The release of the New Brunswick’s 2022-30 Finfish Aquaculture Growth Strategy marks an important step forward for this province’s vibrant salmon farming sector.
As the home to the first commercial salmon farm in North America over four decades ago, New Brunswick is considered the heart of salmon farming in Atlantic Canada. The Province of New Brunswick has supported the development of salmon farming since its beginnings, including industry innovations such as the Aquaculture Bay Management System, green sea lice treatments and the world’s first wild salmon conservation farm located in Dark Harbour.
We applaud the Province of New Brunswick for clearly recognizing the importance of salmon farming to our food security and economy. The strategy establishes an achievable and promising path forward for the industry, which in turn will help grow our entire province and support New Brunswickers.
The strategy includes key milestones for exciting technological advancements such as post-smolt systems which will require several provincial agencies to work together to make this achievable. Post-smolt systems allow our farmers to grow their fish longer and larger on land and reduce the time our fish are exposed to the marine environment by 50 per cent.
The Province of New Brunswick has deemed aquaculture one of its most promising industries for growth, and we look forward to working with the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries and other stakeholders to see this strategy successfully implemented.
Salmon farming is an incredibly dynamic, diverse, and ever-evolving industry that plays an important role in sustainable communities. A 2020 study found that the total economic impacts of the farmed salmon sector amounted to just under $2 billion in output and $800 million in GDP, about $350 million in salaries for more than 8,000 workers in Atlantic Canada. Atlantic Canadian salmon farmers grow 343 million climate-friendly and healthy meals annually.
Susan Farquharson
Executive Director
Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association