Reading Time: 3 minutes

Canada’s salmon farming industry is at a crossroads. 

Right now, the industry is facing uncertainty as it waits for a decision from the federal government regarding 79 salmon farming license renewals in British Columbia. This includes the renewal of 19 operations in BC’s Discovery Islands, which were suddenly ordered to close at the end of 2020. 

A decision was made in December 2020 to shut down these operations, despite nine-peer reviewed government studies that showed the marine operations had minimal impact on wild stocks migrating through the area.

The closure of salmon farms in the Discovery Islands, which have been operating for 35 years, has already resulted in hundreds of people losing their jobs.

A recent study, estimates that BC’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous coastal communities will lose more than 4,700 jobs and $1.2 billion in economic activity annually if the Federal Government does not renew the farming licences.

And, should the current federal government follow through on its promise to phase out all open net pen salmon farms by 2025, the entire country will suffer a tremendous loss.

The aquaculture sector currently generates $5.4 billion annually in economic activity, employs 25,000 full-time workers, and is responsible for 97% of all salmon produced in this country.

And while aquaculture production occurs in all provinces and territories, BC is the largest producer. BC produces 87,000 tonnes of farmed salmon annually, making farmed Atlantic salmon the province’s number one agri-food export.

I am not oblivious to the fact that salmon farming has been a contentious topic in this country.

It has been polarizing, viciously debated, and used as a political pawn to win elections. But through all of this arguing, we seem to be missing the point. Farmed Canadian salmon is a healthy, high-quality, sustainable protein choice. That is a fact. Most of the claims made in opposition to salmon farms are either outdated or completely untrue.

---

Read next: farmed salmon myths

---

The reality is that farmed Canadian salmon is a sustainable food choice, a healthy food choice, and a food choice that provides jobs, education, training, and economic opportunities to Canadians, specifically young Canadians, who make up the youngest agri-food workforce in Canada.

Even better, the potential for those jobs to grow is huge: not only does Canada have more coastline than any other nation on earth, it borders on three oceans. So we have an opportunity no other country enjoys: to lead the farming of salmon on the world stage.

A 2017 report by the Advisory Council on Economic Growth identified aquaculture as a key growth sector to help Canada increase its share in agri-food products by 2027. And in October 2020, months before the Canadian government announced its intention to establish a blue economy strategy, the country’s aquaculture and fishing industries collaborated to produce a 20-year blueprint to make Canada one of the world’s best sustainable fish and seafood producers.

Canada is already set up to be a global salmon aquaculture leader. 

In the face of climate change and a growing population, farmed salmon is a low-impact, low-emissions, sustainable protein choice that has the potential to address global food security in a way that contributes to a more sustainable global food system.

And if we want to play a role in that, we need to advocate for Canada to be the best producer of farm-raised salmon in the world.

If you’re interested in learning more about farmed salmon and how you can support Canadian salmon farmers check out lovesalmon.ca.