— November 8, 2024 —
“Bob Sweeney’s integrity and commitment to sustainable aquaculture have left an indelible mark on Atlantic Canada’s salmon farming sector,” said Tom Taylor, Chair of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers’ Association (ACFFA). “His leadership in the development of environmental assessments, monitoring regulations and stewardship initiatives have shaped our sector and helped create the successful industry we have today.”
Approximately 115 salmon farmers, industry stakeholders, scientists, researchers, provincial and federal government representatives, and aquaculture professionals participated in the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association’s Annual Science, Research and Technology Forum this week in St. Andrews, NB where the award was presented.
A graduate of Ontario’s Algonquin College, Bob began his career with New Brunswick’s Department of Natural Resources and later moved to the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture as an Aquaculture Development Officer. It was there that he worked closely with an emerging salmon farming industry in Southwest New Brunswick, laying the foundation for his long-lasting impact on the sector. Later, he transitioned to senior roles in production and management with Cooke Aquaculture Inc. and Deer Island Salmon Ltd., gaining a comprehensive perspective on the industry.
In 2002, Bob founded Sweeney International Marine Corp (SIMCorp), which has grown into a pillar of environmental stewardship in the aquaculture industry. Over the past 22 years, SIMCorp has conducted marine habitat surveys and monitoring for 97% of the marine salmon and trout farms in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, and even the State of Maine. His company has also been instrumental in supporting fish hatcheries across the region. Bob and his team of Marine Environmental Biologists at SimCorp are leading experts in Atlantic Canada for aquaculture environmental assessments, monitoring and stewardship.
Bob’s leadership extends beyond his business endeavors, as he has served on numerous aquaculture boards and committees including: the ACFFA Board of Directors since 2006, the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia Board of Directors; the Aquaculture Environmental Coordinating Committees for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; and the Chair of the former Atlantic Aquaculture Fair in St. Andrews. Bob has led several industry mission tours to AquaNor, was appointed to the Steering Committee and Marine Stewardship Council for Southwest New Brunswick and was appointed as the Co-chair with the Province and Department of Fisheries and Oceans for the Bay of Fundy Marine Advisory Committee.
Outside of his professional life, Bob gives back to his community, whether it be participating in We’ve Got your Back to entrepreneurial projects at the middle schools or sponsoring sports teams and events. He is known for his kindness, compassion, mentorship and love for his family.
“Because of Bob, our sector has advanced in a sustainable way and our community is a better place to live and work. He is a true ambassador of sustainable aquaculture,” said Taylor.
ACFFA established the Atlantic Canada Aquaculture Award in 2017. The award honours an industry professional who has dedicated 25 years or more in the areas of science, environment, and technology in support of the sustainable development of salmon aquaculture in Atlantic Canada. Previous recipients include Gary Taylor (Skretting); Alan Donkin (Northeast Nutrition); Leighanne Hawkins (Cooke Inc.); Betty House (ACFFA Science and Technology Coordinator); Stan McGrattan (Cooke Inc.), and Dr. Steve Backman (Skretting).
Sweeney was unable to attend the awards dinner, but SimCorp’s Chief Administrative Officer Amanda Dinsmore accepted the award and read a statement on his behalf, including:
“Thank you for such a prestigious award. It truly is an honour to be counted alongside such an illustrious group of previous recipients. Truly I would not be the recipient of this award had it not been for the trust placed in me and my team by our clients – the salmon farmers of Atlantic Canada. A simple thank you hardly seems enough, but thank you.”
Some of the SimCorp team accepting the award on Sweeney’s behalf: (L-R) Cass Acheson, Amanda Smith, Amanda Dinsmore, Tina Young, James Curtis
A Charity Auction held during the awards dinner raised $3,500 for the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association Salmon Research Award, established in honour of Betty House whose passion for and dedication to salmon in Atlantic Canada was marked by her 20+ year career in the salmon aquaculture industry and her role in the Inner Bay of Fundy Salmon Recovery Project. At the research forum, ACFFA’s Science Liaison Coordinator Evie Gagné presented the inaugural ACFFA Salmon Research Award to Kristin Armstrong, a master’s student at the University of New Brunswick who is investigating the reproductive success of captively reared salmon for the purposes of conservation as part of the Fundy Salmon Recovery program.
ACFFA’s Science Liaison Coordinator Evie Gagné and Kristin Armstrong
ACFFA is an industry-funded association working on behalf of Atlantic Canada’s salmon farming industry in addition to a wide range of service and supply companies and organizations. Salmon farming employs over 8,000 people in our region and has a total economic output of $2 billion annually in Atlantic Canada.
For more information, please contact:
Susan Farquharson, Executive Director
Ph: 506-755-3526
Email: info@atlanticfishfarmers.com
