Better rules would mean better opportunity for BC’s salmon farmers, the British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) told a senate committee last week.
While British Columbia’s salmon farming community currently contributes CAD 800 million (USD 726 million, EUR 527 million) to the provincial economy, it could grow to CAD 1.4 billion (USD 1.3 billion, EUR 922 million) by 2020, resulting in 8,000 total jobs. By 2035, it could reach CAD 3.5 billion (USD 3.2 billion, EUR 2.3 billion) and 20,000 jobs.
All the sector needs is legislation that better speaks to the work of the province’s ocean farmers. “An Aquaculture Act for Canada…will define aquaculture in federal law and provide a unifying, long-term framework that recognizes aquaculture’s growing importance to Canada’s economy,” said Jeremy Dunn, BCSFA executive director during public hearings held on the topic.
The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans visited Tofino, Campbell River, Baynes Sound and Nanaimo as part of a fact-finding mission last week. They are undertaking a study on the regulation of aquaculture in Canada, and the opportunities and challenges for the sector. From representatives of BC’s salmon farming community, they heard that regulation tailored specifically to aquaculture would both meet the public’s interest in strong management of the sector while also enabling the sector to grow.
“Modernizing the legislative, regulatory and policy framework will allow Canada, and British Columbia, to realize its full potential. In BC we have shown that we can grow nutritious fish that are healthy and co-exist in the ecosystem,” said Dunn.
