2 — Friday, July 26, 1996 — North Shore News

Fish research future unclear

From page 4

and aquaculture biotechnol-
ogy.

“There's nothing else like
it on the west coast and for
that reason we see it as a
valuable asset and want to
see it keep operating,” said
Davis.

“This research and devel-
opment should logically be
paid for and assumed by
industry,” he added.

Davis said extensive
negotiations will be needed
to hammer out a deal with a
consortium of interests look-
-_ ing at taking over lab opera-
* tions.

That academic, business
and government consortium
currently includes the B.C.
‘Salmon ; Farmers’
Association, B.C.

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Biotechnology Alliance, pri-
vate-sector biotechnology
companies, B.C. Packers,
the Science Council of B.C.,
the B.C. Ministry of
Agriculture, the University
of British Columbia,
Western Economic
Diversification and the
National Research Council.

Greg D'Avignon, the
executive director of the
B.C. Salmon Farmers’

Association, said his group’s
participation depends on
whether the provincial gov-
ernment gives the industry
the green Tight to grow.

He said Victoria is ready
to embark on an environ-
mental assessment of the
‘industry, which rang up rev-
enues of $165 million in
1995.

D’ Avignon said the lab’s
access to quality sources of

Fi inal Days!

fresh and salt water and its
wet and dry labs indicate
good potential for a “world-
class” facility for aquatic
bio-science research.

But before fish farmers
commit to the project, they
will analyze a soon-to-be-
launched feasibility study to
determine if the lab can be
run on at least a break-even
basis.

Monty Little is president

of Syndel International,
company with expertise in
aquatic animal reproduction
and heaith.

He said a consultant has
been hired and $50,000
raised to do the feasibility
study. He hopes it will be
done within three months,
although a business plan
may take longer.

Brown, however, said
he's skeptical the private
sector can take up the slack
when DFO moves out next
April. He added that many of
the functions of agencies

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like the DFO are not prof- ’
itable, but necessary.

If a profit-driven consor-
tium takes over the lab,
Brown worrics that impor-
tant work won't get done. +

“T think we're going to
see an inferior quality of
research,” he said.

He added DFO should be ©
cutting bureaucrats, not the
people with the knowledge —
necessary to conduct a fish-
eries resource. .

The lab was built for
approximately $8 million in
1986.