Fish farming: Atlantic Canada’s vibrant and thriving industry
Innovative and home-grown, Atlantic Canada’s fish farming industry is filling a global need
for healthy food and bringing economic prosperity to our region.

Truly one of the best locations in the world to farm fish, Atlantic Canada’s abundant natural
ocean environment provides optimal conditions for the well-being of farmed fish and the
sustainability of the environment.

Atlantic Canada fish farms are locally owned and operated, and our region’s fish farmers
have built the industry over the last 30 years, becoming recognized leaders in sustainable and
environmentally-responsible finfish production.

We are committed to maintaining the environment in which we work and live, following the highest farm management standards and producing high-quality and nutritious food. We are also dedicated to leading the way in research and development that will continue to grow and improve our industry.

Building an industry right here at home

Atlantic salmon is by far the most important finfish species grown by our fish farmers, but
many companies are now expanding to include other species such as cod, trout and arctic char
as well as mussels and seaweed from integrated multi-trophic aquaculture farms.

In New Brunswick, the first commercial harvest of farmed Atlantic salmon occurred in Lord’s
Cove, Deer Island in 1979. The New Brunswick salmon farming industry is now made up of eight
salmon farming companies, five processing plants and 12 hatcheries. They are supported by
feed plants, cage and other equipment manufacturers, research facilities, marketing companies
and others. All of New Brunswick's salmon farms are locally owned and operated.

There are 90 active marine site leases, the majority of which are centralized in Charlotte
County. The total cage area used for salmon production in New Brunswick is equivalent one-tenth the size of Saint John’s Rockwood Park.

Farmed salmon is New Brunswick’s biggest agriculture-based export. The province produces 30
per cent of Canada’s total farmed salmon, making the province second only to British Columbia
in terms of production. New Brunswick salmon farms have the capacity to produce between 25
and 40 metric tonnes of fish annually, or between approximately six and ten million fish.
More than 75 per cent of New Brunswick's farmed salmon is exported to the United States.

The salmon farming industry is one of New Brunswick’s most important economic drivers,
generating over $270 million in revenue yearly, which triggers $588 million of economic activity
across Canada (Economic and Socio Economic Impact of Aquaculture in Canada, April 2010).

Nova Scotia’s finfish production is still developing, but significant potential exists for the
industry with new farming sites and fish processing facilities being planned in that province.

Three companies are farming finfish in Nova Scotia currently, with 15 operational sites.

In 2009, finfish production in Nova Scotia was valued at $47.6 million and employed 271
people, including both full-time and part-time workers. Finfish farming in Nova Scotia
is supported by transportation and distribution companies, feed plants, equipment
manufacturers, creating hundreds of spin-off jobs.

In 2007, the aquaculture industry triggered $136 million worth of economic activity in Nova
Scotia alone.