Canadian Aquaculture - Increased Revenue and Jobs

Sam Macdonald | January 5th, 2018

Positive and encouraging statistics for the Canadian Aquaculture industry. Showing increased revenue, high-value jobs, and Indigenous participation.

Canada’s Seafood Farmer’s have much to be proud of. The recently released “Sustainable, Diverse and Growing - The State of Farmed Seafood in Canada 2017” is an annual review conducted by the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, which measures key performance indicators in the industry. This year’s report highlights increased revenue, an expanding job force for the Canadian aquaculture industry and cross country Indigenous participation. As friends to the aquaculture community, the Deep Trekker Team wanted to spotlight some of the achievements made in the industry this year, of which Canadian’s should be truly proud.

Solid Production, Revenues & Exports

Revenues in 2016 of $1.347 billion, up from $918 million in 2015.
2016 farmed seafood production was 200,565 tonnes - up from 190,111 in 2015.
Canada’s aquaculture exports were valued at a record $1 billion!

Significant Economic Benefits to Canadians

In, 2016 Canadian farmed seafood production and processing generated a total of over $5.1 billion in economic activity, $2 billion in GDP, and $1.16 billion in wages for 25,000 Canadian workers. And much of these economic benefits occur at the local, community level in Canada.

Indigenous Participation

Over 40 First Nation and Indigenous communities are now directly or indirectly involved in farming seafood in Canada
Indigenous participation in farmed seafood is found in nine of the ten Canadian provinces.

Global Leadership on the Environment

Only 1% of Canada’s marine and freshwater area that is suitable for seafood farming is being used. And Canada has by far the lowest level of production per kilometre of coastline amongst our major competitors.
Canada today implements science-based practices that minimize stress, maintain a healthy aquatic environment, reduce disease risks, and prevent the spread of diseases when they do occur.
Overall, farmed seafood in Canada is a highly efficient source of food protein in terms of its environmental footprint (as measured by energy use, land use, and feed efficiency).

Talk to us about using ROVs to inspect the condition and health of your fish farm

Diverse & Growing Across Canada

Farmed seafood takes place in all provinces as well as in the Yukon.

Finfish represents the largest component of the aquaculture sector, with 27 different species such as salmon, trout, and Arctic char commercially grown in all regions in Canada - in both marine and freshwater environments.

Shellfish is also an important part of the aquaculture sector on both coasts with 20 different species of shellfish cultured, such as mussels, oysters clams, and scallops.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization has indicated that aquaculture will account for two-thirds of global fish food consumption by 2030. Canada, as a country has been a vocal supporter of the UN, developed Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). The viable and very visible success of Canadian Seafarmer’s over the last year is a positive indication that Canada is well on its way to becoming a leader in resolving the world’s food shortage epidemic while remaining ethically compliant, respectful of the environment and contributing enormously to the sovereign economy.

The Deep Trekker team would like to extend congratulations to all of our friends, partners, and customers for their glowing achievements in the Aquaculture Industry. We look forward to future successes and breakthroughs.