April 27th 2005 - Forming the Aquaculture Co-operative

Local Tahsis residents gather at the 2nd Public Aquaculture meeting

Local Tahsis residents and member of the Village Administration and Council met with Roberta Stevenson of the Nuu-Chah-nulth Shellfish Development Corporation to go over the business plan prepared for the Village and to discuss forming a Co-operative. While there were not the same numbers attending as at the January meeting, all those present were very interested in either becoming part of the co-operative or in being supportive of the project.


Roberta Stevenson explains aspects of the Aquaculture Business Plan

In discussions about the proposed business plan, Colleen Hopkins ventured the opinion that many people had been 'scared off' of the proposed co-operative after hearing of the $60,000 investment required. A lively discussion then ensued of how to start up oyster farming with less of an investment, and various options such as raft sharing and starting up a smaller slower growing string operations were discussed.

Roberta had very informative background information and statistics on various options, and stressed that the larger investment would lead to a quicker one year harvest time frame and stronger financial returns. She stressed that the British Columbia was attaining an international reputation for it's clean waters and quality aquaculture products, and that Tahsis was in a very good position to develop a premium brand of product. Roberta passed out sample tins of Nootka brand smoked oysters, which are developing market and brand recognition in Europe.

Mayor Sylvia McNeil also emphasized that many Federal and Provincial programs were available to assist Tahsis residents in getting financing and to assist with startup and ongoing operation. She stated that the Village was very committed to helping locals set up a co-operative to provide local entrepreneurial employment. Mayor McNeil stated that the Province was very interested in our Aquaculture project, and Tahsis was beginning to be seen as a Pilot project for other coastal Vancouver Island villages.

By the end of the meeting several locals were discussing forming the co-operative, and Colleen Hopkins offered to organize the field trip to the Gold River Band's Oyster Farm on May 15th. Dan Dahling volunteered the use of Head Bay Station's van for the trip.

Colleen Hopkins is starting the process of forming the c-operative, and locals or individuals interested in relocating to Tahsis to participate in the Co-operative can contact her at (250) 934-5539 or by e-mail:

colleen_26374@hotmail.com


Several of the Tahsis locals interested in joining the Co-operative with consultant Roberta Stevenson. Left to right James and Rita Johnson, Dan Dahling of Head Bay Station, Roberta Stevenson, Colleen Hopkins and Martin Davis