February 2, 2023

Aquaculture organisation blames Canadian government for higher consumer prices of salmon

Consumers in Canada and the United States are paying more for their salmon due to the Ottawa government's approach to fish farming, according to the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA).

CAIA argued that high spot prices for salmon are down to reduced production as a result of government policy. Grocers looking for more Canadian-grown product in response to consumer demand are being forced to import salmon from other countries, the organisation added.

In December 2020, Canada's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announced a decision to shut down sustainable salmon farming in the Discovery Islands region of British Columbia. The decision was subsequently overturned by the federal court.

In response to the original federal decision, salmon farmers closed down farm sites, thus reducing production levels. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is expected to imminently make new decisions regarding the same farms in follow up to the federal court's ruling.

The GAA estimated that supply from the Discovery Islands region was approximately 20,000 tonnes of salmon, the equivalent of 120 million meals and approximately one-quarter of the production of BC. Replacing this Canadian salmon with product from other nations will result in an increased carbon footprint estimated at 163,000 tonnes of carbon due to air freight, or the same as adding 35,000 cars to the road, CAIA said.

Timothy Kennedy, president and chief executive officer of the CAIA, said: "At a time of major food inflation resulting in higher prices for consumers, recent government decisions to shut down sustainable salmon farms without scientific basis and reduce supply to consumers are having a major price impact on this healthy, fresh and sustainable supply from Canada. When the supply of farm-raised salmon drops and demand continues, prices go up for Canadian families – it's Economics 101."

- Fish Farmer