The ideologic shift from commercial fishing to aquaculture ventures continues for Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

And the irony of the shift couldn’t have been more apparent when the federal minister, Gail Shea, visited the Maritime Heritage Centre on Wednesday to announce $930,000 in funding for six aquaculture projects.

“When we invest in a stronger aquaculture sector, we are investing in more jobs and new business opportunities for communities throughout coastal B.C., including Campbell River,” said the minister who hails from PEI. “Our goal is to make the Canadian aquaculture industry stronger, more innovative and more environmentally sustainable.”

The funding announcement – combined with $848,000 from the B.C. Government – was made at the Maritime Heritage Centre, home to the historical commercial fishing boat, the BCP 45, which provided a picturesque backdrop for the minister.

However, the minister had no money or announcements of more fishing days for the commercial fleet, which has seen opportunities to catch salmon reduced to just a few days, or even hours, a year.

And there lies the irony as commercial fishing was once the “life blood” of coastal communities and provided the majority of work for Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) employees.

“It’s our job to protect wild fisheries,” said Shea, as she defended her government’s commitment to wild stocks by pointing out the $26 million they provided to salmon enhancement programs and $8.8 million given to salmon hatcheries.

Now, it seems apparent the federal Conservative government is focusing more attention on aquaculture. And this comes on the heels of a B.C. Supreme Court decision which took the responsibility of siting salmon farms from the province and gave it to DFO.

Minister Shea said that work is continuing behind the scenes between the two levels of government and the court provided one year to conduct the transfer.

One person pleased with the transfer, as well as the federal government’s newfound interest in aquaculture, is Roberta Stevenson, executive director of the B.C. Shellfish Growers Association.

She criticized the B.C. Government, saying it has done little to support the shellfish industry and instead listens to the harping of rich, waterfront property owners who continually complain about shellfish operations.

“I think it’s better to have DFO in charge of aquaculture,” she said. “The province won’t make a move to support aquaculture.”

Minister Shea announced funding for two shellfish projects. The shellfish growers association receives $100,000 to test a rototiller-like device to harvest Manila clams, which is currently done by hand digging.

The device is presently used in Washington State, said Stevenson, and testing will be conducted in Baynes Sound, south of Courtenay, and in Ladysmith.

The second project is for Odyssey Shellfish Ltd. which receives $82,500 to import an automated oyster grading machine from Tasmania. The machine, to be used at the Stellar Bay Shellfish processing plant in Bowser, is expected to increase productivity while reducing labour costs.

Funding was also announced for these other four projects:

n Marine Harvest Canada receives $142,500 for the development and implementation of parasite suppression technology for “soft flesh syndrome.” This is a disease which affects farmed Atlantic salmon which causes their flesh to go soft, making them unusable for their prime markets. Testing of the technology will be done at Marine Harvest’s processing plant in Port Hardy.

n Walcan Seafoods of Quadra Island receives nearly $190,000 to develop and implement an industrial-sized ultraviolet sterilization system. This system will help treat and neutralize discharged water and effluent from fish processing operations.

n AgriMarine Industries of Campbell River is developing a closed-containment system for fish farming and also utilizes a waste collection system. The company receives $73,400 to improve the process in order to turn the fecal matter into fertilizer, while improving the quality of effluent.

n Deane Larson is in the business of cleaning fish farm nets. He’s developing a machine called the Aquamax Net Manager that cleans non-chemically treated nets onsite without requiring the removal of the net cage from the water. He receives $350,000 and the prototype will be tested in Kyuquot Sound at the Sablefish Canada farm.