— February 3, 2020 —
Dear Minister Jordan,
We are writing with regards to your recent discussions with Atlantic Aquaculture Ministers about plans to continue work on Canada’s first Aquaculture Act.
Aquaculture is one of Canada’s most promising sectors, and we are happy to see Ottawa acknowledge that a modern, federal legislative framework is necessary to promote our sector’s sustainable growth. Canada is the only nation among its major international competitors to not have a stand-alone, modern act to govern aquaculture. We support the development of an Aquaculture Act that respects all current federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions, while avoiding duplication of processes. Such an act would provide the sector with a modern and coherent regulatory framework that protects the public interest, is evidence-based, efficient, predictable and accountable.
That said, we want to make it clear that any such act must not regulate aquaculture within the jurisdiction of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ wild fishery constitutional mandate. While the DFO must retain its regulatory and constitutional responsibility, we want to reiterate that it is essential that a standalone Aquaculture Act defines aquaculture in Canada as ocean farming, similar to the FAO definition, and gives our fish farmers a federal supporter like the Fisheries Act does for fishermen. This will allow DFO to continue to protect Canada’s oceans while placing the country in the forefront of ocean management and aquaculture development globally.
Aquaculture is a responsible, sustainable and innovative means to provide adequate food supply to meet the world’s population growth while helping to reduce the pressure on wild fish stocks. The Atlantic coast’s abundant natural ocean environment makes it one of the best locations in the world to farm fish, especially Atlantic salmon, in an environmentally sustainable way. Our farmers recognize the diversity of the areas in which they farm their fish; they know that each coastal area and each province requires different environmental and regulatory conditions in which to operate. A federal Aquaculture Act must recognize that.
Our associations represent a diverse range of aquaculture professionals including producers, feed and pharmaceutical companies as well as organizations, institutions and companies that play an important role in the management, service and development of this sector. Atlantic Canada’s salmon farming sector generates more than 4000 jobs and over $400 million in employment income contributing over $1 billion to the Canadian GDP. Our farmers grow over 300 million meals of salmon are every year in Atlantic Canada, which helps to meet the global demand for seafood. As you know, the aquaculture sector is grounded in science and innovation, and our R&D projects drive productivity improvements and new farming technology and processes. Support for these projects from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is one way that the Government of Canada is working to achieve its Atlantic Growth Strategy outcome of long-term economic prosperity in our region.
On behalf of our members, we are asking you to:
1) Confirm your support for Atlantic Canadian ocean fish farming;
2) Address the duplicative and unscientific processes in the DFO Aquaculture Activities Regulation (AAR) limiting the use of green technologies in the industry and restricting the sustainable growth of the sector in Atlantic Canada; and,
3) Commit to the development of a standalone federal Aquaculture Act that provides Canada’s important fish farming sector with a federal home and champion like fish harvesters have in you as the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
As a first step, we would like to invite you to see first-hand some of our east coast salmon production facilities with an ‘egg to plate’ tour. This will provide you with the opportunity to see the technological advancements in the sector and to engage in discussions with our members, who are the experts. We look forward to your response and to working with you as this process evolves.
Sincerely,
Susan Farquharson
Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association
Mark Lane
Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association
Tom Smith
Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia
