First commercial shellfish hatchery opens
New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal
Published Wednesday July 15th, 2009
New Brunswick shellfish farmers are putting high hopes in a fast-growing scallop native to the coastal United States.
Photo: Glen Vienneau for the Telegraph-Journal
Caption: Caraquet Bay’s first bay scallop farmer Michel Poitras, of Aquaculture Chaleur Inc., started raising the foreign mollusques last year on his six-hectare oyster farm.
Until now, bay scallops have been of trifle importance to the province's aquaculture industry, mainly because there hasn't been a commercial hatchery that breeds them.
This all changes in Shippagan Friday when fisheries company, L'Étang Ruisseau Bar Ltd. opens New Brunswick's first commercial shellfish hatchery.
"It will be a nice secondary product to the oyster," hatchery owner, André Mallet said of bay scallops. "But time will tell how big [the industry] is going to get."
Bay scallops were actually introduced to Nova Scotia and P.E.I. in the late 1980s, and to the Gulf of St. Lawrence a few years later.
Unlike New Brunswick giant scallops, which mature in three to six years, bay scallops reach their 10-cm market size in six to eight months.
This is why they've become so popular: they diversify production and offer a quick return on investments.
"They certainly generate revenue to compliment the oyster side of things," said Caraquet Bay's first bay scallop farmer Michel Poitras, who started raising the foreign mollusques last year on his six-hectare oyster farm, Aquaculture Chaleur Inc.
"Anything we can introduce, any added product is a good thing."
Poitras wasn't always such a blatant bay-scallop enthusiast. When he first contemplated raising them a few years ago, he said he worried about the effect they'd have on local species.
Luckily, Department of Fisheries and Oceans biologist Thomas Landry and others shellfish researchers monitored the health of bay scallops to determine whether or not they carried dangerous diseases or would be invasive to native species.
He found they did not and would not.
While their speedy maturation is a fish farmer's dream, most of the creatures, used to Virginia's warmer water, can't reproduce in cold water and die untimely deaths during our more bitter winters. This means farmers have to buy new stock every spring.
"It's a species that doesn't have a long life cycle compared to other mollusks," said Landry. "It's not a species that tends to overtake an area."
Landry also makes the point that adding shellfish to Maritime coastal areas is increasingly important for the health of our ocean. Mollusks are important creatures that filter out nutrients overloaded in sea water. But because the regional wild oyster population is so low, this cleansing process isn't happening.
Pair this with intense coastal development leaching even more nutrients into the water while wiping out natural land filtration systems and you get more frequent red tides in areas like the Bay of Fundy. "The wild oyster population is at 10 per cent of what it was previous to a disease episode in the 1950s," said Landry. "And shellfish provide filtering capacity; they look after the potential threat of eutrofication."
A shellfish hatchery is where the shellfish seeds are bred within a controlled environment. A fish farm is where the fish are raised.
Aquaculture gets more than $930,000
Six B.C. firms receive funds to boost business
Victoria Times Colonist
July 9, 2009
By Judith Lavoie, with files from Dan MacLennan, Times Colonist and Campbell River Courier
Innovative ideas to help B.C.'s fish-farming industry operate more efficiently received a federal funding boost from Gail Shea, minister of fisheries and oceans.
Shea, speaking in Campbell River yesterday, said six B.C. companies will receive more than $930,000 to help them strengthen their businesses.
"When we invest in a stronger aquaculture sector, we are investing in more jobs and new business opportunities for communities throughout B.C.," Shea said.
The federal funding is through the Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program and an additional $848,000 will go to the six projects from the province, industry and universities.
Projects range from developing a system to clean algae and crustaceans off nets without removing them from the cage system to mechanizing clam harvesting.
The businesses receiving grants are B.C. Shellfish Growers Association, Odyssey Shellfish Ltd., Marine Harvest Canada, Walcan Seafoods Ltd., Deane V Larson and Agrimarine Industries Inc.
