Aquaculture
The development of aquaculture on Canada's North Pacific Coast has significant consequences for both the economy and ecology of the region. There are many contributing factors to drive expansion of the aquaculture industry in the area, including the need for employment, global food demand and the pristine environmental conditions. This underscores the need for a clear vision of how aquaculture fits into planning for the region.
Aquaculture is basically farming in the sea. But there are serious issues that can arise when this farming is done poorly. Most people know about fish farms, where "finfish" like salmon and sablefish are raised on an industrial scale. But there are also aquaculture operations where people raise shellfish such as mussels, clams and oysters.
Fifty-five per cent of BC’s fish farms are located within Canada's North Pacific waters, mainly in the southern inlets and bays. Less than three percent of the shellfish sites in BC are located along Canada's North Pacific Coast. That will likely change, as several shellfish pilot projects are underway.
To see the locations of aquaculture sites in B.C. waters, visit the Aquaculture pages of the Marine Atlas of Pacific Canada.
Concerns
Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production industry in the world. Unfortunately, the most common method of "finfish" aquaculture (known as "open net-cage" farming) has harmful impacts on marine ecosystems.
BC’s open net-cage salmon farming industry causes numerous problems for the environment and affected communities. Numerous peer-reviewed studies have shown that open net-cage salmon farms are polluting marine ecosystems and infecting young wild salmon with lethal numbers of sea lice.
The harmful impacts of open net-cage salmon farming must be addressed as a matter of urgency, but broader planning for the development of a more sustainable industry can be done within the integrated plan for Canada's North Pacific Coast. There is already considerable interest and investment in closed containment salmon farming in BC.
Shellfish farming has its own impacts, including altering inter-tidal habitat and introducing alien species.
