January 18, 2021

Canada's aquaculture industry questions government department's support in open letter

In an open letter to Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,  the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) said that the country's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)  appears "structurally and culturally unable" to support the domestic aquaculture industry.

"Without a significant new commitment to change in the department, another department must be given the responsibility to champion our sector," stated the letter, signed by Jennifer Woodland, chair of CAIA and Timothy Kennedy, president and CEO of CAIA.

"Effective federal leadership will bring multiple interests together to develop a vision, strategy and plan for the sustainable growth of aquaculture across Canada. (The) government can still do this, and realise the clear opportunity for Canada to be a global leader.

"However, to date, and despite good-faith constructive efforts by our sector, (the) government has not delivered one positive structural or programme change for the aquaculture sector that supports growth."

The letter comes in the wake of a government decision to phase out salmon farms in the waters of British Columbia's Discovery Islands. Initial industry estimates show that the closures will result in 1,498 job losses primarily in Vancouver's North Island region and will impact about 700 businesses that service the farms.

CAIA said aquaculture represents the future of reliable seafood production for Canada as it will reduce pressure on wild stocks.

"Marine farm-raised Atlantic salmon sector is close to 90% of the value of the entire aquaculture sector in Canada. It is the anchor from which the total sector – shellfish, seaweeds, new marine and land-based technologies – can develop and thrive," CAIA highlighted.

"Our recent market research for Canada revealed that salmon (the vast majority of which is farmed Atlantic salmon) is, by a large margin, the top seafood choice of Canadians, making up more than 30% of their seafood diet, and even more importantly, Canadians (and the world) want more Canadian Atlantic salmon."

- Seawestnews