Marine Harvest Canada will receive $142,500 to help in its quest to find a solution for soft flesh syndrome, a parasitic infection that can affect farmed Atlantic salmon.
There is no treatment for the syndrome, which causes fish flesh to become soft after harvesting, meaning it cannot be sold.
The funding will allow Marine Harvest to test new processing technologies, similar to those used in meat processing, at its Port Hardy site.
Clare Backman, Marine Harvest director of environmental relations, said the economic benefit to the aquaculture industry will be immediate if a solution can be found.
"The project, if it's successful, will provide us with an opportunity to improve the product quality, reduce the amount of soft flesh that we sometimes get with our product and it won't be using any chemical or problematic substances," he said.
Agrimarine Industries will use the $73,400 grant to work on a process to concentrate waste from closed containment systems to use as organic fertilizer.
That would allow the remaining clean water to be released into the ocean.
Richard Buchanan, Agrimarine CEO, said the company will test a centrifuge.
"It should address one of the major problems of closed containment -- handling the waste," he said.
"With our system we're going to recover it."
jlavoie@tc.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
“Mad Cow” report demolished by Canadian Food Inspection Officials
An article in the June issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease speculated that farmed fish could transmit Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (mad cow disease) if their feed contained byproducts rendered from cows. The byproducts in question are called “Specified Risk Materials” (SRM) — the parts of cattle where BSE (mad cow disease) can be found.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has stated that this hypothesis is false on two counts: (1) Canada has banned the use of all “specified risk materials” in ALL animal feed, including fish feed, since 2007, and (2) Canadian finfish farming companies do not use SRM products in their feeds.
For more information, please refer to the following:
www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/bseesb/enhren/publie.shtml
www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/feebet/rumin/enhqueste.shtml
www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2007/20070712e.shtml
GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND INVEST $1 MILLION IN PROJECT TO BOOST
PEI AQUACULTURE SECTOR
CHARLOTTETOWN (PE) – June 5, 2009 – The Prince Edward Island aquaculture industry will benefit from a new funding program that will assist oyster growers in expanding production through the adoption of innovative techniques and technologies. A combined federal and provincial $1 million dollar investment was announced today by the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Honourable Neil LeClair, Prince Edward Island Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development.
“The Government of Canada understands the significant economic impact the aquaculture industry generates in Atlantic Canada,” said Minister Shea. “Our investment will help support the productivity and sustainability of this increasingly competitive global industry.”
The program will assist growers in expanding the cultivation of quality oysters on Prince Edward Island. By increasing the production and quality of PEI oysters, it is expected that this will enhance demand in the marketplace and increase product value.
“This new agreement builds upon the initiatives that are already being undertaken to enhance the oyster fishery in this province,” said Minister LeClair. “Increasing the quality and quantity of our oyster production will provide new jobs and growth in rural areas, and help support the strong reputation our products enjoy in the international marketplace.”
Growers will benefit from this program through an increased quality product that can achieve higher market prices, increased incomes, better environmental stewardship and more sustainable aquaculture practices.
“This program is a great boost for cultured oyster farms in PEI,” said Ms. Duncan. “It will support our member’s belief that an incremental expansion of production, using some new and innovation techniques, will allow us to produce the wonderful consistent attributes in our oyster that is demanded by the marketplace.”
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is contributing $700,000 to the PEI Aquaculture Alliance through its Business Development Program for this new initiative. The Government of Prince Edward Island is contributing $300,000 towards the project.
Cooke's salmon eco-certified
New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal
Published June 9th, 2009
By John Schmuel
Glenn Cooke, CEO of Cooke Aquaculture
The largest aquaculture company in Atlantic Canada is set to become the first Canadian company to offer eco-certified Atlantic salmon in North America.
True North Salmon, an operating arm of Cooke Aquaculture Inc., based in Blacks Harbour, announced Monday the company had met the rigid requirements to gain the Seafood Trust Eco Label after third party-audits by the International Food Quality Certification.
