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The State of Farmed Seafood in Canada 2017 Report shows revenues from seafood farming in Canada reached $1.35 billion in 2016, and included an economic impact of $5.1 billion, jobs totaling 25,040, and Indigenous participation across the nation.

Highlights from the report include:

Solid Production, Revenues & Exports in 2016

• Revenues in 2016 of $1.347 billion, up from $918 million in 2015. 
• 2016 farmed seafood production was 200,565 tonnes – up from 190,111 in 2015.
• Canada’s aquaculture exports in 2016 were valued at a record $1 billion.

Significant Economic Benefits to Canadians

• In 2016, Canadian farmed seafood production and processing generated a total of over $5.1 billion in economic activity, $2 billion in GDP, and $1.16 billion in wages for 25,000 Canadian workers. And much of these economic benefits occur at the local, community level in Canada.

Indigenous Participation

• Over 40 First Nation and Indigenous communities are now directly or indirectly involved in farming seafood in Canada.
• Indigenous participation in farmed seafood is found in nine of the ten Canadian provinces.

Global Leadership on the Environment

• Only 1% of Canada’s marine and freshwater area that is suitable for seafood farming is being used. And Canada has by far the lowest level of production per kilometre of coastline amongst our major competitors.
• Canada today implements science-based practices that minimize stress, maintain a healthy aquatic environment, reduce disease risks, and prevent the spread of diseases when they do occur.
• Overall, farmed seafood in Canada is a highly efficient source of food protein in terms of its environmental footprint (as measured by energy use, land use, and feed efficiency).

Diverse & Growing Across Canada

• Farmed seafood takes placed in all provinces as well as the Yukon.
• Finfish represents the largest component of the aquaculture sector, with 27 different species such as salmon, trout, and Arctic char commercially grown in all regions in Canada - in both marine and freshwater environments.
• Shellfish is also an important part of the aquaculture sector on both coasts with 20 different species of shellfish cultured, such as mussels, oysters, clams and scallops.