Women in aquaculture – part five

Angela Laing hasn’t keep the fact that she didn’t have a strong background in aquaculture from stopping her getting involved with the growing aquaculture industry in the Coast of Bays.

Laing grew up a long way from the industry in North Boat Harbour on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador. She graduated from James Cook Memorial All Grade School in 1990 and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Biology from Memorial University in 1995.

After graduating from MUN she went on to complete a three-year diploma program in Animal Health Technology from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College located in Truro, Nova Scotia.

While attending the college in Truro she met another Newfoundland girl, Jackie Gaulton from St. Alban’s, and the two became friends. Laing could not have known it then but the friendship would play a key role in her career a few years down the road.

After working at a small animal clinic in Gander, Laing got her first job that directly dealt with aquaculture in 2005.

She said, “All this came about only by chance really. I was finishing up a contract when Jackie, who was working in the aquaculture lab in St. Alban’s, had gone on maternity leave. I was searching for a job, the position was there, it appeared to be interesting work, so I decided to apply for the lab position.

Of course, I had a background in animal health. My experience included working with household pets, some farm animals as well as exotics and wild animals. I thought this is just another animal, so I’ll give it a try.”

Laing worked at the lab in St. Alban’s for five months during that time period.

In the meantime, she went back to MUN to work toward her Education Degree, which she needs four more courses to complete.

However, fate stepped in before she completed her Education Degree as the provincial Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA) was looking for another laboratory specialist in St. Alban’s.

“This position came up, I knew the area, I knew the people, I liked the job so I applied, and here I am working as a Veterinary Laboratory Technologist with the Aquatic Animal Health Division of the provincial DFA in one of the most modern fish health centres in the world.”

Laing said that her role as a laboratory technologist is very interesting work.

“Our role is to ensure the health of the aquaculture species out there, namely salmon and steelhead trout. We ensure their health and advise on management strategies to lead to better health and performance.

“Although our lab work may be somewhat routine, every day here is different to some degree. We could start out in the morning by doing a necropsy on a fish to collect various samples.

“We could be looking for bacteria or viruses. I could be working in any of the rooms in this new facility or in all of them throughout any given day. It’s just amazing really, especially now in getting our new equipment up and running at this ultra modern centre.

“I could also get to spend some time out on the water which is always an extra bonus for me.”

Laing said that the new Centre for Aquaculture Health and Development will be very important for the future of the aquaculture industry in the Coast of Bays.

“All this modern equipment in house means our turn-around time on our results is going to be so much quicker.  If there is an issue with the fish, producers will know about it a lot faster than before because we couldn’t do some testing in-house.

“Our turn-around time on results is going to be quicker which also means a faster response time on our part. Producers can then be secure as well in knowing that the fish are being looked after and everything is gong to be fine much sooner than before.

“Basically, this lab here in St. Alban’s gives producers security in knowing that there are well-trained, educated people here that are working in their best interests in making sure the fish as healthy as they can be.

“What this all means in the long run is that the aquaculture industry should see tremendous sustainable growth in the Coast of Bays over the next few years.”