments in training such as this ensures that industry personnel possess the highest level of technical and managerial competencies required to help support the continued growth and sustainability of the aquaculture industry, said the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation (TCII).”

“The Technical Certificate - Aquaculture Management training offers employees of Northern Harvest Sea Farms the opportunity to expand their management skills in a growing and demanding aquaculture industry,” said Amy Negrijn, Environmental Sustainability and Projects Coordinator, Northern Harvest Sea Farms NL Ltd. and recent participant in the training program. “As Northern Harvest has expanded, so too has the demand for further technical expertise in various management roles within the company. These areas, which include human resource management as well as the refined training and use of technology in the workplace, improve efficiency and accuracy while ensuring that Northern Harvest will continue to be a strong competitor in the global market.”

MI’s Community Based Education Delivery (CBED) is offering the new program in communities close to major aquaculture farming regions to accommodate existing farm managers’ schedules and to minimize travel distances.

For more information on the program or details on upcoming sessions, please email cbed@mi.mun.ca, call 709-778-0623 or visit https://www.mi.mun.ca/CBED.