Through decades of research, teaching, and global outreach, Cyr Couturier has turned the promise of aquaculture into a model for sustainable livelihoods, food security, and coastal resilience.
By Fabian Dawson
SeaWestNews
When pioneering ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau told the world in the 1970s that humanity must ‘farm the ocean as we do on land’ a young Montréaler named Cyr Couturier took that idea to heart.
Half a century later, after mentoring generations of scientists, shaping Canada’s aquaculture policies, and helping small fishing villages around the world find new livelihoods, Couturier’s life’s work has come full circle.
Recently the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA) recognised that journey by honouring him with its Lifetime Achievement Award, a fitting tribute for a man who helped turn seafood farming from an experimental curiosity into a pillar of sustainable food production.
Born in Montréal, Couturier grew up during a time of national upheaval. His family moved to Atlantic Canada’s Labrador City in the early 1970s after the Québec October Crisis. There, his fascination with the ocean began, first as a teenage member of the Jacques Cousteau fan club, and later as a student determined to understand how people could make a living from the sea without depleting it.
“I was always curious about life in the sea and how it benefits the planet,” said Couturier. “Fisheries and seafood farming offered people a sustainable way to make a living. That’s what drew me in.”
Couturier studied marine biology at the University of New Brunswick and earned his graduate degree at Dalhousie University, where mentors like Dr. Gary Newkirk and Dr. Ron O’Dor instilled in him the discipline of collaboration and curiosity.
“At Dal we were talking about aquaculture not just as science but as a way to sustain communities,” he said.
When Couturier joined the Marine Institute of Memorial University in the 1990s, after spending an earlier stint at the Memorial’s Marine Sciences Lab in the 1980s, Newfoundland’s seafood sector was in transition. Wild fisheries were declining, rural communities were struggling, and aquaculture was still in its infancy.
As chair of aquaculture programs and a research scientist, he turned complex marine ecology into practical tools. His field guides and best-practice manuals gave farmers step-by-step direction on everything from site selection to water quality monitoring.
He became known not just for his expertise but for his mentorship. Couturier opened labs and classrooms to high-school students and aspiring researchers alike, mentoring more than 200 youth through science fairs and aquaculture projects. Many of those young learners went on to careers in the field.
“I’m most proud of mentoring students and community members on how to obtain a sustainable livelihood from seafood farming,” he said. “Many of them are now leaders in Canada and abroad.”
That influence has left a deep mark on the entire industry.
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Cyr for over 25 years…first as my university professor and then as a colleague on several aquaculture boards,” said BC Salmon Farmers Association Chair Jennifer Woodland.
“Cyr’s commitment to this sector is unparalleled. He’s educated and inspired many of today’s leaders in aquaculture. For decades, he’s touched not just those he’s worked with, but entire generations of students and colleagues. Nobody deserves this Lifetime Achievement Award more…his impact will be felt for years to come.”
Couturier’s influence also spread globally. He led projects in nearly 20 countries, from Indonesia to Mozambique, helping smallholder farmers develop seaweed, shrimp, and milkfish cooperatives that lifted families out of poverty. The Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada in Indonesia, reaching more than 10,000 farmers, remains one of his proudest accomplishments.
For Couturier, sustainability has never been an abstract idea. He was among the early advocates for responsible aquaculture standards long before they became industry norms. He helped steer the development of environmental and food-safety certifications such as BAP, ASC, and Canada’s organic aquaculture standard.
“The critics of fish farming forced us to improve,” he said. “Transparency and innovation build public trust, and public trust is essential.”
He often reminds policymakers that Canada, with the world’s longest coastline, uses less than one per cent of its suitable marine habitat for aquaculture. “We lag behind other nations,” he warned. “We can grow this sector responsibly while balancing social, economic, and environmental needs.”
Couturier’s career has bridged classrooms, labs, and fishing docks. He has served as president of the Aquaculture Association of Canada, the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association, chair of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, and a board member of the Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation, where he supports pathways for Indigenous students.
In 2025, he was acclaimed chair of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, extending his leadership beyond aquaculture to the entire agriculture sector.
His contributions have been widely recognised: NAIA Aquaculturist of the Year 2008, the Science Atlantic Hall of Fame in 2013, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Aquaculture Association of Canada in 2014, the NAIA Aquaculture Ambassador Award in 2022, and most recently, the King Charles III Coronation Medal for exceptional service to Canada.
But for Couturier, the real reward lies in watching the industry evolve. “Young people, diverse people, growing sustainable food for themselves, their families and for the planet…that’s the bottom line,” he said.
Today, aquaculture in Canada generates over $5.3 billion in economic activity and $2 billion in GDP. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the sector contributes nearly $280 million annually to the economy, sustaining jobs and strengthening food security. The province’s seafood farmers, many of whom once studied under Couturier, now lead some of the world’s most innovative and environmentally sound operations.
Yet, he remains focused on the unfinished work ahead. Climate change, shifting ocean productivity, and public skepticism are, in his view, the biggest challenges facing global seafood production. His message to the next generation is direct: adapt, innovate, and educate.
“If you’re not part of the solution,” he said, “then you are part of the problem. Be passionate about finding solutions.”
As he accepted the NAIA Lifetime Achievement Award, Couturier reflected not on accolades but on continuity. “This one is special,” he said. “I started my career here, and I’ll continue to advocate for sustainable seafood farming here. The next chapter is about helping others build on what we’ve learned.”
From the coastlines of Newfoundland to the farms of Indonesia, Cyr Couturier’s legacy is written in clean waters, thriving communities, and the students who now carry his vision forward.
As he looks to the years ahead, Couturier remains guided by the conviction that first set him on this path, believing that the ocean, when tended with care, will continue to sustain everyone who depends on it.
(Main Image courtesy of the Marine Institute at the Memorial University shows Cyr Couturier)