Salmon Farming: Inside & Out

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 salmon 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.