Victoria marked National Aboriginal Day June 21 by announcing that it would pump $300,000 in new one-time funding into training 36 First Nation aquaculture workers to be shellfish technicians and managers.
The cash will cover training and related costs, such as travel, and will flow to three post-secondary institutions:
- Vancouver Island University ($167,750);
- Nicola Valley Institute of Technology ($110,000); and
- Northwest Community College ($23,250).
Training will include health and safety, scallop biology, scallop culture techniques, farm infrastructure and maintenance.
“This funding and the training provided will help First Nations communities build capacity and increase year-round employment in shellfish aquaculture,” said B.C. Minister of Advanced Education Naomi Yamamoto.
All workers taking part in the training programs have been hired through the Coastal First Nations Shellfish Training and Employment Strategy, an initiative designed to support participation in the growing shellfish farming industry.
B.C.’s shellfish aquaculture sector is estimated to be worth $30 million.
The primary species cultured are Pacific oysters and Manila clams as well as other species such as geoduck.
Coastal First Nations have long wanted a piece of B.C.’s lucrative geoduck trade even though non-aboriginal fishers have said that issuing new licences would devalue the industry and the investments they’ve made in developing the giant clam fishery into a multimillion-dollar international business. (See “Bands want in on giant clam trade” – issue 1111; February 8-14.)
Glen Korstrom
Twitter: GlenKorstrom