Aquaculture in Canada
Aquaculture in
A recent review of literature related to aquaculture in Canada concludes that there is a need for a national strategic plan to increase aquaculture production and to simplify the regulatory framework to reduce uncertainties and delays that have limited growth in the sector, while fostering greater involvement of First Nation communities.[6]
Economic Value of Aquaculture in Canada
Aquaculture provides a notable amount of revenue for the Canadian economy as well as many job opportunities for Canadians. Seafood is Canada's single largest exported food commodity, exporting 85% of production, making Canada the seventh largest seafood exporter in the world.[7] In 1986, Canadian aquaculture production amounted to only 10,488 tonnes, valued at $35 million,[8] and then in 2009 it had a value of $800 million, 69% of which was exported. British Columbia is the fourth largest producer of salmon in the world and is Canada's leader in aquaculture production with 52.3% of total production value, followed by New Brunswick with 20.7% in 2009. The main species of fish farmed in Canada is led by salmon with 70.5% of all fish in aquaculture followed by mussels with 15.1%. Aquaculture makes a significant contribution to Canada's economy totaling $2.1 billion in revenue and jobs in Canada in 2009. The total gross domestic product of farmed fish in Canada totaled $1,005,180,000 in 2009 and $14,495,000 in total employment in Canada.[9] the value accumulated from aquaculture solely for employment is exceptionally important for the members employed in this industry. Over 90% of all jobs (both direct and indirect) are located in rural, coastal, and Aboriginal communities where the human population is low and employment opportunities are scarce. Aquaculture in Canada has proven to revitalize both social and economic factors in these small communities.[10] Over 8,000 Canadians are directly employed in aquaculture – most of them full-time. The aquaculture supply and services sector creates an additional 8,000 jobs. Two-thirds of all workers are under the age of 35.[11]
Output by Province in 2009 | Percentage |
---|---|
British Columbia | 52.3% |
New Brunswick | 20.7% |
Newfoundland | 11.7% |
Nova Scotia | 7.7% |
P.E.I | 3.9% |
Ontario | 1.2% |
Prairies | 0.7% |
Output by Species | Percentage |
---|---|
Salmon | 70.5% |
Mussels | 15.1% |
Trout | 5.8% |
Oysters | 5.5% |
Other Finfish | 1.6% |
Clams | 1.1% |
Other Shellfish | 0.4% |
Technology Used in Aquaculture
To reduce the environmental impact of aquaculture and especially of
Conventional net pen or cage aquaculture
Canada has been using the
Closed-containment systems with rigid walls
This system is the first alternative culture system. Named SARGO™ Fin Farm System, the system was established in 1994 for intensive
Closed-contained systems with flexible walls
Closed-contained systems with flexible walls, another alternative technology known as the SEA systems developed by the Future SEA Technologies, consists of flexible round enclosures made out of a waterproof heavy-gauge polyvinyl chloride. These bags are suspended in the water from a flotation system. SEA systems operate on a flow-through basis. Regarding the waste management, Future SEA has also developed a patent, based on a double drain concept to trap the waste. While, clear water is discharged from the upper part of the tank, the waste water is collected from the concentric drain found at the bottom of tank. Even though the Future SEA claims that this waste trap can eliminate 75% of solids, it is still a new technology that needs further testing at commercial scales.[21]
Land-based technologies
The two types of land-based systems are separated based on the type of water in which they operate. Generally, the saltwater land-based systems are temporary rearing technologies for the early stages of growth; with subsequent transition of the livestock to marine environments.[23] This method of aquaculture is often implemented for stocking of wild populations which are under threat.[24] These hatcheries which breed and raise juvenile fish are also utilized in freshwater stocking programs as well.
