February 18, 2013
 
Canada's aquaculture industry to grow

Aquaculture is an emerging business in Alberta, Canada with many of the fish being sold for a premium at market.

Currently, there are around a dozen fish farms in Alberta, but Alberta Agriculture expects the industry to increase by 10% each year. Canada exports 85% of our fish but the live fish farmed in Alberta is destined for local markets.

The growing aquaculture industry is relying on the current trend of North Americans eating more fish than ever before.

Mark McNaugton runs MDM Aquaculture in the hamlet of Rumsey, northeast of Calgary. McNaughton switched the focus of his farm from the raising of hogs to the raising of tilapia as hog margins were becoming too small.  He said aquaculture was a fairly new concept to him.

One of the stores purchasing McNaughton's fish is T & T Supermarket in Calgary.  The fish are transported live and are butchered at the store to ensure the customer is receiving the freshest fish possible.