1

Aquaculture in Canada:

An Overview

Gilles Verret, Director, Aquaculture Policy

Aquaculture Management Directorate

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

National Aboriginal Fisheries Forum II

October 2nd 2012

2

Introduction

• The Aquaculture Sector in a Global Context

• The Canadian Aquaculture Sector

• Context for the Aboriginal Aquaculture

Engagement Initiative (AAEI)

Global Aquaculture is the Fastest

Growing Food Production Sector

• Production in 2010 was

77 MMT valued at

$125 billion US

(FAO 2012)

• Roughly 50% of the total

world fish and seafood

produced for human

consumption

• An increasing share of seafood produced and consumed

globally comes from Aquaculture

3

2010

Wild capture

Volume has

Peaked at

~90 MMT

Projected Growth in Global Demand

• According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of

the United Nations (FAO), by 2030:

– The world demand for seafood will have risen by

nearly 30%

– A 40 MMT increase in global seafood production will be

required to meet the increase in demand worldwide

• Global fishery landings forseen to peak at 90 MMT

with little opportunity for any significant increase

• Thus the projected increase in seafood demand will

need to be supplied by Aquaculture 4

Aquaculture in Canada

• $2B in total

economic

activity

• 14% of total

seafood

produced in

Canada

• 35% of its value

• The aquaculture sector provides 14,500 jobs (direct and

indirect) in Canada with most of these being in rural and

coastal communities

Aquaculture in the Provinces

• Mainly on the Pacific

and Atlantic coasts

• However, present in

each of the provinces

as well as in the

Yukon Territory

6

Main Species Currently Cultured in Canada

7

New Opportunities

• Scallops

(East & West)

• Geoduck Clam (BC)

• Sea Cucumber

(BC)

• Clams

and Cockles

(BC)

• Sablefish (BC)

• Halibut (Atlantic)

• Sturgeon (FW)

• Arctic Charr (FW)

• Seabream (NS)

Canada and the World

• 22nd in the

world

• 0.3% of total

global

aquaculture

production

• While global

aquaculture

production has continued to grow at a rate of between 7 to 9%

annually, production volumes in Canada have remained at a

similar level over the last 10 to 12 years

Opportunities for Growth

• Rising global seafood demand presents

opportunities for Canada

• Potential jobs and enhanced economic

prosperity in rural and coastal communities

across Canada

• Interested First Nation and Aboriginal

communities and entrepreneurs are well

positioned to take advantage of these

opportunities

10

Sustainability • While such growth is indeed possible, it must be

managed in a way that protects the environment and

its aquatic ecosystems

• The protection of aquatic ecosystems and its wild fish

stocks and fisheries is a key part of DFO’s mandate

• Aquaculture development must:

– Be achieved in a way that respects and protects the

environment and its fisheries

– Fit with Aboriginal values and principles that aim to

preserve the land, the air and the water for the use of

future generations 11

Aboriginal Aquaculture Engagement • Throughout Canada, about 50 First Nations are engaged in the

aquaculture sector growing finfish and shellfish

• With the opportunity for growth of the aquaculture sector, this

participation can be increased significantly

12

NASAPI – Aboriginal Engagement • The National Aquaculture Strategic Action Plan Initiative

(NASAPI) was a national, collaborative exercise to outline

steps toward economically, environmentally & socially

sustainable aquaculture

• The goal under NASAPI is to generate awareness

of opportunities for expanded engagement in

aquaculture among Aboriginal Canadians

• Two key strategic initiatives were identified

to increase Aboriginal engagement in

aquaculture:

– Economic development (AEA-1)

– Capacity building (AEA-2) 13

• The inaugural National Aboriginal Fisheries Forum

(NAFF I) was held in Halifax, March 29 -31, 2011

• Involved 150 participants from across Canada

• The Business of Fishing was a key discussion area

under the theme: ‘Opportunities, Challenges,

Solutions’

• Topics such as marketing, training, aquaculture,

access to capital, branding and fisheries tourism were

covered

National Aboriginal Fisheries Forum

14

Recommendations from NAFF I • 4 major recommendations for follow-up

– Training and skills development

– Aquaculture development

– Access to capital

– Marketing

• NAFF II has been organized to

have the follow-up discussions

• The results from the Aboriginal

Aquaculture Engagement Initiative (AAEI)

will inform the discussions on Aquaculture

The Aboriginal Aquaculture

Engagement Initiative (AAEI) • To build upon NASAPI to increase Aboriginal

engagement across Canada, DFO invested in the

Aboriginal Aquaculture Engagement Initiative (AAEI)

• Recommendations identified through the National

Aboriginal Fisheries Forum (NAFF I) specific to

aquaculture are also investigated through the AAEI

• The AAEI (and NAFF II): developed in partnership with

Aboriginal organizations from across Canada – the

results of which inform our discussions at NAFF II 16

The AAEI – Process/Results to Date

17

We have invested in:

• 14 ‘Tier 1’ Meetings were held at locations across the country

• 3 ‘Tier 2’ Meetings

Atlantic (Moncton, NB)

Central Canada & the North (Saskatoon, SK)

Pacific (Vancouver, BC)

• 3 Additional Meetings that included strategic plan development:

The Aboriginal Aquaculture Association

Waubetek Business Development Corporation

• Our discussions over the next 2 days at NAFF II will lead to

the development of productive next steps

NAFF II • NAFF II has been organized

under the theme ‘Seize the

Economic Opportunities’

• The Co-chair partners have

agreed that our aim for

NAFF II is to develop

strategies, networks and

processes that contribute to

successful Aboriginal economic development in the

Canadian fisheries and aquaculture sectors

18

Focus on Economic Development:

A Good Fit with Government and Aboriginal Leadership Priorities

• The Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development

Economic Development is the most essential first step

• The Canada – First Nations Joint Action Plan

Joint commitments made to stimulate Aboriginal economic development

• The Crown – First Nations Gathering

Immediate planned actions include that Canada and First Nations:

Will work on a renewed relationship; and

Will make efforts to Capitalize on Economic Development opportunities

The aim for NAFF II (to develop strategies, networks and processes that

contribute to successful Aboriginal economic development in the Canadian

fisheries and aquaculture sectors) is a good fit with these priorities