New York Times

Letter to the Editor

Submitted on December 22, 2009

Dear Editor,

I read with interest the letters in response to the op-ed you printed December 9th titled “Catch of the Day”, but I was dismayed to read the letter from Katherine Schwarz, who suggested we reconsider the amount of salmon we eat. Given the health benefits of consuming salmon, this is very unfortunate advice, particularly coming from a nutritionist. Salmon, whether wild or farmed, fresh or frozen, contains critical omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and depression. A 2006 Harvard study showed that eating a modest amount of salmon could reduce the risk of death from coronary heart disease by 37 percent. Studies also show that Omega-3 fats also suppress or slow the growth of cancer cells. For the sake of our health, we should all be eating more salmon, not less.

In addition to the many health benefits, farmed salmon has the added advantage of taking the pressure off wild fish stocks.

Ruth Salmon
Executive Director
Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Mussel Industry Council (MIC) Provides 2,500 Pounds of Mussels for Grey Cup Festivities
November 26, 2009

Atlantic Canada’s shellfish industry is putting some additional ‘mussel’ into the Grey Cup by donating 2,500 pounds of blue cultured mussels. “We have shipped 2500 pounds of Fresh Blue Cultured Mussels to Calgary,” says Linda Duncan, Executive Director, Mussel Industry Council. “When the Atlantic Schooners, an active group of football fans, asked if we could share this great food with all the die-hard CFLers, we couldn’t resist. Mussels are a wonderful way to celebrate any event with family and friends.” Mussels are high in Omega 3s, low in fat and full of vitamins and nutrients.

More info: www.discovermussels.com

Globe and Mail

Tipping the enviro scales

Published November 26, 2009

In assessing the sustainability of seafood, it is correct that how food is produced is just as important as where it comes from (Debunking Our 'Fetish Of The Fresh' - Nov. 24).

However, farmed salmon's "environmental drain" should be considered in the context of the carbon footprint of other protein production. According to Statistics Canada, the biggest culprit of food-related greenhouse-gas emissions is land-based fresh and frozen meat (10.5 kilotons per year), followed by dairy (9.25 kilotons per year). Fish accounts for a relatively small 1.5 kilotons per year.

Farmed salmon has the added benefit of being affordable, grown in Canadian waters, and available fresh, year-round.

Ruth Salmon, executive director, Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Organized by the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA), the Farmed Seafood Extravaganza on September 30 was the first celebration of every type of seafood farmed in Canadian waters. More than a dozen species – representing proud growers from the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, Ontario and the Yukon – were on offer at the renowned Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill in downtown Toronto. Guests were offered fresh mussels, scallops, oysters, halibut, Rainbow trout, clams, Arctic char, sablefish, and of course, salmon.

RECIPES AND PHOTOS:

Media and Industry Rub Shoulders at the Farmed Seafood Extravaganza in Toronto

Posted November 2009

CAIA was particularly excited to serve up Atlantic cod, an iconic fish being farmed in Canada for the first time! Great Lakes Brewing paired seafood dishes with craft beers, offering guests a new and refreshing way to savour our farmed finfish and shellfish. The event was attended by the Honourable Donna Cansfield, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources.

Northern Ontario Aquaculture Association releases strategy for sustainable growth
November 4, 2009

Within 10 years, total output of rainbow trout in Ontario is forecast to double to approximately 9,000 tonnes annually, generating total annual revenue in excess of $100 million. Specific goals include establishing a new government / industry committee and a streamlined site application process.

Read the report: www.ontarioaquaculture.com

Did you know?

PEI accounts for 80 percent of Canada's mussel production, and grows 2 million pounds of oysters each year.

New website: www.aquaculturepei.com

Fishing for Answers
Globe and Mail
Letters to the editor
Published Saturday, August 15

Pacific salmon returns are in decline along the entire U.S. west coast south of Canada; there are no salmon farms there. Both U.S. fisheries scientists and environmental groups (such as Save Our Wild Salmon) have blamed reduced salmon runs – and the risk of species endangerment – on overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution and warmer ocean and river temperatures.

