The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans holds lead federal responsibility for Canada's farmed seafood sector.

Canadian aquaculture industry welcomes new minister after Trudeau reshuffle

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) has welcomed the appointment of Jonathan Wilkinson as the new federal Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard after a cabinet shuffle by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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"We look forward to working in partnership with Minister Wilkinson to hasten the pace and broaden the reach of the economic and health benefits that flow from Canada's farmed seafood sector," said Timothy Kennedy, executive director of CAIA. "Canada's seafood farmers are already amongst the most sustainable producers of protein in the world. We have an opportunity to lead the world as we further build upon and expand a highly innovative and responsibly developed aquaculture industry. With the new Minister's leadership we are confident this moment can be seized.”
The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans holds lead federal responsibility for aquaculture and Canada’s farmed seafood sector. 

The CAIA says that in recent years, while the likes of Scotland, Norway and Chile have expanded their aquaculture capacity significantly to cope with global demand, Canada's industry has remained largely unchanged, despite the fact that it the largest bio-physical capacity for development.
"With a supportive policy and regulatory environment, our industry is ready to expand dramatically, creating new middle class jobs and growing our economy, much of that activity in coastal communities and with Indigenous partnership and engagement," added Kennedy. 
CAIA members generate more than $5 billion in economic activity, over $2 billion in GDP, and employ over 25,000 Canadians. The association says its mission is to unlock economic, environmental and public health benefits from a competitive, sustainable and growing farmed seafood sector.