"What we've done is we've taken the extra step and said, look, we want to be as green and friendly as possible, but we also want to be sustainable, and we've done that," said Glenn Cooke, president of Cooke Aquaculture.
The fish will be sold under the company's Heritage Salmon brand at retail stores across Canada. Further products carrying the label will be rolled out in the near future according to Cooke.
To be accredited as eco-certified, which recognizes the fish as being raised in a sustainable manner, the company underwent a rigorous audit for close to 18 months. Five key international standards had to be met in order to get the certification.
One of the standards included demonstrating that the fish were raised in a pristine quality environment. Dr. Ralph Matthews, a sociology professor at the University of British Columbia who has researched fisheries and the aquaculture industry, said that task was probably helped by the high tides of the Bay of Fundy.
"When you have those extreme tides, you disperse effluent very quickly. That's something you can't do on the West Coast," he said.
True North also significantly reduced the use of fish meal and fish oil in the feed the company used for salmon in its aquaculture farms. Before becoming eco-certified, Cooke said the company used about 60 per cent fish meal in its feed. During the audit, that was reduced to 20 per cent.
Matthews said that figure is impressive.
According to him, a large part of farm feed for fish uses krill from the South Pacific, which is a crucial food source for migrating fish and mammals in that region. According to him most aquaculture companies in North America use about 50 per cent fish meal, a lower number than the typical 80 per cent used in the past.
True North also significantly reduced its carbon footprint, by using more ground transportation in place of air transportation for its products. Water usage was also substantially reduced during the audit, as was packaging.
Cooke hopes the measures will help bring in more customers, who are drawn to products produced under eco-friendly conditions. A 2008 Ipsos-Reid survey commissioned by True North found many people found seafood with eco-friendly labels more desirable, and that 57 per cent believed it was safer to eat.
Demand for fishery products like lobster and shrimp have slumped in recent months, devastating many fishing communities in Atlantic Canada. However, Cooke said that demand for salmon continues to grow across the country.
Matthews said that although True North has made impressive gains with their sustainable practices, the aquaculture industry as a whole still faces hurdles in becoming a completely sustainable industry. He cites issues like parasitic infections affecting farm fish that then escape and infect populations in the wild.
"The industry is a very important industry for rural Canada particularly," he said. "But until some issues such as parasitic infections are dealt with, there's always room for improvement."
Response to Greenpeace seafood campaign
Salmon farming is part of the solution
Farming seafood is part of the solution to diminishing wild finfish and shellfish stocks. Globally, demand continues to rise, and aquaculture takes pressure off these wild stocks. According to the UN, the world would face a 50 to 80 million tonne seafood shortfall without aquaculture.
CAIA members are committed to providing consumers with nutritious, healthy and responsibly farmed seafood products. Consumers can have confidence in Canadian-grown finfish and shellfish sold in Canadian grocery outlets.
Canada’s finfish and shellfish farms are closely regulated by the Government of Canada to ensure they protect water quality and wild fish, and meet the highest standards of sustainability. CAIA is participating in the WWF Aquaculture Dialogues to develop sustainability standards and certification programs, and other members have pursued ISO certification and third party certification for quality and eco-labels. Common areas of focus include:
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Conservation of natural habitats
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Water quality protection
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Safeguarding the health and genetic integrity of wild populations
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Social responsibility and respect for indigenous cultures and local traditions
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Reduced carbon footprint
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Feed improvements
Multiply the fish
The vast amount of coastline and lakes in Canada makes it perfect for fish farming
Alia McMullen, Financial Post
Published May 19, 2009
Kyle Deming, Starfish and Oyster bar and grill, Toronto
It may be a -50C day up in Whitehorse, but that won't stop Icy Waters Ltd. from drilling through the ice of their land-based fish farm to deliver fresh Arctic char to a restaurant near you.
