University of Victoria students exploring Creative Salmon facilities.
It’s not every day that University of Victoria students get to turn off their screens, hop on a bus, and tour hatcheries and salmon farms on Vancouver Island. In June, students from UVic’s salmon ecology course did just that in Tofino.
The summer course, taught by Dr. Benjamin Neal, investigates, explores, and compares salmon-production on Vancouver Island.
After walking around and touring the Creative farm site, Dr. Neal was impressed with Creative’s transparency.
“They give off an air of honesty and a sense of open communication. It is obvious they have nothing to hide,” he says.
Barb Cannon, Creative’s Biology Manager, guided the students around the farm and knows how important it is for people to see the facilities for themselves. “Creative Salmon has always been open to hosting tours of our facilities,” Barb says. “Having groups come to the farm site to see firsthand the care and attention we put into growing fish gives invaluable insight into our operation.”
The students were impressed with Creative’s innovative choice to raise indigenous Chinook salmon. “This is a step in the right direction,” says Dr. Neal.
Tours are an excellent opportunity for those interested to ask questions, often leading to meaningful dialogue that can help dispel some of the misconceptions surrounding salmon farming, says Barb.
“We’re proud of what we do. Having the opportunity to share our story with others is good for our morale, too!”
