Canada

In 2022, Canada generated 166,463 tons of aquaculture products. While 45 different species of finfish, shellfish, and algae are commercially cultivated, Canadian aquaculture is dominated by the marine sector, with Atlantic salmon and blue mussel accounting for 95% of production. Nearly 90% of Canada’s aquaculture products are sold in export markets, with 98% of Salmon and 99.8% of blue mussels exported to the United States.

A deeper dive:

Trout farming is the oldest fish culture in Canada, beginning with production and distribution in the mid-to-late 19th century.
Aquaculture is practiced in every Canadian province in marine environments, freshwater lakes and rivers, and land-based ponds.
Canada’s aquaculture industry has experienced significant growth since 2000, primarily as a result of increases in Atlantic salmon production in marine net pens.
Salmon Farming began in the 1970s in Canada, using net pens in the Pacific Northwest to raise the native coho salmon and chinook salmon.
The focus has since shifted to non-native Atlantic salmon, which are more suitable for domestication, grow faster than Pacific salmon, and adapt to higher cage densities.
Bottom and off-bottom shellfish system methods were developed in the 1970s.
Blue Mussel, after salmon, is the second most important species in Canadian aquaculture and is farmed on both coasts, with over 77% generated around Prince Edward Island Province.
Public opposition to aquaculture is strongest in British Columbia (BC) and has created serious challenges for expansion, with shellfish aquaculture being far less controversial than net-pen finfish culture.
A 2004 study estimated that the total direct and indirect employment created by the aquaculture industry is 14000 jobs.
Aquaculture products do not provide much food for poor people, as their consumption is highest among older, affluent consumers.
Canada’s salmon farming sector is ranked among the world’s most sustainable.
Canada is currently using only 1% of its viable ocean area for seafood farming.
Abandoned aquaculture sea-cages and sunken debris are a serious issue in multiple locations along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Canadian feed manufacturers are developing new feeds to replace some of the fish-based ingredients in salmon feed with sustainable sources.
In 2023, Canadian salmon farms were using less than 30% fish meal and oil in their feed, meaning only 0.4kg of wild fish meal and oil is needed to grow 1kg of farmed salmon.
Salmon farmers have also developed management practices that reduce the likelihood of sea lice infestations on wild salmon populations.
The need for scientific research remains critical to enhance the growth and diversity of Canadian aquaculture.
In 2023, the Canadian government did not renew licenses for 15 salmon farms around British Columbia, resulting in a 25% reduction in total salmon farming, increasing farmed fish retail prices.
Salmon has been intrinsically linked to indigenous livelihoods and culture for centuries.
The decline in wild salmon populations due to climate change, overfishing, and diseases has devastated First Nation communities.
Aquaculture has helped generate income and create jobs in some Aboriginal communities.
The Canadian government is committed to working in partnership with First Nations and managing sustainable aquaculture sectors.
Indigenous people mobilize much more frequently against environmentally destructive activities, including unsustainable aquaculture, than non-indigenous peoples.