What was expected to be a rainy, windswept afternoon turned out to be a brisk but sunlit day on the waters off Vancouver Island. In the nearly three years that I have lived in Canada, I still struggle to find the words to describe the natural beauty of this part of the world, and I’m not sure I ever will.
I joined representatives from Campbell River and Port Alberni on a visit to Mowi Canada West facilities, representing Resource Works. The first stop was the Big Tree Creek hatchery, where we witnessed the process of fertilizing hundreds of thousands of salmon eggs and watched the early stages of development from fragile hatchlings to “the toddlers.”
What struck me most wasn’t just the sheer number of fish swimming in the facility’s gleaming tanks, but the sophistication of the operation itself. The hatchery reuses more than 99% of its water through a closed-loop system, treating it multiple times, including with UV filtration, to ensure the salmon live in ideal conditions.
From there, we headed north toward Sayward, boarding a water taxi that ferried us to one of Mowi’s floating farms. Even before we arrived at the farm, I am reminded of just how connected resources, industry, and community are. The water taxi, which is branded with a local resort frequented by Americans during the summer, is only able to exist because of the business from the salmon farmers in these off months.
My first impression of the farm itself was how small it is. For a facility capable of housing hundreds of thousands of thriving Atlantic salmon, it seemed almost modest. That speaks volumes about how far aquaculture innovation has come: smaller footprints, smarter systems, and stronger environmental management.
The efficiency of salmon farming was underscored to me by one particular comparison: feed conversion. While a cattle requires roughly six kilograms of feed to gain one kilogram of weight, farmed salmon need just over one. That remarkable ratio highlights why aquaculture, when done responsibly, is one of the most resource-efficient forms of protein production on the planet.
Innovation was a constant theme throughout the day. Each pen on the farm is monitored using AI-driven systems that detect uneaten feed pellets. If too much food sinks uneaten, an alert prompts staff to adjust feed levels, reducing waste, improving water quality, and optimizing fish health. It’s an impressive blend of technology and stewardship, demonstrating how this industry continues to evolve in both sophistication and sustainability.
The federal government’s decision to phase out open-net-pen salmon farms by 2029 has drawn criticism from those who argue that the move undermines Canada’s progress on sustainable aquaculture and global food security.
My visit concluded with a dinner hosted by Campbell River Mayor Kermit Dahl, joined by other local leaders to discuss the next steps for the Alliance of Resource Communities, an initiative launched at Resource Works’ GET IT DONE BC event in Victoria just a month earlier. Around the table, a shared message resonated: that resource communities, from forestry to mining, energy to aquaculture, remain vital to the prosperity of British Columbia and Canada.
Throughout the day, one message was clear: these industries aren’t just about production. They are about people, innovation, and the deep connection between natural resources and the communities that depend on them.
Simon Turner is the Director of Operations and Special Projects at Resource Works. Simon holds a Masters of Public Administration in Digital Technologies and Policy from University College London. Connect with Simon on LinkedIn.
Photo credit to the THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
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