The federal government announced Friday that it will spend up to $2.2 million on upgrades to its West Vancouver fisheries research facility.
The new funding, announced by Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, is part of “up to” $18 million being committed by Ottawa to upgrade West Coast fisheries research facilities.
That includes up to $13 million for the Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney and up to $2.9 million for Nanaimo’s Pacific Biological Station.
The announcement Friday also made reference to federal plans to strengthen Ottawa’s $37 million five-year Marine Protected Areas program and $2 million for the Pacific Salmon Foundation announced in this year’s federal budget.
That money will go to studying factors affecting survival of juvenile salmon in the Strait of Georgia and surrounding marine environments.
West Vancouver MP John Weston, who attended the announcement Friday, called the announcement a “proud moment,” crediting constituents who “rolled up their sleeves” and helped ensure the federal dollars went into crucial fisheries investments.Weston said he’s been working with fisheries advocates to understand and promote sustainable fisheries in B.C.
The West Vancouver research centre, located on the waterfront at 4160 Marine Dr., focuses on research that examines issues in aquaculture and marine ecosystems. That can include everything from detecting toxic algal blooms to studying interactions between wild and farmed salmon.
Staff at the West Vancouver research centre work with faculty and students from the University of British Columbia and staff from the Vancouver Aquarium.
Dr. John Nightingale, president and CEO of the Vancouver Aquarium, applauded the announcement Friday, calling the West Vancouver lab a “unique lab” that’s considered “one of strategic importance” to both B.C. and Canada.
At the announcement Friday, federal officials hinted at greater co-operation between federal and aquarium scientists on research projects in the future, as well as collaborations with other research groups like the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
The approximately $2.2 million in funding will go towards upgrades to the building including refurbishment of the elevator, electrical and fire suppression systems, as well as for refurbishment of the wharf and related infrastructure.
