The federal government has announced an investment of $2.48 million to support the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance in its efforts to increase awareness and demand for Canadian farmed fish and seafood in the United States, Asia and Europe.
“Canada’s seafood farmers make an important contribution to the world’s food supply,” says Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dominic LeBlanc. “As a regulator, we’re committed to ensuring a responsible and sustainable aquaculture industry that can create jobs and grow the economy in coastal and Indigenous communities.”
The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance represents Canada’s seafood farmers from coast to coast to coast, including finfish, shellfish, aquatic plant farmers, feed companies, and suppliers, and works to promote the quality and sustainability of farmed seafood to domestic and international markets.
“Our industry’s ultimate goal is further developing Canadian farmed seafood excellence, and delivering uniquely responsible, healthy, and nutritious seafood that’s in high demand from consumers around the world,” says Timothy Kennedy, executive director of the alliance.
Kennedy says the program continues to help the industry establish new and long-term global demand for Canadian farmed seafood products such as salmon, mussels, oysters, and more.
“This investment in the market development of our sector will deliver jobs, growth and opportunity for rural and coastal communities across Canada,” Kennedy says.
Canada’s aquaculture top species produced in 2016 were salmon (Atlantic, coho and chinook), mussels, rainbow trout, oysters, and clams. Canada is the fourth-largest producer of farmed salmon in the world and mussels are our top shellfish aquaculture export. According to a 2009 study, aquaculture employs about 14,000 people in full-time, well-paying jobs and generates a little more than $500,000,000 in labour income.
