According to a new national industry organization, the Canadian Aquaculture Suppliers Association, governments should move to restore confidence in the sector.
A federally registered non-profit, the Canadian Aquaculture Suppliers Association will work to encourage the growth of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 aquaculture sector, advance the role suppliers play in the industry and be an advocate to protect aquaculture jobs, according to a press release from the organization.
B次元官网网址淭hose who supply our nationB次元官网网址檚 aquaculture sector directly employ thousands of Canadians, including in communities where jobs are scarce and economic opportunity is limited,B次元官网网址� said Ben James, the associationB次元官网网址檚 president, in a press release.
More than 20,000 Canadians are employed in aquaculture throughout Canada, including in some 250 Indigenous communities, and approximately $5.2 billion in annual economic activity is attributed to the industry.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been involved in B.C.B次元官网网址檚 salmon industry for over 40 years and have witnessed the benefits that aquaculture brings to our people and traditional territories,B次元官网网址� said Richard Harry, executive director of the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association, Homalco First Nation member, and owner of a company providing net cleaning services.
B次元官网网址淎quaculture provides Indigenous Canadians with economic opportunities and well-paying jobs, drastically reducing unemployment in many small, coastal communities. Without aquaculture, and specifically farmed salmon, I know many people who will have difficulties in finding work.B次元官网网址�
Demand, domestically and internationally for seafood, is growing at a rate between seven and ten percent annually.
The organization is asking the federal government to support B次元官网网址渃onfidence-building measures,B次元官网网址� such as salmon farming license renewals. The organization also affirms the government should reassess its decision not to renew the salmon farm licences in the Discovery Islands, which it says threatens food security, local jobs and businesses.
It is estimated that the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 decision to halt the renewal of the Discovery Islands permits has resulted in some $1.4 billion in planned national investment being frozen.
B次元官网网址淐anadians are seeing their food bills increase dramatically thanks to inflation and stretched-thin global supply chains. Farmed salmon, responsibly cultivated in Canada, will lessen this impact, support local businesses, jobs, and First Nations along with benefiting CanadaB次元官网网址檚 post-COVID recovery,B次元官网网址� James added.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot at stake, both near-term into the future. Federal and provincial decision-makers, including Ministers Joyce Murray and Chrystia Freeland, along with Premiers Horgan, Furey, Higgs, and Houston, need to stand up, be counted and support Canadian jobs, businesses and future investment.B次元官网网址�
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