Salmon farmers honour veteran R&D coordinator

Betty House was honoured during the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers’ Association (ACFFA) annual Science, Research and Technology Forum held this week in St Andrews, New Brunswick.

“Betty House is a passionate champion of aquaculture, of the science-based research behind it and the people who work in it. She’s truly one of our industry pioneers,” said ACFFA chair Tom Taylor.

“Her work as ACFFA’s science and technology coordinator has been crucial to the evolution and continued sustainable growth of Atlantic Canada’s salmon farming sector.”

Long-serving professionals

The Atlantic Canada Aquaculture Award was established by ACFFA in 2017 and honours an industry professional who has dedicated 25 years or more in the areas of science, environment and technology in support of the sustainable development of salmon aquaculture in Atlantic Canada.

A graduate of Memorial University’s Bachelor of Science program and the Fisheries and Marine Institute’s Advanced Aquaculture program, House’s career in aquaculture has spanned three decades.

She began her career working on salmonid farms, then a Newfoundland eel farm, before moving to New Brunswick to become one of the few women in the region at the time to work as a marine site technician on a haddock farm and later as a fish health technician on salmon farms.

Wellboat technology

In 2008, House took on the role of saltwater certification coordinator at Kelly Cove Salmon, a position that laid the foundation for today’s third-party audited farm certification programs in the region.

The following year House joined the New Brunswick Salmon Growers’ Association (now ACFFA) as its R&D coordinator. Her work includes coordinating science, research, and innovation activities for Atlantic Canada’s salmon farming sector and organising the speakers for the Science, Research and Technology Forum.

In 2010, House led a comprehensive pilot project on wellboat technology that transformed how salmon farmers handle sea lice in Atlantic Canada.

Wild salmon restoration

House also coordinates the salmon farming sector’s participation in wild salmon restoration scheme. ACFFA said House’s work with all the partners in Fundy Salmon Recovery has been crucial to the success of this project which has resulted in over 100 wild salmon returns in Fundy National Park rivers this year, the highest numbers in three decades.

“There’s nothing quite like the feeling you get when you put a wild salmon back into its native river,” said House. “It’s like being a part of nature, part of the ecosystem and delivering a missing member of that system into the rivers where it will have an impact on many future generations and help the healing.”

‘The glue’ for projects

Taylor said House is often described as ‘the glue’ that brings people and projects together. “She has earned a reputation for technical and organisational excellence as she guides and coordinates research and innovation efforts,” said the ACFFA chair.

House said she was surprised and humbled by the award.

“I have been fortunate to work with a large number of very smart people in the aquaculture sector over the years who have taught me a lot and introduced me to the many facets of this industry that most people don’t get an opportunity to see,” said House.

“We’ve seen many changes within the industry, and though some frustrations and challenges remain, we stay because we share a love of fish farming and growing food, despite the days with -25 windchill and long hours. We enjoy working together to see the industry grow and improve.”

A video about House and her work can be seen here.

Approximately 155 salmon farmers, industry stakeholders, scientists, researchers, provincial and federal government representatives, and community members participated in ACFFA’s 2021 Forum at the Huntsman Fundy Discovery Centre. Of the 155 participants, 88 attended virtually.