Mowi Canada West's human resources and communications director has left the group to take on a role with the largest ferry operator in British Columbia.

Dean Dobrinsky, former HR and Communications Director at Mowi Canada West. Photo: Dean Dobrinksy/LinkedIn

Dean Dobrinksy, who joined Mowi Canada West in 2011, announced on LinkedIn Tuesday that he has joined BC Ferries as executive director of labor relations.

BC's salmon farming industry has been undergoing a period of upheaval over the past few years as the Canadian government moves forward with plans to require all farms in the province to use closed-containment technology, a requirement industry says is not financially feasible.

Among the events following that commitment has been the 2020 order to remove salmon farms from British Columbia's Discovery Islands.

Under the Canadian government's order, 19 salmon netpen farms owned by Mowi, Cermaq and Grieg in British Columbia's Discovery Islands will be phased out by June.

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Mowi and multiple support companies have been hit hard by the changes.

In January, Mowi announced it would permanently close its fish processing plant in Surrey, British Columbia as a direct result of the Canadian government’s 2020 ruling.

Further concerning the industry is an upcoming June deadline for the renewal of 79 netpen salmon farming licenses in the Canada province.

Canada Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray has not said whether or not she will renew the licenses, which will determine the fate of the salmon farming industry's remaining 4,700 workers and CAD 1.2 billion (€847.6 million/$942.5 million) in economic activity generated by salmon farming in the province, according to the BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA).