New data hammers home the costs of Canada's BC salmon farm closures

The Canadian government’s move to ban west coast salmon farms by mid-2029 threatens the country’s food security and sovereignty, thousands of precious Canadian jobs, and impedes Canadians from “buying Canadian”, a new economic report from the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) states.

“Canada’s aquaculture production is a national economic treasure, but it has been seriously weakened by irresponsible government policies,” said Timothy Kennedy, CAIA president and chief executive. “Once a world leader in seafood, Canada now underperforms against global competitors, jeopardising Canada’s independence and food security at this time of increasing global tensions.”

The 2024 Aquaculture Industry Data Snapshot released by the CAIA shows that aquaculture had an economic footprint of CAD 6 billion, supported 18,000 jobs, and had primary revenues of CAD 1.36 billion in 2024.

Based on Statistics Canada’s annual release of data, the results are far off the peak value in 2018 of CAD 1.73bn (adjusted to 2024 value).

The CAIA said Prime Minister Mark Carney has committed to prioritise Canadian jobs, sovereignty, and a “Buy Canadian” policy, and that the aquaculture sector can play its part.

But it added that the decisions of the government led by Carney’s predecessor, Juston Trudeau, including its de facto ban of open net pen salmon farming in British Columbia, have created a chill on investment in the aquaculture sector across Canada and undermined Canadian food independence, restricting Canadian shoppers to buy non-Canadian products.

The Trudeau government’s decision gave salmon farms in BC a one-time, five-year licence from July 1, 2024. As things stand, only land-based or floating closed containment facilities meeting extremely strict emissions requirements will be considered for licences beyond June 2029. Hopes that the more business-minded Carney would reverse the policy have not yet been fulfilled.

Massive untapped potential

“With the longest coastline in the world, Canada’s seafood farming sector has massive, largely untapped potential,” said Kennedy. “We are using only about 1% of Canada’s potential. With positive policy signals and similar supports [that are] given to the rest of the agriculture sector, we could feed more Canadians with high-quality, home-grown and renewable proteins, keep rural and coastal communities working and growing, achieve meaningful Indigenous reconciliation, and boost Canada’s national and export economies.”

The Snapshot is based on the latest Statistics Canada data. Highlights from the report include:

Production holding; revenues inched upwards

• In 2024, the total value of farmed seafood produced in Canada was CAD 1.36bn, 21% lower than the peak of $1.73 billion (constant 2024 dollars) in 2018.
• 2024 farmed seafood production was 160,318 tonnes, a 9.8% increase over 2023 – but significantly lower than production in 2016 of 200,804 tonnes.

Economic benefits to coastal and rural communities

• In 2024 there were 18,074 full-time jobs in the sector, with 9,386 in primary production and 8,688 in processing. Almost three-quarters of total employment was in the salmon farming sector, with 13,242 (full-time equivalents) in 2024. Labour income was CAD 1.1bn. Most jobs are in rural, coastal and First Nations communities.

National salmon production increased slowly

• British Columbia farmed salmon production increased slightly to 53,816 tonnes in 2024 but was still over 40% below 2015 peak production. Farmed salmon production in Atlantic Canada increased by 17.7% to 55,232 in 2024. Overall, due to the increases in Atlantic Canada, Canadian farmed salmon production increased by 12.5% to 109,048 tonnes.

Global demand for Canadian / Imports

• Global and domestic demand for farm-raised seafood was strong throughout 2024, and retailers were willing to pay a premium for Canadian grown product. Exports increased by 7.3% in real terms over 2023 but remained almost 20% lower than peak levels seen in 2019.

Kennedy said: “Four priorities are immediately available to revitalise the sector: First, cancel the BC ban and establish a smart plan for BC salmon farming with longer-term licences to attract significant foreign direct investments in BC and Atlantic Canada.

“Second, establish crisis support and modernisation of federal management for the shellfish sector.

“Third, designate Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as the federal development lead for the sector.

“Fourth, withdraw the National Marine Conservation Area Proposal for the south coast of Newfoundland that jeopardises all seafood production in the region.”