— June 18, 2021 —
The survey found 80 per cent of Atlantic Canadians support aquaculture and agree that local salmon farming is a reliable and sustainable source of protein. The poll also found 84 per cent of Atlantic Canadians agree sustainable aquaculture helps to ensure food security in our region.
“Atlantic Canadians have created an aquaculture sector that is uniquely their own and that has always been based in research and science,” says Susan Farquharson, Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers’ Association. “Support for our homegrown industry has consistently remained high here in Atlantic Canada as farmers, government, researchers and conservationists have collaborated to sustainably build it.”
The poll also found:
· 84% agree that the sustainable aquaculture industry helps to ensure food security in their province.
· 85% agree the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted vulnerability to food shortages
· 86% agree the pandemic has highlighted our dependence on imported food.
· 69% have increased consumption of local foods since the pandemic shutdown.
· 85% plan to eat more local foods once the pandemic shutdown is over.
· 92% agree domestic food production will become increasingly important for our region’s economic future.
· 86% agree local salmon farming provides important employment opportunities.
· 80% agree salmon farming is an important contributor to their local economy.
Atlantic Canada’s salmon farming sector generates more than 8000 jobs and contributes over $2 billion to the Canadian GDP. Our farmers grow 323 million meals of salmon every year in Atlantic Canada (RAIS Inc.2020), which helps to meet the global demand for seafood. The Food and Agriculture Organization – United Nations (2020) listed aquaculture as one of the top five priorities to address climate change.
“The increasing importance of aquaculture to feed the world opens a window of opportunity for seafood producing regions like Atlantic Canada,” says Farquharson. “Atlantic Canada’s science-based, collaborative approach will serve us well as we continue to move forward together to sustainably grow our industry and produce healthy protein for a hungry world.”
Commissioned by the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers’ Association, the survey was conducted by telephone with 1,500 Atlantic Canadians aged 18 and over from May 10 to May 31, 2021 by Narrative Research as part of its Atlantic Quarterly Survey. The results are accurate to within 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
For more information:
Susan Farquharson
Executive Director
Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association
info@atlanticfishfarmers.com
