August 17, 2007

Canada issues its first shrimp farm license

Canada's government has issued licenses for a land-based tropical shrimp farm, an ocean-based shellfish farming licence and two more open-pen salmon farms despite criticism from opposition parties.

This is the first time Canada has issued a license for a tropical shrimp farm.  The closed-containment system avoids environmental impacts that often comes with ocean-based aquaculture.

Such a system is also less prone to diseases and parasites.

The farm is raisng a native species of spot prawns on an experimental basis.

The shellfish licence is for a combined deepwater and beach culture site to produce Pacific oysters, Japanese scallop, Manila clams, butter clams and Nuttall's cockle.