Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

06/01/2026

The Coalition of First Nations For Finfish Stewardship (FNFFS) has launched a petition asking Ottawa to reverse the 2029 BC salmon farming ban.

Why it matters:
→ 500+ year-round jobs in coastal communities with no replacement industries
→ $50M annually flowing directly to First Nations communities
→ 100% of BC farms already operate with Nation permission
→ Domestic production keeps salmon on Canadian tables at Canadian prices

The petition routes to key MPs automatically. Your letter lands within 24 hours.

Sign it. Share it. The window to reverse this is now.

The investment is ready. The innovation is ready. The farmers are ready. Reversing the 2029 ban delivers on what Canada has already committed to and gets food back on the table for the communities that depend on it.

Sign the petition. keepfoodaffordable.ca

05/07/2026

From two men and a red truck in 1994 to supplying 80% of Canada's fresh trout today.

Cole Munro Foods is exactly the kind of Canadian aquaculture story we want more Canadians to know.

Their team says it best: "If you don't have clean water, you don't have good fish — just like a crop farmer cares about their soil."

Aquaculture is agriculture. Cole Munro is proof.

📖 Read their story: https://st-thomas.org/stthomasproud-tales/colemunro

From a small Port Stanley operation in 1994 to supplying 80% of Canada's fresh trout, Cole Munro Foods is one of St. Thomas's best-kept business secrets — and a story worth knowing

05/05/2026

A coalition of B.C. First Nations is urging the federal government to reverse its 2029 ban on open-net salmon farms. While Ottawa enacted the ban over environmental concerns regarding wild salmon, Indigenous leaders argue the decision was driven by urban activists and made without any transition plan, devastating remote coastal economies.

​Economic and Social Devastation: The impending ban has already shrunk the B.C. salmon aquaculture sector by 40%, resulting in roughly 1,000 lost jobs and growing food insecurity. For communities like the Kitasoo Xai’Xais Nation, where the industry makes up 51% of the economy, leaders fear the collapse will trigger a return to high unemployment and mental health/addiction crises.

​First Nations' Proposal: The First Nations Finfish Stewardship Coalition is proposing a five-pillar plan to take over a reformed aquaculture system. They want increased equity, an Indigenous-led science center, a stewardship fund, and the authority to issue their own salmon farming licenses in their waters by 2029.

​Environmental Stewardship: Indigenous leaders emphasize that they care deeply about wild salmon and are already successfully managing the farms. By enforcing standards stricter than federal rules and utilizing new technologies (like bubble-skirting), they have drastically reduced environmental harms like sea lice.

​Urging Quick Action: The coalition warns that June is a critical deadline for aquaculture companies to stock new fish. Without immediate clarity from the government, companies may pull out entirely, accelerating job losses. First Nations leaders state they are prepared to take independent action in their territories if Ottawa does not cooperate. First Nations in B.C. are calling on the federal government to reverse its 2029 ban on open-net salmon farms, citing economic devastation and a lack of transition planning. They propose an Indigenous-led aquaculture system with increased equity and stricter environmental standards, warning of dire consequences if immediate action isn't taken. 🌊 Full report on (CHEK News)

03/31/2026

Seafood farming is part of everyday life in many Canadian communities.

It supports local jobs, contributes to our economy and helps put food on the table.

Yesterday, Canada’s seafood farmers called on governments to better support the sector by including aquaculture in the Next Policy Framework for agriculture.

Right now, aquaculture contributes $2.3 billion to Canada’s economy and supports over 18,000 jobs but it’s not fully included in programs that support other types of farming.

With the right approach, there’s a real opportunity to grow.
👉 Learn more: https://aquaculture.ca/news-releases/aquaculture-in-next-policy-framework

03/30/2026

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, together with our regional partners, has sent a letter to federal, provincial, and territorial ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries asking that aquaculture finally be recognized as a full part of Canada's agricultural sector.

For too long, the people who grow, harvest, and depend on this industry have been left out of the same programs and supports that other farmers across Canada can access. We think that's wrong — and we're saying so.

Here's what we're asking for:

1️⃣ Access to the same federal funding programs available to other food producers in Canada.

2️⃣ The ability for provinces to offer direct support to their own aquaculture farmers and workers.

3️⃣ A dedicated program to help shellfish and freshwater farmers manage the risks that come with unpredictable weather and pests.

This is about fairness for the communities and families who depend on this industry from coast to coast. We'll keep you posted on how ministers respond.

📄 Want to read the full letter? It's attached below.

Do you work in aquaculture? Share this with your network

02/20/2026

Nova Scotia’s statement reinforces what many provinces already know: aquaculture is vital for rural growth, food security, and sustainable economic development.

With strong science-based regulation, community engagement, and environmental protection, Nova Scotia shows that responsible aquaculture and healthy oceans can coexist.

Statement here: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2026/02/19/statement-aquaculture-review-board-decision-liverpool-bay-application

01/22/2026

Exports of Canadian farmed seafood increased 7.3% in real terms to $970 million in 2024 – an 18.8% drop since a peak of $1.19 billion in 2019.

Get the latest Economic Impact Snapshot here: https://aquaculture.ca/industry-by-the-numbers

01/19/2026

Since 2019, overall inflation is up 24%, food inflation is up 34%. Meanwhile, Canadian farm-raised fish production is down 15%.

https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/charlebois-canada-food-inflation-capital

01/19/2026

Latest aquaculture production analysis underlines need for Canada to build greater food security, rural jobs and a stronger economy.

See the full Aquaculture Economic Impact Snapshot here: https://aquaculture.ca/industry-by-the-numbers