9420.pdf

Development of aquiculture (husbandry of aquatic animals) in recent years in Canada
may lead to a year-around operation in the fish processing industry. Aquiculture is a
relatively new industry in Canada and is confined principally to four species groups:
salmon, trout, oysters and mussels. Canadian aquiculture output of all species is about
10 % of the volume from the wild fishery and is growing rapidly (Ind., Sci. and Tech.
Canada, 1991 c). Of the Canadian aquiculture industry subsectors, salmon farming is the
largest and fastest growing.
In British Columbia salmon aquiculture has grown rapidly from 4 sites in 1981 to 135 in
1989. At the beginning of the 1990 season, the farm salmon industry in B.C. consisted
of 72 producers operating 135 sites and employing 1,400 people (Ind., Sci. and Tech.
Canada, 1991 c). Farmed salmon production in B.C. was 24,200 tonnes in 1992
(Table 2.2). In 1993, 105 salmon farms were licensed in B. C., approximately 75 of which
were actually operating (pers. comm. with Mr. Richard Deegan of B.C. Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food). Salmon farms were first established along the Sunshine
Coast in the Sechelt area, but are now concentrated around Campbell River and Port
Hardy (Ind., Sci. and Tech. Canada, 1991 c).
Table 2.2 Aquiculture Farm Gate Production in British Columbia
Year Production [tonnes]
Salmonids Freshwater
Trout
Oysters Clams
1981 176 71 1,415
1982 273 74 1,579
1983 128 77 2,453
1984 107 71 2,897
1985 120 83 3,420 4,
1986 400 101 2,864 7
1987 1,931 90 3,482 25
1988 6,590 113 3,702 30
1989 11,883 86 3,721 31
1990 15,486 109 4,547 39
1991 23,780 116 4,482 169
1992 24,200 115 5,000 200
Source: B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and’ Food, 1993b)
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