Courier-Islander
Published: Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Campbell River’s BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences (BCCAHS) has received almost half a million dollars to seek international standards accreditation.

Vancouver Island North MP John Duncan announced Saturday that BCCAHS will receive funding of $497,000 from Western Economic Diversification, to allow the centre to attain International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) 17025: 2005 accreditation.

ISO/IEC is an international standard that sets laboratory requirements for testing and calibration. New accreditation and expanded diagnostic services will enable BCCAHS to become a nationally recognized independent laboratory. With the right credentials to screen aquatic animals and seafood products, BCCAHS will help local companies keep up with increasing world demand by meeting international export standards.

CAHS is pleased to be receiving funding for ISO certification today,” said Dr. Sonja Saksida, Executive Director, Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences. “This project will ultimately help the centre’s goal in improving the health and welfare of aquatic animals and the sustainability of our ecosystems.”

The BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences is a notfor-profit society and is the only aquatic research facility of its kind in the province.

“This funding demonstrates our government’s commitment to supporting research that has real-life economic applications for key local industries like aquaculture,” Duncan said during community celebrations for Ocean’s Day. “With this investment we are creating jobs and new economic opportunities here in Campbell River.”

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) works to create jobs and economic growth for Western Canada. By promoting new economic opportunities, WD is securing a more diverse and prosperous future for the West while advancing western interests at the national level.

Learn more at http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?nid=678409