Demand for the fish -- a delicate cross between salmon and trout but with a beautiful, lighter flavour -- is strong, and John Rose, president of Icy Waters, said the company sells 100% of its product.
As the global population grows, there is an increasing need to supply seafood without fishing the oceans empty. The farmed seafood industry has been criticized for inferior quality products and unfriendly environmental practices, which have included contamination of waterways with foreign species and disease outbreaks. But as technology and practices improve, the aquaculture industry says it has cleaned up its act and can provide Canada with seafood that is both sustainable and economically rewarding.
As consumers grow increasingly concerned with environmental issues, the ability to carry a sustainable label has become a key attribute for aquaculture companies looking to flourish in the market.
"The markets now are asking for fish that are sustainably grown," Mr. Rose said. "I would think that probably the biggest change over our history has been the demand of the market and demands of the people watching and making sure that we're being good stewards of not only the environment but the fish itself."
Kyle Deming, a chef at Starfish Oyster Bed and Grill in Toronto said customers were becoming increasingly interested in where their food was from. "We try to be as sustainable as possible and use fish that are aquacultured sustainably or caught sustainably," he said.
While the majority of finfish on Starfish's menu are wild, Mr. Deming said customers also enjoyed the farmed products, which, depending on availability, includes seared Arctic char with fingerling potatoes, organic beets and crispy shallots.
About 98% of Arctic char served at restaurants is farmed. Mr. Rose said Icy Waters produces about 150 tonnes of the fish for consumption a year, which he estimates would be about a day's production for some of the large salmon farms.
The 22-year-old aquaculture company has the equivalent of 15 full-time employees, specializes in the one species of fish, and aims to produce quality, not quantity. And that's exactly how its customers -- high-end white tablecloth restaurants -- like it.
Mr. Rose said Icy Waters has not had a single product complaint in four years -- a substantial achievement for a company where 98% of its product is shipped fresh, 52 weeks a year.
Arctic char farms in Canada have generally earned themselves a better reputation for sustainability and quality than their salmon farming cousins.
Mr. Deming said, while there were some producers doing a great job in aqua-culturing salmon, in general the quality of farmed salmon along the East Coast was noticeably inferior to wild produce. As a chef, he said the difference in taste was generally noticeable, the flesh of the farmed salmon lacked its deep red colour, the fins were often nibbled, and the fish had a slumped-over appearance from being confined to a pen.
"I truly think that aquaculture is the way forward," he said. "But at the same time there has to be responsible practices happening as far as how farms are run and how fish are raised."
Ruth Salmon, the executive director of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, said a great deal of research and development continues to go into improving aquaculture, whether it be finfish, shellfish or plants.
"We're doing some world-leading research and development here in Canada and certainly that research and development is paying off," she said. "This industry is continually evolving and changing and improving. And in terms of sustainability, many of the old practices from when aquaculture began in Canada are no longer."
About half of the world's seafood is farmed. However, Canada accounts for just 0.2% of this market, despite its long coastlines, pristine waters and abundant lakes.
Ms. Salmon said aquaculture in Canada has been growing and is now almost a billion-dollar industry, with 16,000 employees. However, some hurdles, such as government red tape, delays in the approval of new farm sites, public unconsciousness and the struggle to often raise the funds for the capital-intensive startup, has so far prevented the industry from growing larger.
"The demand for our products is very high and in fact in some cases we can't meet the demand because we don't have access to the sites that we need," Ms. Salmon said.
"Certainly the wild fisheries can't meet the growing global demand for seafood, so aquaculture is on the rise and they predict that without aquaculture, the world will face a seafood shortage of 50-to 80-million tonnes by 2030."
Selena Fiacco, a woman for supermarket chain Metro Ontario Inc., said farmed seafood is very popular with its customers, with 65% of the chains product from farmed sources, compared with 35% from the wild. She said wild products are slightly more expensive than farmed. "Selected areas in Ontario are looking for organic or wild product, but most consumers are purchasing farmed product," Ms. Fiacco said.
