Seafood farmers urge Canadian cabinet to unleash aquaculture's potential

Canada’s seafood farmers have congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney on his new cabinet, named today, and welcomed his government’s focus on building a stronger economy.

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) said aquaculture production had stagnated, and it looked forward to working with new agriculture and agri-food minister Heath MacDonald and fisheries minister Joanne Thompson to change things.

“Canada has the most cold-water aquaculture potential in the world. With highly skilled people and coastal communities poised for new opportunities and renewal, farming of our waters presents a strong opportunity for sustainable economic growth for Canada,” said the CAIA.

New vision needed

“For over 20 years Canada has flatlined in aquaculture production growth, using only a small fragment of our incredible potential. Canada needs a new vision for aquaculture development and renewed government leadership to get us to the next level of farming our oceans to create long term jobs for Canadians and food security at home and for the world.

“A new vision and framework for growth will result in new investment, job creation, coastal community renewal, Indigenous economic and leadership opportunity, new innovations and technologies, and healthy, secure and more affordable home-grown food for Canadians.

“The aquaculture community in Canada is ambitious and wants to get to work to build a strong and flourishing aquaculture sector as part of a stronger Canada.”

Stronger economy

Today, Carney’s office said Canadians elected the new government with a strong mandate to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States, to build a stronger economy, to reduce the cost of living, and to keep communities safe. It added that the new focused team of ministers will act on the mandate for change with urgency and determination.

“Canada’s new Ministry is built to deliver the change Canadians want and deserve. Everyone is expected and empowered to show leadership – to bring new ideas, a clear focus, and decisive action to their work,” said Carney, a former governor of the Bank of England.

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Carney’s rhetoric around building a stronger economy is encouraging for fish farmers, although the words will have to be matched with actions, most obviously in British Columbia where Justin Trudeau - Carney’s predecessor as Liberal Party leader and Prime Minister – pledged to “transition” from open net pen salmon farming.

The policy resulted in the arbitrary closure of salmon farms in BC’s Discovery Islands, and the announcement last year that all open net pen salmon farms in BC must be out of the water by the end of June 2029.

Revised policy direction

The BC Salmon Farmers' Association (BCSFA) said its members were encouraged by Carney’s announcement of Canada’s new cabinet and the continuation of the appointment of Thompson as fisheries minister.

"Under the previous government, our sector faced significant uncertainty, which resulted in a 45% decline in production," said the BCSFA, adding that BC’s salmon farming sector contributes CAD 1.17 billion in annual economic output, and supports 4,560 full-time jobs. 

"Many of these jobs are in coastal communities on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland," said the Association. "We call on the new government for a revised policy direction developed in true partnership with Rights Holder First Nations. If a clear signal is provided that there is a future for salmon farming in BC, including rescinding the ban on marine net pens by 2029, our sector stands ready to invest, innovate, and grow, while continuing to respect the lands and waters where we operate."

Can $2.5bn per year

The BCSFA said that given certainty of a future in BC, the salmon farming sector has the potential to deliver Can $2.5 billion in annual economic output, Can $930 million in GDP, 9,000 jobs, and Can $560 million in wages by 2030. This could grow to Can $4.2 billion in annual economic output by 2040. 

"We look forward to working with Minister Thompson to build a future for sustainable salmon farming in BC that benefits all Canadians," said the Association.