— March 16, 2015 —
Letang, NB – A new report on salmon farming globally shows the industry has come of age, and Atlantic Canada is well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for healthy protein.
The report released today by the International Salmon Farmers Association (ISFA) demonstrates that salmon farms today thrive in coastal communities, producing one of the healthiest foods with a minimal environmental footprint. It further demonstrates the industry’s value to Atlantic Canada, in terms of jobs and future growth.
Salmon farmers globally produce 14.8 billion meals from only .0008 per cent of the world’s oceans, says the report. It also shows that based on 2012-2103 statistics, the industry produced $10 billion (USD) worth of salmon and created 121,000 direct and indirect jobs around the world, stimulating thousands more spin-off jobs and economic growth in a wide variety of sectors.
“Salmon farming is already one of this region’s biggest economic drivers, employing over 3,000 people in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and generating $356 million economic activity locally,” says Pamela Parker, Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers’ Association. “Our region plays an important role in the success of the global salmon farming industry. In fact, 50 per cent of Canada’s farmed salmon is grown in Atlantic Canada. With our vast aquatic resources, innovation and technical expertise, we have a tremendous opportunity to continue to create jobs and economic prosperity in our coastal communities.”
The report, entitled Salmon Farming: Sustaining Communities and Feeding the World, was released in Boston today during Seafood Expo North America to mark the International Salmon Farmers Association’s 25th anniversary. The full report can be found at http://www.salmonfarming.org/events/14-8-billion-meals-and-121000-jobs/
Canada was a founding member of ISFA.
Gail Shea, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, said the ISFA report marks a significant milestone in the development of the salmon farming industry.
“This report confirms Canada’s aquaculture industry has come of age. It illustrates the critical importance of salmon farming globally and how Canada’s coastal communities are uniquely positioned to benefit. Our Government is proud of our commitment to grow the aquaculture industry sustainably and create much needed jobs in rural, coastal and Aboriginal communities,” said Shea.
The report outlines key statistics about the world’s growing population and points to the need to find innovative ways of growing healthy food during a time when the world’s land and fresh water resources are shrinking. It also includes overviews of the industry in each country where salmon is farmed and examples of coastal communities that have been revitalized because of salmon farming, including Charlotte County, NB.
“I see first-hand how salmon farming is transforming my own community. Lord’s Cove in Charlotte County, NB was the site of Canada’s first commercial salmon harvest. Over the past almost 40 years, our local salmon farmers have built the industry in this region into an economic powerhouse that creates 1,600 jobs in my area alone,” says Rick Doucet, New Brunswick Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries during the release of the report. “This report illustrates how vitally important salmon farmers will continue to be in meeting future demand for quality food. We in Atlantic Canada have a unique opportunity to play a very positive role in continuing to build a responsible industry that brings jobs to our communities in the future.”
“This new report confirms that Nova Scotia’s aquaculture industry is ideally positioned to deliver real value to our rural, coastal communities,” says Keith Colwell, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “We look forward to working with our salmon farmers in building our industry, growing healthy food and creating jobs in our province.”
The Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) is an industry-funded association working on behalf of the salmon farming industry in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The ACFFA represents salmon producers in addition to a wide range of supporting companies and organizations.