Canada's aquaculture could be worth $2.8B - with help
Many areas of the country are held back by inadequate public infrastructure, industry executive says
John Pollack
Telegraph-Journal
Published Tuesday May 5th, 2009
Canada's billion dollar aquaculture industry could be worth $2.8 billion by 2015 the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance proclaimed in a recent report. But to get there the industry needs public support, more and better infrastructure and streamlined regulations the alliance's executive director Ruth Salmon said Monday.
While it's unclear how much the industry can grow in New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada, aquaculture executives in the province say the region is poised for growth and faces similar issues in getting there.
"There's many operations, many areas of the country that are held back by inadequate public infrastructure," Salmon said.
The industry needs more wharves and the necessary roads and bridges to get to them she said. As many of these fish farms are in rural areas cell phone reception is an issue.
Nell Halse, vice-president communications of Cooke Aquaculture Inc., the largest aquaculture company in Atlantic Canada, said poor wireless signals are an issue in New Brunswick and is big problem in Newfoundland where you can drive for hours without reception.
"It's really hard to run businesses like that," she said.
Another hurdle for aquaculture growth is regulations that Salmon said need to be streamlined.
"Right now our industry is governed by about 73 different pieced of legislation," she said. "Many of those work at cross purposes because they're both federal and provincial."
Halse said there is a lot of duplication and inefficiencies in the sometimes confusing regulations.
"It's not that the regulations shouldn't be there but we sometimes find we're duplicating work, filling out reports that are the same," she said. "We really feel there's a need to sit down and look at the regulations in the individual provinces and work together to harmonize those with the federal regulations."
The alliance's report also said the public and environmental groups have a dated view of the industry which Salmon said is moving along quickly with the times.
She points to the three area bay management system in the Bay of Fundy, which rotates areas where companies can farm fish in a given year, as a prime example.
Halse, who is also the president of the New Brunswick Salmon Growers' Association, said companies in the province have had success over the last five years with a farming strategy that has mussels and seaweed growing near salmon to benefit from the nutrients used in raising the fish.
"It improves the environmental performance and minimizes the impact of the farm because we're using the nutrients as a positive to grow other species," she said.
Though New Brunswick has room to grow, Larry Ingalls, the vice-president of the growers' association and president of the second largest aquaculture company in the province, Northern Harvest Sea Farms, said New Brunswick won't likely see "explosive growth" in production.
"In New Brunswick we do have some limitations with the sites and the areas to grow here," he said. "That doesn't mean the Maritimes couldn't double production."
New Brunswick's top two aquaculture companies own about 90 per cent of operations in Newfoundland and Labrador and Cooke Aquaculture is responsible for over half the farms in Nova Scotia.
Besides investments in other provinces, Halse said New Brunswick can also benefit from value added products and supply and service operations.
"We have a number of companies that are providing equipment, technology and expertise to local companies but they also have the opportunity to export that knowledge and technology to other parts of the world," she said. "We certainly believe there's huge potential for growth even here in New Brunswick, but I don't have a number.
Job posting
Chief Executive Officer,
BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences
The British Columbia Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences (BC CAHS) seeks a dynamic individual for the position of Chief Executive Officer. The CEO will guide the BC CAHS into the future by focusing on operations, strengthening existing collaborations, building new partnerships and executing programs and initiatives that support the CAHS mission statement.
The CEO will be responsible for obtaining and managing operational funding from government, academic, industry and community sources and in addition will be responsible for the day to day management of both administrative and technical staff. In order to work effectively in this management capacity, the CEO will have a proven track record in areas such as:
• Strategic planning, research fund-raising and proposal writing
• Business plan preparation, financial and human resource management
• Economic development in coastal communities including First Nations
• Communication, outreach and consensus building among diverse stakeholders
The successful candidate will be a person who understands the value of teamwork and effective leadership while possessing the business skills that support day to day operations.
