— April 26, 2015 —
In 2013, the ACFFA made it a priority to look to other global aquaculture leaders to help our region continue to grow the salmon farming industry here at home.
“The amount of food that will be consumed in the world in the next 50 years will exceed all the food eaten in the rest of human history. Global production of seafood is rising rapidly by seven to nine per cent each year,” says Pamela Parker, Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers’ Association. “Salmon farming is crucial for supplying the world’s food needs. It also represents an unprecedented opportunity to bring economic prosperity to Atlantic Canada’s rural communities while producing one of the world’s healthiest foods.”
Parker says that while other countries around the world have visions that support aquaculture growth of over six per cent annually, Canada’s aquaculture growth has flat-lined and there is no national vision or strategy.
“Salmon farming has already created over 2,600 jobs in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Our industry generates over $330 million in revenue for our region, which triggers over a half billion across Canada,” says Parker. “But our region can and should do more to grasp this tremendous opportunity before us.”
The ACFFA’s Year in Review details the work that the Association and its members are doing to continue to bring jobs to our region, to lead the way on research and development, to enhance environmental management practices, and to contribute to their communities.
Over 136 industry stakeholders, scientists, researchers, provincial and federal government representatives, and community members attended the ACFFA’s fall conference and research workshop November 6 and 7 at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews where this report was released. Participants heard from experts on a variety of topics including sea lice management techniques, climate change, the latest research in feed development and environmental factors, new infrastructure technologies as well as national aquaculture development.
The ACFFA’s 2013 Year in Review can be found here.
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.