“Aquaculture is agriculture”, states new head of seafood farmers alliance

“The time has come for the Federal government to bring aquaculture growth and development under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.” – Joel Richardson, CAIA’s new Board Chair.

By SeaWestNews

The new chair of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is calling on Ottawa to integrate the seafood farming sector into Agriculture/Agri-Food Canada and recognise it as a major contributor to the nation’s food security.

“Aquaculture is agriculture, and the time has come for the federal government to bring aquaculture growth and development under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,” said Joel Richardson, who has been elected as CAIA’s new Board Chair.

He said this will “legitimize the sector’s rightful place as a major farming contributor to the nation’s food security.”

Currently, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is the lead federal regulator that manages aquaculture under the Fisheries Act— legislation which was designed for wild capture fisheries and does not reflect the distinct context and requirements associated with aquaculture management.

Canada remains the world’s only major farmed seafood producing country without modern national legislation specifically designed to govern a responsible and sustainable aquaculture industry.

“Canada’s aquaculture sector generates nearly $5 billion in economic activity, employs thousands of people, and is a vital social driver in coastal, rural and Indigenous communities,” said Richardson.

As part of the farming and food producing community, aquaculture needs to be right-placed and supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, said Richardson, adding the current structure is contributing directly to the sector’s stagnation.

Richardson takes over as chair of CAIA as the Federal Liberal government, disregarding its own scientific experts and yielding to activist pressures, is currently advancing a   transition plan for ocean-based salmon farms in B.C.,  

“The Federal Liberal Government’s poor handling of aquaculture on the coast of BC has resulted in job insecurity, lost investment opportunity and major socio-economic impacts on hard working Canadians,” he said.

With an extensive government and business background and deep commitment to sustainable seafood production and wild salmon conservation, Richardson is the Vice President of Public Relations at family-owned Cooke Aquaculture Inc. based in New Brunswick.

He replaces Ian Roberts, the former director of communications at Mowi.

The 2024-2025 Executive Committee of the CAIA Board includes:

Joel Richardson (Chair), Cooke Aquaculture Inc., NB

Jennifer Woodland (Vice-Chair), Grieg Seafood BC, BC

Cyr Couturier (Treasurer), Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland, NL

Mia Parker (Secretary), Mowi Canada West, BC

Elizabeth Barlow (Member-at-Large), Grieg NL, NL

Steve Langley (Member-at-Large), Atlantic Aqua Farms, PEI

Linda Sams (Member-at-Large), Cermaq Canada, BC

Trevor Stanley (Member-at-Large), Skretting Canada, NL

Brian Yip (Member-at-Large), Fanny Bay Oysters, BC

In addition, CAIA welcomed new Board members; Jamie Gaskill (Poseidon Ocean Systems), Lucas Linkletter (Raspberry Point Oysters), Jason McGrattan (Merck Canada), Gopakumar Menon (Garware Technical Fibres), Gideon Pringle (Mowi Canada East), Amédée Savoie (La Maison BeauSoleil), and Isaac Yun (Cargill Canada).

CAIA is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers. Its members generate over $4.7 billion in economic activity, $1.9 billion in GDP, and employ over 16,800 Canadians.

Brian Kingzett, Executive Director of the BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA), described the new CAIA board make-up as a “who’s who of expertise in the Canadian aquaculture industry.”

“The board make-up is great and well-positioned to help support CAIA in its advocacy,” said Kingzett.

File Image – Joel Richardson, the new chair of CAIA.