Public understanding is not helped by a simplistic focus on salmon farms. Saving wild salmon will require adopting a holistic, total ecosystem management approach and recognizing that the causes of decline are multifaceted and include economic development on watersheds and climate-related changes in our oceans and rivers.

Ruth Salmon, executive director, Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Globe and Mail sea lice quote:

'Sea lice from fish farms are not the explanation for this year’s extremely poor marine survival of Fraser River sockeye.'
Paul Sprout, Pacific Region director general, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Shatner hooked by anti-salmon campaigners

Ottawa Citizen

Published August 5, 2009

Canadian actor William Shatner's pet cause of protecting BC's wild salmon would be laudable if it weren't misguided.

The notion that salmon farms are causing the collapse of wild stocks on the West Coast is far-fetched, even for a Hollywood movie.

Shatner has been co-opted by an environmental campaign that relies on sensational claims to raise funds.

His letter to Canadian politicians, including our prime minister, will create public and political controversy for aquaculture, while doing nothing to help our wild salmon.

Sadly, this campaign hurts a proud industry that employs thousands of Canadians working in small, rural communities, and provides fresh, affordable seafood year-round.

The No. 1 threat to wild salmon in B.C. is overfishing. As a sport fisherman, Shatner should understand that basic connection. Other pressures include development, logging, mining and changing ocean temperatures. Looking at the big picture, wild salmon populations are down along the entire coast of North America -- not just where there are salmon farms. When it comes to aquaculture, rules governing salmon farming in Canada are among the strictest in the world.

The latest allegation, that sea lice from B.C. salmon farms are killing Fraser River sockeye, is even more far-fetched.

By the time out-migrating Fraser River sockeye swim anywhere near a salmon farm (nearly 200 kilometres away), they are larger than 0.7 grams and are not vulnerable to sea lice.

This weight threshold has been established by federal fisheries scientists.

You can't save wild fish by eating them.

If Shatner can't grasp that logic, he needs to come back to earth.

Ruth Salmon,

Ottawa

Executive Director,

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Government of Canada and PEI invest $1 million in project to boost 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.

More

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. "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.

More

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.

More

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.

More

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

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.

More

CAIA publishes national aquaculture white paper
April 28, 2009
Aquaculture – A Canadian Opportunity explains why Canada is poised to become a global leader in sustainable aquaculture and what it will take – in terms of public support and public policy – for this young, growing industry to achieve its full potential. Canadian aquaculture has huge growth potential. With public support and appropriate government policy and regulation, aquaculture employment and production could triple by 2015. We have the capacity and we have the market demand. Canada’s shellfish, finfish and sea plant growers contribute 16,000 jobs and a billion dollars a year to our economy. Aquaculture – A Canadian Opportunity provides a snapshot of where our industry is now, forecasts where we want to be, and explains what’s standing in our way.
Read the report

Winnipeg Free Press

Farmed fish healthy, safe

Letter to the editor

Published April 22, 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).

Read more

Canadian producers show some mussel

April 15, 2009

Canada’s mussel growers, processors and industry associations in Eastern Canada are working together to promote farmed fresh mussels throughout North America. The recently formed Mussel Industry Council (MIC) will engage in marketing and consumer education to increase consumer and food industry demand for mussels. CAIA has been a proud partner in getting the MIC established. Based on the experience of other industries such as citrus fruits, milk, cranberries, pork and salmon, the program will be sustained by a modest levy on sales by members of the Council. For more information, contact Catherine Hebb: 1-902-491-2540.

Read more

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. Second, he fails to point out that aquaculture provides a sustainable seafood option by taking pressure of wild fish stocks.

Read more

Making a splash
Industry forecasts new aquaculture species will generate $880 million by 2020

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.

Read more

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.

Read more

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. 

Read more

Top Ten Things Canadians Don’t Know about Aquaculture. Read more...