Land-based saltwater flow-through system
The land-based saltwater
Land-based freshwater recirculating system
The land-based freshwater
Environmental Impacts of Aquaculture
A significant issue that many aquaculture operations are faced with, particularly in marine environments, is accidental interactions between farmed fish and the surrounding natural ecosystem. There are many potential issues which can result in farmed fish interacting with wild. Various means of equipment failure can lead to farmed fish escaping their pens and dispersing into the wild:[27]
- infrastructure failure (e.g. a result of extreme weather damage)
- boat operations (e.g. collisions and propeller damage)
- predation (e.g. sea lions)
- vandalism
- fish handling errors
- technical deficiencies (inadequate or damaged parts in cage systems)[28]
When farmed salmon escapes into the wild,
With high densities of farmed fish within net pens, there are high concentrations of waste products beneath their pens. Fish waste is high in the nutrients, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), which in high concentrations can be detrimental to farmed and natural life. There are several diets which some aquaculture practices follow to limit these two inputs into the environment.[31] The use of Integrate Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) methods are also useful for mitigating the build up of these nutrients. IMTA is based on the natural aquatic food web, the concept involves various types of organisms which are commonly farmed in aquaculture. The concept minimizes waste and need for chemical supplements, instead it uses the waste produced by finfish which is absorbed and consumed by shellfish and marine macrophytes. IMTA is also an organic method of decreasing dangerous algal blooms which are caused by high concentrations of N and P.[32]
References
- ^ Robson, P.A. Salmon Farming - the whole story, 2006
- ^ Matthews, R, "Aquaculture in Canada" 2006
- ^ Government of Canada - Fisheries & Oceans Canada Archived March 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Canadian Aquaculture - Industry Alliance". Archived from the original on 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
- ^ "Aquaculture Statistics, Facts and Figures". Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ISSN 2516-158X.)
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ "Government of Canada - Aquaculture in Canada". Archived from the original on 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
- ^ "Canadian Aquaculture - Industry Alliance". Archived from the original on 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
- ^ EtaCanadaonline.com
- ^ "Government of Canada - Aquaculture in Canada". Archived from the original on 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
- ^ "Canadian Aquaculture - Industry Alliance". Archived from the original on 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
- ^ "Fisheries and Oceans Canada Splash Page". Archived from the original on 2008-03-19. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ "Fisheries and Oceans Canada Splash Page". Archived from the original on 2008-03-19. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ Ayer, N.W. & Tyedmers, P.H. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2008
- ^ "Fisheries and Oceans Canada Splash Page". Archived from the original on 2008-03-19. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ Government of Canada - Fisheries & Oceans Canada
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Mariculture Systems, Inc. 2007. SARGOTM Fin Farms. Investment prospectus and technical specifications, p.105
- ^ Ayer, N.W. & Tyedmers, P.H. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2008
- ^ Masser, M.P. Bridger, C.J. A review of cage aquaculture: North America. In M. Halwart, D. Soto and J.R. Arthur (eds). Cage aquaculture – Regional reviews and global overview, pp.102–125. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper. No. 498. 2007
- ^ Government of Canada - Fisheries & Oceans Canada
- ^ "Archived copy". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2017-11-27). "Freshwater/land-based - Integrated management of aquaculture plan | Pacific Region | Fisheries and Oceans Canada". www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
- ^ Fisheries, NOAA (2020-03-25). "Atlantic Salmon (Protected) | NOAA Fisheries". NOAA. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
- ^ Ayer, N.W. & Tyedmers, P.H. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2008
- ^ Ayer, N.W. & Tyedmers, P.H. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2008
- ^ http://www2.gov.bc.ca/ Government of British Columbia
- ^ Government of British Columbia
- ^ Benfey, T. J. (1998). "Use of triploid atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) for aquaculture" (PDF). Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
- ^ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-01-25). "Sea lice management at BC salmon farms". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
- ^ Lazzari, R., & Baldisserotto, B. (January 2008). "Nitrogen and phosphorus waste in fish farming". Boletim do Instituto de Pesca Sao Paulo. 34 (4): 591–600.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2013-01-12). "Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-04.