Aerial view of fish farming in British Columbia, Canada.
Photo: Adobe Stock.
The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) presented yesterday its '2025 Sustainability Report for Canadian Salmon Farming' , which, it said, highlights Canada's salmon farmers' commitment to responsible food production for chefs, grocers and families.
"Aquaculture farmers know that growing food for Canadians must be environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable," said Timothy Kennedy, President & CEO of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, commenting on the report.
"These results show salmon farming companies have adopted science-based methods that have improved the standard of salmon farm sustainability overall in Canada. Moreover, the results clearly reinforce that ocean farming, innovation, increased production and job creation need to be supported by governments to build investor confidence," he added.
The 2025 report is the second sustainability report presented by CAIA, which began what it called its "sustainability disclosure journey" in November last year.
In this new edition, the report's benchmarks refer again to the seven areas in which Canadian salmon farmers have made commitments: fish health, climate change, sustainable feed, food security, food traceability, ocean health, and public reporting.
Therefore, building upon their dedication to public disclosure, the results on which the report is based are those of the 2023 production year -January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023-, and include contributions from all CAIA salmon-producing members, although, as indicated in the report itself, this is not the case for all reporting benchmarks.
Among all the points of interest in the report, in the release announcing its launch, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance particularly highlighted that the report demonstrates that fish health and welfare are a top priority for producers.
According to CAIA, progress was reported on several indicators within the fish health anchor, recognizing best management practices and technologies that support the welfare of farmed salmon and the protection of wild salmon.
Specifically, the CAIA note highlighted five key aspects of its '2025 Sustainability Report for Canadian Salmon Farming':
Antibiotic use was cut in half. According to data collected in the report, vaccines and advanced veterinary management practices led to a 50% reduction in antibiotic use. Salmon farmers also emphasized that strictly regulated withdrawal periods follow any use of medication.
Fish survival rates increased to nearly 85%. CAIA noted that while some harvest loss is an accepted part of all food farming, 100% of farmed salmon in Canada is raised in compliance with the fish welfare code, and mortality during farming has fallen to just 15% nationwide.
Responsible feed sourcing reached up to 97%. According to the results, almost all marine ingredients in fish feed—including fishmeal, fish oil, and protein—are certified as sustainable by accredited third-party organizations, and one of the biggest developments in salmon feed is the reduction of fish-based ingredients to less than 20% and the increase in plant-based ingredients, such as algae and canola oil.
Fish escaping incidents in the ocean have fallen from 13 to 8 nationwide. In 2023, the total number of fish that escaped from farming cages was 1,246. This figure corresponds to a total of 8 escape incidents.
100% of ocean farms are reducing waste. This achievement is due to the use of technology, with underwater cameras and sensor equipment that allow them to ensure that fish receive the right amount of feed.
CAIA's release also highlighted that all farmed salmon sold in Canada is approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as a healthy food choice, and that Canada's Food Guide labels salmon as part of a healthy eating pattern.
Likewise, the Alliance also pointed out that assessments by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the federal regulator for the sector, have consistently found that the farmed salmon industry poses only a minimal risk to wild salmon and that companies have complied with all of the country's laws and regulations.
"Canada has the most cold-water aquaculture potential in the world. We can be a global leader but, to build Canada strong, this opportunity needs to be realized," stated President & CEO of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance.
In his view, there is currently an opportunity for Canada to readjust its policies to embrace the seafood farming sector as part of the fabric of a competitive, innovative and sustainable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector and protect Canadian workers and the over 3,000 supplier companies to the sector.
"We are ready to build and grow a future of sustainable and secure food production and dynamic coastal communities," Timothy Kennedy added.
Following the announcement of the ban on salmon farming in British Columbia in June 2024, CAIA has thrown itself to show both the Federal Government and Canadian society as a whole the importance of the salmon farming industry -both in BC and across the country- not only for the economy, but also for other aspects such as Canada's food security and support for reconciliation with First Nations.
"While we are proud of our progress, we are committed to pursuing improvement in our practices and technology," CAIA's President & CEO said now.
"With the right regulatory environment and a pathway to unlock investment in innovation, we will continue to advance the sector's performance, responding to challenges and ensuring a healthy, secure, and high-quality Canadian source of food for all Canadians," Kennedy concluded.