Professional experience or education in the areas of aquatic science or related disciplines is a requirement. A good understanding of the political and social environment of British Columbia would be an asset.
The position is based in Campbell River, BC. For further information about BC CAHS, consult the website (www.cahs-bc.ca)
Submit your curriculum vitae to BC CAHS by Monday June 8th, either in person, by email to (tracy.burgess@cahs-bc.ca) or by Fax (250-286-6103).
The Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences exists to advance understanding of British Columbia's aquatic resources by addressing issues of aquatic animal health and welfare, production and aquatic food safety, thereby facilitating the economic, social and environmental sustainability of British Columbia's aquatic based resource industries and increasing research and service capacity in rural and coastal communities.
Farmed fish healthy, safe
Winnipeg Free Press
Letter to the editor
Published April 21, 2009
The Canadian Medical Association Journal's advice to limit your amount of seafood will do more harm than good (Something's fishy, April 20).
The benefits of eating fish, which are high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, outweigh any risks. I agree with nutritional biochemist Peter Jones when he says, "there's a positive, overwhelming amount of evidence in support of omega-3s."
Unfortunately, global demand for fish is putting increasing pressure on wild stocks. The good news is that aquaculture -- the farming of fish -- is helping meet that growing demand. A recent United Nations report shows that about half the seafood humans eat comes from aquaculture.
It's true that trace levels of mercury and dioxins can be found in the entire food chain. The contaminant levels in commonly consumed foods are well below government safety levels, and are particularly low in seafood.
Scientists are working on growing flax that would offer the same cardiovascular health benefits of fish, but the bottom line is people aren't going to stop eating fish. The key is eating fish from sustainable sources.
Farmed fish like salmon are an affordable, healthy choice, and take pressure off wild stocks. A 2006 Harvard study showed that eating a modest amount of farmed salmon could reduce the risk of death from coronary heart disease by 37 per cent. Farmed shellfish like mussels, oysters and clams -- all of which are grown here in Canada -- are sustainable sources of heart-healthy protein.
Ruth Salmon
Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance
Ottawa
Canadian producers show some mussel
Mussel Industry Council News Release
Enjoying some mussels (from left): Brian Fortune, President of the Mussel Industry Council, Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State (ACOA), Honourable Neil LeClaire, PEI Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development.
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI (April 15, 2009) - Canadian mussel producers have launched a marketing program to boost sales of this affordable, tasty, and nutritious shellfish. “We know we have a great product and we believe there is a wonderful opportunity to raise consumer awareness and demand in North America,” said Brian Fortune, the President of the Mussel Industry Council.
Mr. Fortune was commenting on a multi-year marketing and consumer awareness program that will focus on growing the market for farmed fresh mussels in North America. Messaging will concentrate on the nutritional value of the product, ease of preparation and environmental sustainability of the industry.
Elements of the $1-million-per-year marketing effort will include paid advertising, media coverage, partnerships and participation in industry events. A consumer-friendly website is also being developed.
The marketing program is the culmination of extensive research, and consultation between associations representing the shellfish industry, and members of the Council, which represents the vast majority of mussel producers in Eastern Canada. “We are working together because we know, from similar partnership marketing programs around the world, that this kind of campaign boosts sales,” said Ruth Salmon, Executive Director of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance.
The mussel industry is excited about this initiative that will benefit the whole value chain, from farm to end consumer. This industry-led program will be sustained by a per pound levy applied to all sales by the members of the Council. The levy will take effect June 1, 2009 and the Council members believe it is a reasonable levy for an affordable shellfish product. They are confident that this program will yield long term benefits for mussel aquaculture.
