Aquaculture production has seen important growth over the past 40 years, both in Canada and worldwide. British Columbia leads Canada’s finfish production (principally salmon), while Prince Edward Island leads the country’s shellfish production (principally mussels). In 2023, 145,985 tonnes of seafood were produced by Canada’s aquaculture sector, valued at more than $1.2 billion, contributing to the local economies of many small and coastal communities.
The regulatory framework of Canada’s aquaculture industry is shared between the federal and provincial governments. Further complicating matters is the fact that certain regulatory responsibilities can vary by province. In addition to recent regulatory reforms, a federal Aquaculture Act has been proposed to help clarify the division of powers and to simplify the regulatory regime both for industry and the public. While draft provisions have been shared publicly by the Government of Canada, no new federal Act has been tabled in Parliament.
In addition to regulatory uncertainty, Canada’s aquaculture industry continues to face challenges, including concern over environmental impacts, negative public perceptions and global competition. However, many opportunities, such as emerging technologies, increased Indigenous participation and industry transparency, are key issues for stakeholders.
Aquaculture has been part of Canada’s economy for decades, and environmentally sound aquaculture could contribute to the further development of Canada’s sustainable ocean economy, also called the “blue” economy.
Read the full text of the HillStudy: Canada’s Aquaculture Industry
Revised by Daniele Lafrance
This publication is based on a previous Library of Parliament publication by Thai Nguyen and Tim Williams.
Categories: Agriculture, environment, fisheries and natural resources, Executive summary