SHESHEGWANING—Sheshegwaning First Nation’s Odawa Island (fish) Farm has just finalized a new partnership with Cedar Crest Farms/Springhills Fish.
“Sheshegwaning First Nation is thrilled about the partnership and looks forward to a prosperous relationship between our two businesses,” said Sheshegwaning Chief Alana Endanawas.
Chief Endanawas explained that Odawa Island Farm began five years ago but only ever operated as a small pilot site. “Cedar Crest/Springhills Fish has been helping the startup operators for the last two years by sharing their fish farm experience.”
“We were pleased to make things happen once they had the chance to participate formally,” said Chief Endanawas. “This new partnership opens up opportunities to grow more rainbow trout than ever before. We will get to raise them to the same ethical and eco-friendly standard that is expected of us.”
RJ Taylor, who co-owns the Cedar Crest Farms/Springhills Fish with his sister Arlen said in a post online, “Arlen and I are excited to announce a new addition to the Springhills family. We just finalized a new partnership with Sheshegwaning First Nation for a new fish farm on Manitoulin Island.”
“This farm was created five years ago, but only ever operated as a small pilot site,” wrote Mr. Taylor. “We’ve been helping the previous owners for the last two years by sharing our fish farm experience, and then an opportunity came to get involved officially.”
“We couldn’t be more delighted to be in business with our friends at Sheshegwaning. It’s been fantastic getting to know the community and we’ve been so impressed by their council, led by Chief Alana Endanawas, because of how progressive and community-oriented they are,” said Mr. Taylor. “We share the same values for family, community, the environment, and making the future better.”
“Our new partners at Sheshegwaning have such a strong passion for their youth and for protecting the lands and waters in their traditional territory (which are incredibly beautiful). Plus driving the streets around Sheshegwaning has all the same waves and catch-up chats as our hometown (Hanover).”
“Ever since we started Springhills, we’ve had trouble meeting the high demands for ethically and sustainably raised fish,” said Mr. Taylor. “We’ve waved goodbye to too many major customers when we can’t fulfill orders that keep getting bigger.”
“This new partnership opens up opportunities to grow more rainbow trout than ever before. And we get to raise it to the same ethical and eco-friendly standard expected from us at Springhills,” said Mr. Taylor.
Mr. Taylor explained this new fish farm is different from its others as, “we will be using offshore technology to grow fish in floating nets in the lake. We’ll be raising trout/steelhead using the same low densities, sustainable diets, humane harvesting and other ethical practices as we’ve always been using. And it’s all eco-certified by Best Aquaculture Practices.”
“In some areas of the world, these farms have negative impacts on the environment,” continued Mr. Taylor. “Where we’re farming, the science has only ever been positive. These farms are shown to increase wild fish populations, and they don’t cause any bad environmental effects, or we wouldn’t even consider it.”
Jim and Lynette Taylor opened Cedar Crest Trout Farm in 1995. Cedar Crest is one of the largest fully integrated trout farms in central Canada.
By 2018 Cedar Crest became the first land-based farm in central Canada to get certified by the Best Aquaculture Practices program. This held the Taylors and their team to the highest international standard for environmental impact, fish welfare and social responsibility. It was followed by Cedar Crest being recommended by Ocean Wise for sustainability, too.