For further information, contact:
Catherine Hebb
Bristol Group
1-902-491-2540 (office)
1-902-222-5092 (cell)
Aquaculture provides sustainable, heart-healthy seafood
Letter to the Globe and Mail
March 20, 2009
In his recent article, ‘Health benefits of fish overblown’, Martin Mittelstaedt makes two significant oversights when discussing the Canadian Medical Association Journal study:
First, he ignores a wide range of earlier studies that have clearly confirmed the health benefits of fish. All seafood contains omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and depression. Salmon, both wild and farmed, is particularly high in these omega-3s. A 2006 Harvard study showed that eating a modest amount of farmed salmon could reduce the risk of death from coronary heart disease by 37 percent.
Second, he fails to point out that aquaculture provides a sustainable seafood option by taking pressure of wild fish stocks. The CMAJ study states: “Even at current levels of fish consumption, fisheries globally have reached a state of severe crisis.” While this statement may be overly simplistic, it’s true that certain marine species are being overfished. Canadian aquaculture companies are helping take pressure off wild seafood stocks – while making continuous improvements to sustainability. In the area of fish feed, for instance, wild fish proteins (obtained from forage fish such as anchovies) are being partially replaced by vegetable proteins – and the farmed fish still contain high levels of omega-3. And, thanks to advancements in feed technology, about one kilogram of feed is used to grow one kilogram of salmon in Canada.
The CMAJ study suggests replacing flaxseed as an alternative to fish oils, but flaxseed does not contain DHA – the beneficial component of omega-3. Further, the study says calculating the exact health benefits of eating fish is difficult, because fish eaters in general tend to lead healthier lifestyles. This thinking presents a poor argument for limiting fish consumption – and could needlessly turn people away from this heart-healthy food.
Global demand for fish is simply larger than what the world’s oceans can supply. The good news is that aquaculture is playing an increasingly crucial role in feeding growing demand and reducing pressure on wild stocks.
It’s also important to remember that farmed shellfish like mussels, oysters and clams – all of which are grown here in Canada – are sustainable sources of heart-healthy protein.
Making a splash
Industry forecasts new aquaculture species will generate $880 million by 2020
March 18, 2009
It’s no secret that wild fisheries on both Canadian coasts can’t keep up with growing demand.
But when it comes to aquaculture – growing seafood instead of catching it in the wild – most Canadians only think ‘farmed salmon’.
Although salmon aquaculture is the major player in the Canadian aquaculture scene, a handful of new species are making a splash.
The four most promising aquaculture species are Atlantic cod, Atlantic halibut, Arctic char and sablefish. These industries forecast a combined net worth of $880 million by 2020.
While the Atlantic cod aquaculture industry is in development, Arctic char, Atlantic halibut and sablefish are in various stages of commercialization – with product already being sold.
Aquaculture represents the future of fresh, year-round seafood for a growing global population, and Canada’s farmed seafood products are already held in high regard in the US, the EU and key Asian markets. However, most Canadians are in the dark when it comes to the fastest-growing segments of our aquaculture industry.
Did you know that Atlantic halibut – a bottom dweller in the wild, grows up to 500 pounds? That Arctic char stick close together to keep warm in cold water? Or that sablefish contain 75 percent more omega-3 fatty acids than salmon, which is already well known for its heart-healthy nutritional properties?
With Atlantic Canada’s wild cod stocks at two percent of historic levels, perhaps the biggest news is the development of a commercially viable Atlantic cod aquaculture industry. Poised to play a symbolic role in Canadian identity, the iconic Atlantic cod ‘revival’ could bring back $545 million to Atlantic Canada by the next decade. This vision is closer to reality than you might think; Canada has been harvesting farmed cod in small quantities for the past five years.
Still other farmed seafood species, such as geoduck, urchins and sea cucumbers, offer commercial promise.
It’s time we put the spotlight on these new aquaculture species, and give them the recognition – and support – they deserve.
