Salmon Farming: Inside & Out

Former fish farmer, turned author John Goodlad has a launched a new book, "Food from the Sea: The future of seafood." The book takes the reader around the world, telling stories about the last of the ocean hunters and the first of the ocean farmers. John shares about his early career in fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood, and how it inspired him to write down the untold history of those who work in the ocean.

Petter M. Johannessen has been head of the IFFO The Marine Ingredients Organisation since 2018. IFFO is an international trade organisation that represents the marine ingredients industry, such as fishmeal and fish oil. With 91% of fish meal and 64% of fish oil are used in aquaculture, he shares how the organisation is supporting sustainable and responsible sourcing.

Sophie Ryan, CEO of Global Salmon Initiative, shares how the organisation's mission for transparent data reporting opens dialogue for the salmon farming industry's sustainability practices.

Christopher Lloyd is the secretary general of the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) based in the United Kingdom. In this episode, he discusses the organization's role in promoting best practices across various livestock sectors, including salmon farming.

Dag Sletmo is the senior vice-president and client advisor for DNB Bank - Seafood. In this episode, host Ian Roberts discusses the evolving landscape of salmon farming. They explore the bank's role in financing salmon farming projects, emphasizing the importance of profitability, manageable risk, and sustainability.

Robert (Bob) DeHaan is the executive vice-president and general counsel of the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the USA's largest commercial seafood trade organization. In that capacity, he leads NFI regulatory and international trade advocacy. Prior to joining NFI, DeHaan held multiple trade and transportation roles in the administration of President George W. Bush. He began his professional career as an aviation attorney in Washington, D.C., focusing on international aviation litigation and regulation. He currently serves on several public-private groups associated with seafood trade, among them the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee convened by the United States Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Vivian Krause has done extensive research on the funding of various causes within the charitable sector, including the funding of environmental activism. She explains how three key studies were misused to create public fear and shift consumer demand away from farm-raised salmon. She emphasizes the need for the salmon farming industry to improve its PR and calls for a code of ethics for environmental groups to ensure accurate and comprehensive information dissemination.

Árni Matthias Mathiesen is a board member of the Icelandic Aquaculture & Ocean Forum (IAOF), a non-profit Iceland aquaculture industry association based in Reykjavík. He brings a wealth of experience in Icelandic aquaculture, which also includes his experience as Assistant Director General at UN's Food and Agriculture Organization as Head of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department (2010-2020), and as Minister of Fisheries (1999-2005) and Minister of Finance (2005-2009) in Iceland.

Jennifer Woodland serves as chair at B.C. Salmon Farmers' Association. She shares an unedited update of what the B.C. salmon aquaculture looks like as it continues to navigate the uncertainties of the Canadian government's transition plan to ban ocean net pens.

Christian Kramer, the CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council, provides an overview of the organization, which is funded by a levy on Norwegian seafood exports and works to promote the country's seafood globally. He talks about the importance of salmon farming to Norway's economy and coastal communities, as well as the industry's efforts to address public perception and sustainability challenges.

Craig Medred is an award-winning Alaskan journalist who shares his insights in how conversations around salmon ranching and farming have evolved in Alaska over the years.

Adolfo Alvial is the executive director of Club Innovación Acuicola - Chile. He has a long career in the private, public, and academic sectors of the farming industry in Chile. He provides a short history of how the sector grew and offers insight into what British Columbia can learn from Chile's experience.

Dr. Debbie Plouffe, vice president of business development at the Centre for Aquaculture Technologies, discussed the potential of genome editing in aquaculture, including improved disease management and productivity.

Tavish Scott is the chief executive officer of Salmon Scotland. He shares an update with our host, Ian Roberts, on educating politicians and the public on the importance of supporting salmon aquaculture as Britain's top food export.

Dallas Smith is a spokesperson for the First Nations for Finfish Stewardship (FNFFS) and a member of the Tlowitsis First Nations in Campbell River, B.C. He talks with our host, Ian Roberts, about how the First Nations communities are coming together to defend the renewal of salmon farming licenses in British Columbia, Canada.

Sebastian Belle and Jim Parsons from the National Aquaculture Association talk to host Ian Roberts about how they are working to tell the story and the growth potential of offshore fish farming in the United States of America.

Dr. Stefanie Colombo is an associate professor at Dalhousie University and Canada Research Chair in Nova Scotia, Canada. She shares what science says about the nutritional value of farmed salmon and debunks common myths behind farmed seafood.

The Tasmanian salmon industry, thriving for 30 years, plays a pivotal role in the state's economy, generating US$1.3 billion. Luke Martin, CEO of Salmon Tasmania, shares lessons learned as the industry aces scrutiny due to its economic importance. Luke also shares that Tasmania has a tight-knit community and a new generation of emotionally invested professionals contribute to its resilience and future potential.

Margaret Johnson, New Brunswick's minister for agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries, provides an overview of the aquaculture industry in Atlantic Canada and discusses the opportunities, and challenges, facing the sector.

Fish Farming Expert magazine editor Gareth Moore joins hosts Ian Roberts and Mari-Len De Guzman as they look back on the year's best interviews, offering his perspective on the issues and topics facing the aquaculture industry.

University of California (Santa Barbara) assistant professor and researcher Halley Froehlich provides insights on her investigation on the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems and seafood production.

University of Stirling professor Dr. Jimmy Turnbull answers the important questions about fish welfare and the challenges that need to be addressed for the future of aquaculture.

Kirstyn Hallberg, environmental specialist at Grieg Seafood, and Robin Muzzerall, freshwater production manager for Kelly Cove Salmon, Cooke Aquaculture, share their insights on what a career in aquaculture looks like and the wide-ranging professional opportunities in the ever-evolving salmon farming sector.

Dr. Gary Marty talks about his long career as one of British Columbia's senior fish pathologists, his passion for communicating the science of fish health, and his quest to separate fact from fiction when it comes to fish diseases.

Hear from Chef Andrew Gruel as he discusses trends in seafood consumption and the role the restaurant industry plays in public education around farmed salmon.

In this episode, genetic biology grad James Sibley shares his journey from curious student to TikTok personality, focused on educating followers about seafood farming.

In this episode, veteran salmon farmer and founder of Taste of BC Aquafarms in Nanaimo, B.C., Steve Atkinson, talks about his journey in RAS farming, and shares his insights on the current socio-political issues surrounding net-pen salmon farming in B.C.

Linda Sams has witnessed the evolution of salmon aquaculture on Canada's West Coast, having worked in the industry for 35 years. In this episode, Sams provides a narrative on the history of salmon farming in British Columbia - how it has grown from a community of start-ups into British Columbia's largest agricultural export - and her insights on a sustainable future for salmon aquaculture.Correction: In the interview, Linda Sams, mentioned "Roger and Linda May" of Royal Pacific Sea Farms. In fact, she was referring to "Tom" and Linda May.

Guest: Tim Kennedy, president and CEO, Canadian Aquaculture Industry AllianceTim Kennedy shares his insights on the state of salmon aquaculture in Canada, the socio-political dynamic impacting the sector and the way forward for the industry.

“We're five decades in to when salmon farming first became a thing in Canada, and it's about time to explore the history of it, and see where we are today and where we might be in the future,” as Ian Roberts puts it in the first episode of Salmon Farming: Inside & Out.Be sure to tune in to listen to Ian Roberts, director of communications at Mowi and Mari-Len De Guzman, aquaculture editor and writer, engaging in diverse conversations and topics about salmon farming in North America.