Support your salmon farmers, global seafood group tells Canada

“The salmon farming sector in BC is an invaluable contributor to local economies and provides a reliable source of healthy, responsible protein to Canada and the global marketplace.” – Global Seafood Alliance.

By Fabian Dawson
SeaWestNews

An international seafood organisation is the latest group to call on the Canadian Government to support salmon farming in British Columbia, stressing that the sector plays a key role in meeting growing food demands regionally, nationally and globally.

The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA), an international, nonprofit association dedicated to advancing responsible seafood practices, said it stands in support of BC’s salmon farmers, as the Federal Government considers renewing the licences for their marine aquaculture operations.

“The salmon farming sector in British Columbia is an invaluable contributor to local economies and provides a reliable source of healthy, responsible protein to Canada and the global marketplace,” said Mike Kocsis, CEO of GSA.

“Globally, aquaculture plays an increasingly important role in food security – it’s the fastest growing food production system and provides a means to meet growing food demand with lower environmental impact than many alternative animal proteins,” he said.

The organisation has certified over 3,300 facilities around the world, through its Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) and Best Seafood Practices (BSP) standards, which address a full spectrum of environmental, social accountability and food safety issues.

The GSA also announced that it will be jointly hosting a roundtable – “Farming for the Future: Responsible Salmon Farming in British Columbia,” – with the BC Salmon Farming Association (BCSFA) on June 4.

The roundtable will bring together Young Salmon Farmers of B.C. as well as a representative from the Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation to discuss the responsible practices employed by the sector and what goes into attaining BAP certifications.

The discussion will also include a real-time look at a farm and will be followed by a live Q&A session. You can register for the event here.

In a statement, the GSA said all the salmon farming sites in B.C. have been voluntarily certified by at least one third-party certification program, including Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP).

BAP standards cover the entire aquaculture production chain, including the processing plant, farm, hatchery and feed mill. They also include ensuring farm sites are in areas that do not displace important natural habitats, requiring facilities to monitor water quality and effluents, requiring proper disposal of waste and limiting stocking density.

Producers that have attained BAP certification must pass an annual third-party audit and address any non-conformities found during the audit to receive their certificate.

GSA’s statement of support for BC’s salmon farmers come as the Federal government currently considers renewing the soon-to-expire marine farming licenses, pending the formulation of a Transition Plan for the sector in the province.      

The Liberal government, at the behest of activists, has already shut down 40% of salmon farms since 2020, increasing carbon emissions and wiping out jobs that are the lifeblood of rural, coastal and Indigenous communities.

Before the shutdowns the salmon farming sector was the largest agri-food export in British Columbia. The sector employed approximately 6,500 people, produced close to 500 million salmon meals per year, received inputs from over 1,000 individual suppliers and had an economic value of $2 Billion.

Others who are urging the renewal of the licences for a minimum period of six years, include the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, aquaculture associations and businesses across the country, coastal community groups, fisheries experts and the Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship, which is fighting to retain its traditional rights to farm fish in its territorial waters.

The coalition recently released a ‘scientific textbook’ called Modern Salmon Farming in British Columbia: A Review, aimed at closing the knowledge gaps about the industry and counter the campaign of disinformation by salmon farming opponents.

Salmon farming in BC directly and indirectly employs over 700 Indigenous people and provides $120 million in total annual direct and indirect economic benefits to First Nations, with $42 million going directly to Indigenous communities. Today, 100 per cent of BC’s farmed salmon is raised in agreement with Rights Holder First Nations.

The coalition has said it is opposed to the federal government disregarding science and bowing to unfounded activist claims on salmon farming that, if heeded, “will severely damage our communities, and deny our rights and deny our rights and title.”

(Image courtesy of The Global Seafood Alliance)