FISH FACTS
Arctic char
- Commercial stage: 300 metric tons / year
- 2020 industry potential: $35 million
- Markets: Primarily Canada, plus the USA and Hong Kong
- Operations in the Yukon, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec , Newfoundland and Manitoba
- Similar to salmon, but milder taste
- Restaurant entré can sell for $35 to $45
- Listed as ‘best choice’ by the Monterey Aquarium Seafood Watch Guide for Healthy Oceans
- “Our quality is so consistent that some of our vendors don’t even open the shipping boxes.” (John Rose, President of Icy Waters Ltd, Whitehorse, YK)
Atlantic halibut
- Commercial stage: $3 million current value
- 2020 industry potential: $100 million
- Market: North America
- New Brunswick currently provides juvenile fish to Norway, Scotland
- Competition: Iceland, Norway, Scotland
- High value: $7 per pound
- Specially-designed cage for bottom-feeding fish / shelves for fish to rest after feeding
- Adult broodstock Atlantic Halibut weighs up to 125 kg – larger than most humans
- “Atlantic halibut is the highest-value fish in North America.” (Brian Blanchard, GM of Scotian Atlantic Halibut, Wood’s Harbour, NS)
Sablefish
- Commercial stage: 500 tons / year
- 2020 industry potential: $200 million
- Key market: Japan. Plus Canada, USA, Europe, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore
- Grown by Sablefish Canada, in partnership with the Kyuquot First Nation in British Columbia
- Featured in Earls Restaurants
- British Columbia has the world’s only commercial Sablefish farm
- Miele award in 2008: Judged by 250 top chefs in Asia
- Highest concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids
- “Japan is our best customer, but Whole Foods is one of our newest customers.” (Paul Simpson, Director of Sales at Sablefish Canada, Salt Spring Island, BC)
Atlantic cod
- Developmental stage
- 2020 industry potential: $545 million (128,000 tons)
- Selling small quantities to restaurants, wholesalers in north-eastern USA and Canada since 2004
- Operations in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick
- Competition: Norway, plus Iceland and Scotland
- Partnering with Genome Canada for an elite broodstock program
- First commercially farmed cod harvested in 2003
- “Cod is the reason Atlantic Canada got settled. It’s an iconic species in Newfoundland and Labrador.” (Frank Powell, Alternate Species Manager, Cooke Aquaculture)
Pacific Salmon Forum releases balanced report
February 16, 2009
Released in February 2009, the Pacific Salmon Forum report drew on four years of consultations to conclude wild and farmed salmon can coexist in the Province of British Columbia. By acknowledging a range of impacts on wild salmon – such as changing ocean conditions, development, the wild fishery and logging – the report puts the interaction between salmon farms and the marine environment into perspective.
CAIA supports the Forum’s recommendation to adopt an ecosystem-based approach to habitat management, however to be effective such an approach must be supported by government policy and research. It’s difficult to predict whether a combined water and lands ministry would better protect wild salmon, although such a restructuring could lead to a more holistic approach to protecting BC’s marine environment. The report also recognizes the social and economic role aquaculture plays in coastal communities, where logging and the wild fishery are in decline. While certain recommendations – such as farmed salmon production limits – don’t appear scientifically based, the Forum’s support of Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (growing finfish, shellfish and sea plants together) is a step in the right direction.
In short, the report sends a strong message that aquaculture is here to stay, and that protecting wild fish is everyone’s responsibility.
British Columbia Jurisdiction Lawsuit
February 12, 2009
In September 2008, legal action was brought forward by a coalition of environmental activists, tourism operators and wild fishery interests that challenged British Columbia’s right to manage, regulate and license salmon farming. The lawsuit, which argued open net pen aquaculture falls under Federal jurisdiction, was upheld in a BC Supreme Court decision in February, 2009. The decision will take effect twelve months after the ruling. Although the court case pertains to the Province of British Columbia, the ruling may have ramifications in other provinces.
It’s important to note that Canada’s aquaculture industry abides by a strong regulatory framework – and this won’t change regardless which level of government is responsible for oversight. Canadians can rest assured our country will continue to be a global leader in growing safe, healthy seafood, and putting sustainability at the forefront of our aquaculture operations.
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