Dr. John Anderson's Contribution

The late Dr. John Anderson’s contribution to the creation of the Aquaculture Association of Canada

The Bay of Fundy has been a finalist in the Seven Wonders of Nature contest, and it is justly famous for its world-record tides, its diversity of marine life and its phenomenal geologic history, but in the less rarefied environment of Canadian aquaculture science, it is also known as the place where the Aquaculture Association of Canada got its start nearly 3 decades ago. John Anderson’s name figured significantly in that event. What follows is, as Paul Harvey likes to say, “the rest of the story.”

The year was 1983 and the setting was the ferry from Black’s Harbour to Grand Manan, plunging through an angry sea toward port at North Head some 16 km away. White-topped waves driven by a southwest wind hammered the bow of the big ship, making the journey unpleasant for the passengers. John Anderson was one of a trio of flatlanders on board that day who lacked the sea legs to enjoy such a journey. The other two were Nigel Robbins, a trout farmer from Ontario, and Dave Aiken, a research scientist with DFO at St. Andrews. They were gathered at this unlikely spot to discuss moving ahead with plans for the formation of a national aquaculture association in Canada.

Dave was, at the time, a member of the Board of Directors of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) and chairman of a committee to develop a global affiliation of national aquaculture societies. He had been specifically asked by the WAS Board to foster the development of such an association in Canada and to encourage its affiliation with the WAS. Nigel, a trout farmer from Ontario, had recently received funding from the federal government to explore Canadian interest in forming a national aquaculture association. His initial enquiries had indicated a strong interest across the country. John, an acknowledged visionary and irrepressible promoter of worthwhile causes, was a research scientist with a deep affection for Atlantic salmon and an unwavering confidence in Canadian aquaculture potential. He enthusiastically endorsed the concept of a national association to promote development of the industry.

1985: The AAC pro tempore Executive known as the “St. Andrews Mafia” L-R: Dave Aiken (Vice President and President-Elect), John Anderson (President), Charles (Chuck) Schom (Secretary) (PWG McMullon photo)

Two months later, on July 14, 1983, the Aquaculture Association of Canada was formed by 17 of the attendees at the Canadian National Aquaculture Conference held at the Algonquin

Hotel in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. From day-1 there were strong differences of opinion regarding the mandate of the organization. Two opposing factions emerged: Those who felt passionately that the new AAC should be a trade organization, a cohesive producer group run by and speaking for aquaculture growers across Canada. Opposing them with equal fervour were the so-called “academics”, who believed the new AAC would have more credibility if it avoided the vested interest of industry and acted primarily as a forum for discussion of emerging issues and a conduit for information and research of relevance to the aquaculture industry. A pro tempore executive nicknamed the “St. Andrews Mafia” (John Anderson, Chuck Schom and Dave Aiken) was established to resolve these philosophical conflicts and move the organization toward incorporation and viability. In March of 1984, the embryonic AAC joined with the WAS to co-sponsor a multinational aquaculture science and technology meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Squarely between the opposing philosophical factions at the lead-up to the founding of AAC stood John Anderson, a biologist, government bureaucrat, academic and researcher long known for his skills in consultation and collaboration. Who better to manage the escalating philosophical differences between scientist and grower as regards the new Aquaculture Association? It is often said that timing is everything in life, and so it was with John and the AAC conundrum. Never intimidated by thorny assignments, John stepped into the breach to soothe inflamed egos on both sides, convincing them that they had more to gain by working together than by going at each other’s throats. His success in this endeavour ensured his nomination and election as the AAC’s first President in 1984. The rest, as they say, is history.

By

Dr. David Aiken, a co-founding member of the AAC and its second President