Company, Founded In Italy Over A Century Ago, Continues Growth, Looks East
Badinotti employees, Kenneth McDonald & Pat Traverse with Dave Hall in Port Hardy
CAMPBELL RIVER – Badinotti Net Services Canada (BNSC) has been growing significantly since it started serving Canada’s aquaculture and fishing industries back in 2009. There’s more – the company is anticipating expanding its reach even further.
Director of Land Operations Dave Hall states, “Eastern Canada is definitely on the radar, with lots of opportunity and room for growth. “Recently the United States has indicated their desire to becoming more independent in terms of food security, specifically seafood.”
“From my understanding, they import nearly 80 per cent of seafood consumed. This change in policy could represent a tremendous opportunity for our clients and for us.”
BNSC is part of the Badinotti Group which was founded by avid fisherman Giovanni Badinotti in Milan, Italy, over a century ago, in 1910. The Badinotti Group is a global company with manufacturing facilities in Chile, Peru and Slovakia.
Cranes and highly trained staff operate the Middle Point Net Services Station in Campbell River
The Badinotti Group manufactures ready-made knotted and knotless nets for aquaculture, fishing, sports and industrial applications. They also produce archery and twine products through their Brownell & Company division.
BNSC has over 130 employees with close to 80 employees in its Campbell River and Port Hardy locations Net Service Stations. BNSC sells new net products and provides net services, and just over four years ago, BNSC started offering On Site Net Washing (OSW): on-site net washing at clients’ locations.
Badinotti boats provide On Site Net Washing for customers
This operation uses a fleet of state-of-the-art catamaran vessels, crewed by very qualified cleaning specialists, operating the most advanced ROV technology available in today’s market.
“By employing this technology, we can offer our clients a superior service, protecting the nets from wear and tear, thereby ensuring a healthy environment for the fish,” Hall notes.
BNSC also modifies, repairs and washes nets at their net lofts in Campbell River and Port Hardy, which can accommodate nets weighing many tonnes that can stretch over 100 metres in length. They utilize specialized vehicles to move the nets and giant cranes to lift them, operated by highly trained staff.
General Manager Simon Proctor adds “A lot of our folks have learned these skills over many years. They are proud of what they do, and they’re proud that they’re Vancouver Islanders, and they’re really excited about what aquaculture can do for their communities.”
Hall notes that Badinotti has globally taken many precautionary steps to protect the health of their clients and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. He adds “We believe our people and their desire to provide our clients with the best possible services and solutions is what sets us apart.”
Director of Land Operations, Dave Hall, and Badinotti employee, Doris Nelson
Hall has been in aquaculture for over 20 years, starting in New Brunswick. He was General Manager of Cards Aquaculture Ltd. on the west coast when BNSC purchased the company in 2011. BSNC started doing business in western Canada in 2009 after buying Wavemaster Net Services that same year, and with the Cards acquisition and its own growth, is now the largest net service provider in western Canada.
Hall splits his time between the Campbell River Net Service Station at 4266 Middle Point Drive and BNSC’s operation in Port Hardy, where he resides.
Hall believes the secret for Badinotti’s success is straightforward.
“First you need to know your market in terms of goods and services,” Hall states. “Then we provide innovative products and solutions. We are dedicated to be the best, and we’ve been very fortunate to have great people who are dedicated to being the best.”
Badinotti’s goal to grow to Canada’s East Coast is on the radar, as Proctor says “I was in Newfoundland last year, listening to industry experts talk about the potential of the Maritimes for aquaculture. I think everything is in place for the industry to take that next step.”
