CANADA

Aquaculture operations in Canada are concentrated in coastal provinces, with British Columbia and the Atlantic provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island) being the primary regions. 

British Columbia is the leading province in terms of aquaculture production, particularly for salmon farming. The province is currently facing an upcoming ban on net-pen farming which effectively means the industry could be decimated. 

Whether the fish farmers of Canada’s Pacific coast will have to either switch to costly land-based operations, or close down altogether, remains to be seen. Whatever happens, fish farming continues to be a political hot potato.

The Atlantic provinces are known for their diverse aquaculture activities, including the farming of salmon, trout, mussels, and oysters. Newfoundland and Labrador, in particular, has seen substantial growth in its aquaculture sector, with a focus on Atlantic salmon and steelhead trout. Prince Edward Island is renowned for its mussel farming, while New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have thriving oyster and clam industries. 

Canada has many advantages as a location for aquaculture, but there are many people who see the industry as a threat to the country’s significant wild fisheries and to its rightly treasured marine environment making the industry something of a political battleground.