"It is time to stop all damaging actions and policies that undermine the strength and vitality of our sector," said CAIA President and CEO, Timothy Kennedy.
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Volume down, value down and exports fell, according to the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) analysis, those are the key highlights of 2023 Statistics Canada aquaculture production and trade data. As such, the national association speaking on behalf of seafood farmers called to stop what it described as "self-inflicted damage to Canada's aquaculture sector."
Recently, following British Columbia Premier David Eby's speech at the BC Natural Resources Forum, in which he pledged to strengthen the Canadian province's economy through responsible resource development, the Executive Director of the British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA), claimed that BC salmon farmers could generate CAD 4.2 billion (EUR 2.8 billion / USD 2.9 billion) in output by 2040.
Moreover, Kingzett also said that by providing sustainable local protein while protecting wild salmon using innovative technologies and practices, they could generate CAD 2.5 billion (EUR 1.6 billion / USD 1.7 billion) in output, CAD 930 million (EUR 623.8 million / USD 649.8 million) in GDP and 9000 jobs paying CAD 560 million (EUR 375.7 million / USD 391.3 million) in wages even sooner, by 2030.
However, in contrast to the optimistic projections of what could become, the reality of the Canadian aquaculture figures in 2023 is a less favorable one that takes the sector further away from those targets. As said above, the key data points for Canadian aquaculture production in 2023 were declining volume and value, and falling exports.
The 2023 Statistics Canada data analyzed by CAIA indicates that Canadian farmed seafood production was 145,985 tonnes in 2023. This is the lowest level in a decade and 27% less than the peak production level reached in 2016 (200,804 tonnes).
Regarding the total value of the seafood farmed in Canada, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance said it was CAD 1.26 billion (EUR 836 million / USD 868.9 million), representing a 25.3% drop in real terms from its peak value of CAD 1.69 billion (EUR 1.12 billion / USD 1.16 billion) in 2018.
The same downward trend was seen in exports, which fell to CAD 882.8 million (EUR 586.2 million / USD 609.2 million). That figure was the lowest value for Canadian farmed seafood exports since 2015, and a 24.5% decrease from the peak export value of CAD 1.17 billion (EUR 776.7 million / USD 807.2 million) in 2019.
In its analysis, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance asserted that the loss in total production - which, as seen, has deepened in 2024 - is the result of unnecessary and non-science-based actions by the federal government to reduce salmon production in British Columbia.
The association said these data confirm the measures taken by the Trudeau federal government have significantly weakened the sector and must be stopped in the face of U.S. tariff threats in the wake of Donald Trump's inauguration.
"In the last five years, the Trudeau government has listened to extreme activists and, against their own internal peer-reviewed science advice, undertaken damaging actions that have weakened a sector that has major opportunity for Canada," said CAIA President and CEO, Timothy Kennedy. "Especially in the face of U.S. tariffs that would, if implemented, brutalize coastal communities, it is time to stop all damaging actions and policies that undermine the strength and vitality of our sector."
Explaining those "damaging Trudeau policies" CAIA included as the first example the transition and ban on salmon farming in British Columbia, which, he recalled, threatens the livelihoods of 4,500 people and many coastal and indigenous communities, and which, he claimed, "now being used by activists to attempt to constrain development in Atlantic Canada." The association also mentioned proposed changes to licensing conditions for shellfish farmers in the province that, in its view, would eliminate production in certain areas without scientific justification.
Likewise, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance spoke of Transport Canada's 'Safe Manning' proposal, which it said, without consultation with the industry, requires a 4-person crew (instead of 2 or 3), which, it said, would significantly increase costs for operators at a time of skilled labor shortages.
As a final example, CAIA cited proposed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCAs) that, it said, harm economic opportunity and job creation, such as the million-hectare fjords on the south coast of NL, as they would significantly restrict access for fishermen and negatively affect aquaculture producers.
In CAIA's view, all of these measures have weakened Canada's domestic food production and put workers at risk at a time when the Canadian aquaculture industry, facing threats of U.S. tariffs, needs to be strong and robust for coastal communities across the country.
Following its analysis of the 2023 aquaculture production and trade data, the association makes one request, that all current policies and regulations of the Trudeau federal government "which would kill jobs, increase industry financial burden and decrease domestic food security and seafood exports" be stopped immediately.
As said above, the industry has described the federal government's policies as "self-inflicted damage to Canada's aquaculture sector," but has also called for the country to change course and initiate a positive pathway to strength through sustainable growth.
"The global seafood sector is going through a historical change towards precision farming," said Timothy Kennedy. "Aquaculture production is fast expanding and now accounts for over 50% of global seafood production. It is a critical path to feeding a growing global population with healthy ocean-based protein."
"With the world's greatest capacity for cold water aquaculture, Canada can either be at the front of world with innovation and opportunity or be on the wrong side of history," he continued.
"It is time to begin on a new and innovative pathway toward food security, job creation and new economic and community opportunity through seafood farming," the President and CEO of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance concluded.
