Tapping into global markets for Canadian farmed fish and seafood

November 22, 2017 – Ottawa, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Canadian aquaculture farmers are increasingly important contributors to the Canadian economy, particularly in smaller coastal and rural communities. Surging global consumer demand for high-quality and sustainably-sourced seafood products is making aquaculture one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. With exports valued at $1 billion in 2016, fish and seafood are a key part of meeting our government’s ambitious goal of reaching $75 billion in annual agri-food exports by 2025 with the ability to create well-paying jobs for Canadians.

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced today an investment of $2.48 million to support the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) in their efforts to increase awareness and demand for Canadian farmed fish and seafood in the United States, Asia and Europe.

CAIA will implement a diverse range of both traditional and innovative marketing activities targeting the markets of the United States, Europe and Asia.

Quotes

“Canada’s seafood farmers produce the best quality farmed fish and seafood products in the world. This investment will help Canada’s high-quality farmed seafood find new markets around the world while creating well-paying jobs especially in our rural and coastal communities.”
– Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“Canada’s seafood farmers make an important contribution to the world’s food supply. As a regulator, we are committed to ensuring a responsible and sustainable aquaculture industry that can create jobs and grow the economy in coastal and Indigenous communities.”
– The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., Q.C., M.P., Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

“Our industry’s ultimate goal is further developing Canadian farmed seafood excellence, and delivering uniquely responsible, healthy and nutritious seafood that is in high demand from consumers around the world. This program continues to help our industry to establish new and long-term global demand for Canadian farmed seafood products like salmon, mussels, oysters and more. This investment in the market development of our sector will deliver jobs, growth and opportunity for rural and coastal communities across Canada.”
– Timothy Kennedy, Executive Director of CAIA

Quick Facts

• Canada’s aquaculture top species produced in 2016 were salmon (Atlantic, coho and chinook), mussels, rainbow trout, oysters, and clams.
• The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance represents Canada’s seafood farmers, from coast to coast to coast, including finfish, shellfish and aquatic plant farmers, feed companies and suppliers, and works to promote the quality and sustainability of farmed seafood to domestic and international markets.
• Canada is the fourth-largest producer of farmed salmon in the world and mussel is our top shellfish aquaculture export.
• According to a 2009 study, aquaculture employs about 14,000 people in full-time, well-paying jobs and generates a little more than half a billion dollars in labour income.
• Budget 2017 set an ambitious goal of growing Canada’s agri-food exports to $75 billion by 2025.
• Budget 2017 focused on agri-food as one of the top industries in our Government’s Innovation and Skills Plan, an ambitious effort to make Canada a world leader in innovation, with a focus on expanding growth and creating good, well-paying jobs.
• This investment is being made under the Growing Forward 2, AgriMarketing Program.

Associated Links

• Growing Forward 2 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• AgriMarketing Program (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Industry Overview for Fish and Seafood (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Contacts

Guy Gallant
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

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