The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) and the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) are applauding the recent “Speech from the Throne,” which included commitments to blue economy developments in Canada.
The “Speech from the Throne” takes place at the opening of every new session of parliament, and introduces what the government’s direction and goals will be – and how it will achieve them. Delivered by Governor General of Canada Julie Payette this year, the speech focused largely on helping Canada make it through the COVID-19 pandemic, with mentions of the blue economy later on.
“The government will look at continuing to grow Canada’s ocean economy to create opportunities for fishers and coastal communities, while advancing reconciliation and conservation objectives,” Payette said in her speech. “Investing in the blue economy will help Canada prosper.”
Part of that push for a blue economy involves the creation of a new Canada Water Agency, Payette stated.
“When the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration was closed by a previous government, Canada lost an important tool to manage its waters,” Payette said. “The government will create a new Canada Water Agency to keep our water safe, clean, and well-managed. The government will also identify opportunities to build more resilient water and irrigation infrastructure.”
Both the FCC and CAIA welcomed the mention of investment into the blue economy, especially given the current challenges the industry faces in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Canada is a water nation. With three coasts and some of the most marine and freshwater resources in the world, communities and families rely on capturing value from our waters,” CAIA President and CEO Tim Kennedy said in a release. “Today, the government of Canada in the Speech from the Throne recognized it is time we have a blue economy strategy to help us sustainably secure this economic potential.”
A blue economy strategy, the groups said, will help innovation and production in Canada’s seafood industry, aiding job creation and food security – two important topics during the ongoing pandemic.
“With world-leading seafood production and a talented workforce Canada’s fish and seafood producers are ready to work in partnership with our government to capture this potential for economic recovery in the coastal, Indigenous, and rural communities that depend on us,” Fisheries Council of Canada President Paul Lansbergen said. “The time for economic innovation led by our oceans is now.”
In December 2019, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a slate of ministerial mandate letters outlining priorities. Among the priorities he outlined was an increase in marine protected areas to cover 25 percent of Canada’s oceans by 2025. Trudeau also called for a transition from net-pen salmon farming in waters to land-based aquaculture – a reflection of the Liberal Party’s electoral platform.In previous comments to SeafoodSource, Lansbergen and Kennedy have been sharply critical of those positions.
More recently, the government has provided aid packages to the seafood industry to counteract the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo courtesy of WorldStock/Shutterstock
