September 10, 2008

Canadian researchers will soon be harvesting the first halibuts from its aquaculture farms in the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The harvesting marks the end of a three-year research project by Tillman Benfey and a team of academics to test the viability of halibut farming.

If viable, Halibut aquaculture promises to be a multimillion dollar industry in Canada's New Brunswick.

Beginning next month and over this coming winter, the first halibut from the research team's test population of 50,000 fish which have been growing inside aquaculture cages in Lime Kiln Bay, off St. George for the last three years, will be harvested and sent to market. Each fish is expected to fetch upwards of US$7 per pound compared to about US$3 per pound for farmed salmon.

The evidence is pointing at a positive conclusion, and everything is looking very encouraging, Benfey said, adding that it could be an opportunity for the area to diversify their aquaculture production.