Young Salmon Farmers Bring Aquaculture into the 4-H Conversation

Students wanted to know how many farms operated in British Columbia, why Atlantic salmon were raised on the Pacific coast and whether production could be moved onto land.

By Samantha McLeod
SeaWestNews

“How do you vaccinate a fish?”

The question came from the audience at Trinity Western University, where members of Young Salmon Farmers of BC were speaking to 4-H British Columbia youth during the organization’s Food for Thought program.

The answer – each fish is carefully handled and vaccinated, sometimes through highly organized automated systems – reveals the larger message of the afternoon.

Aquaculture may take place in hatcheries, on boats and in ocean pens, but it shares the foundations of every other form of agriculture.

Fish need carefully formulated feed. Their health and environments must be monitored. Farmers make decisions about genetics, animal welfare, disease prevention, sustainability, processing and food safety.

The tools may differ, but the work remains central to food production.

Held from July 19 to 24, 2026, the Food for Thought program introduced 4-H members aged 14 and 15 to agriculture across British Columbia. Through tastings, tours, speakers and discussions, participants explored where food comes from and considered land and water use, sustainability and the relationship between rural and urban communities.

Grounded in the land, 4-H teaches practical skills, leadership, responsibility, communication and community service.

The salmon-farming presentation extended the horizon beyond fields and barns to farms operating along the coast.

Three women led the discussion: Kaitlin Guitard, fish health and food safety laboratory manager with Mowi Canada West and chair of Young Salmon Farmers of BC; Rachel Strassburger, a quality assurance and research and development assistant with Taplow Feeds and FirstMate and secretary-treasurer of the organization; and Emily Warren, licence and development officer with Cermaq BC and its vice-chair.

Their stories challenged the idea that someone must be raised on a farm to become part of agriculture.

Guitard grew up in New Brunswick and originally wanted to become a veterinarian. After studying agriculture and working with cattle, poultry and other livestock, she moved west and entered aquaculture as a smolt technician. The job took her to a remote floating camp, where she learned from experienced salmon farmers and found a place for herself in food production.

“This was an industry that allowed someone like me—someone who was not born into farming—to become a farmer and build an amazing career,” Guitard said.

Warren also considered veterinary medicine. Her interests shifted to marine biology, fisheries, shellfish, kelp and the possibility of growing different species together for environmental benefit. That work led her to Cermaq and the regulatory and environmental side of salmon farming.

“I stayed because it is a sustainable food protein, because there are so many career opportunities, and because we get to live and work beside the ocean every day,” Warren said.

“People pay to go whale watching,” she told the group. “At a sea site, you may have orcas swimming past the farm while you are working.”

Strassburger brought the discussion back to a familiar agricultural subject: animal nutrition. Raised near Guelph, Ontario, she studied at the University of Guelph, worked with poultry, cattle, horses and other agricultural animals, and completed a master’s degree in animal nutrition.

Her employer began by producing aquaculture feed. Strassburger said dogs living around coastal farms sometimes ate the fish feed and developed shiny coats from its omega-3 and omega-6 fats but also gained weight because salmon feed contains more fat than dogs require. Farmers asked whether a similar, lower-fat food could be produced for their animals. That request helped lead to FirstMate pet food, named for the idea that a pet is a boater’s first mate.

The story provided a light moment while demonstrating the science behind feeding farm animals.

At salmon farms, underwater cameras allow specialists to watch how fish behave as feed enters the pens. They adjust timing and quantity based on whether the salmon appear hungry and the pellets are being eaten. Uneaten feed is both a financial loss and an environmental concern. It can fall through the pen, attract other animals and add unnecessary material to the ocean floor.

One worker may feed several remote sites, making observation, animal behaviour and technology part of the same job.

The 4-H members followed closely, asking questions about animal care, technology and the realities of working on the coast. Their curiosity kept the discussion grounded: How are fish vaccinated? Why are farms so remote? What protects salmon from seals and sea lions? Each question opened a window into an industry many young people know far less about than cattle, poultry or crop farming.

The presenters traced the salmon-production cycle from egg to plate. Broodstock are selected to produce the next generation. Eggs hatch in freshwater facilities, where water quality, oxygen, temperature and fish health are closely monitored. Young salmon are vaccinated and screened before being transferred to ocean sites to grow until harvest.

At sea, farmers contend with changing temperatures, plankton, jellyfish, oxygen levels, storms, seals and sea lions. Nets must be inspected and repaired, often by specialised divers, while predator nets provide an added barrier around the fish.

When an audience member asked why farms were located in remote areas, the presenters explained that sites must meet regulatory requirements and provide sufficient depth, water movement and suitable environmental conditions. A salmon farm cannot simply be placed beside a convenient wharf.

Another student asked whether seals come looking for lunch.

“All the time,” Guitard replied.

Students wanted to know how many farms operated in British Columbia, why Atlantic salmon were raised on the Pacific coast and whether production could be moved entirely onto land.

“Atlantic” refers to the species, the presenters explained, not necessarily where the fish was raised. Atlantic salmon became common in aquaculture because they perform reliably in farm conditions, much as cattle breeds are chosen for dairy or beef production.

Some stages of salmon farming already take place on land, but raising fish to full size in closed land-based systems requires substantial infrastructure, water treatment and electricity. Moving production inland or closer to urban centres could also move jobs away from coastal and First Nations communities.

Salmon farming remains one of British Columbia’s most publicly debated food-production industries, with concerns about wild salmon, fish health and environmental effects. The presenters did not avoid that reality. They described the sector’s monitoring, regulation and evolving technology while arguing that farmed and wild salmon need not be viewed as opposing choices.

The presenters described an industry that supports thousands of jobs and contributes more than a billion dollars in annual economic activity, particularly in communities affected by declining forestry and mining. They also argued that farmed salmon helps meet consumer demand without relying entirely on wild fish populations.

“Our purpose is to educate people and create a positive, informed dialogue about salmon farming in B.C.,” Guitard said.

“Compared with dairy, beef or poultry, salmon farming is relatively new in Canada, developing mainly in the 1970s and 1980s. That makes it exciting for young people because there are still so much research, technology and development ahead. When you work with the ocean, there is never a dull day.”

For the 4-H members, the presentation showed that modern agriculture happens on land and at sea, and that its future depends on a new generation of farmers, scientists, and tech specialists.

Main image: Young Salmon Farmers BC presenting at Trinity College.