It is time to expand the role of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to properly and rightfully embrace the seafood farming sector. We are calling for Federal Government leadership in the growth and development of aquaculture as part of the fabric of a competitive, innovative and sustainable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.
“aqua·cul·ture \ä-kwə-ˌkəl-chər\ n : Farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, shellfish and aquatic plants.”
Why Urgent Action is Needed
Canada has the greatest cold-water aquaculture potential in the world. While the opportunity is great, the sector has languished without the leadership of a federal department that has the explicit and clear mandate to support the growth of the sector.
Aquaculture production in Canada remained essentially unchanged for two decades, and in the last three years has been reduced dramatically.
Canada has steadily declined in global rankings for seafood production volume and exports.
Farm-raised seafood is on the sidelines of the national agri-food conversation.
Our Current Framework Impedes Potential
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The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is the federal regulatory lead with a legal mandate to conserve wild stocks and to protect the marine environment. However, a secondary mandate to support sector growth is confused and weak.
Program funding under the Government of Canada lacks consistency and national application. Consequently, the consistency and stability needed for longer-term confidence and growth are missing. Supports for the aquaculture sector are short-term, regionally focused and susceptible to political change.
Aquaculture lacks a supportive policy framework with a development mandate. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) aligns with the provinces on policy frameworks supporting the growth of land-based agriculture, while aquaculture is excluded.
Horizontal integration of program supports is absent. The aquaculture sector has numerous federal departmental touchpoints, including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Health Canada, among others. For land-based agriculture, AAFC is a centralized voice that supports education and communication with other departments. Aquaculture does not have a department conducting this integration role.
Top 5 Reasons to Act Now
Canada’s economy needs an immediate boost. Canada has the greatest cold-water aquaculture potential in the world. Canada needs to signal that it is serious about growing this sector and new lead department is a good start.
Food security, cost of food and domestic supply are among the top concerns of the Canadian public.
The diet of Canadians is changing, and healthy proteins – including home-grown seafood - are increasingly at the centre of public discussion.
Especially at a time of economic and global dislocation, Canada has a responsibility to grow its aquaculture production.
The growing importance of the “Food Conversation” in Canada and around the world needs to include aquaculture and Canada can be a leader.
The Solution
Seafood is food. Adding aquaculture to the portfolio of agricultural industries that AAFC addresses would more effectively position the sector for success, while simultaneously eliminating any real or perceived conflict of interest with respect to the DFO aquaculture regulatory role. It is the logical and equitable path forward for the federal government.
Three specific actions are required:
Get Insights Now: Explore the links between aquaculture and agriculture
Legal Certainty – Aquaculture needs to be defined in federal legislation as a farming activity consistent with international definitions. At present there is no definition of aquaculture in federal law or regulation, thus undermining the legal status of the sector. This must change.
Administrative Certainty – The expanded role of AAFC as the lead for aquaculture development must lead to increased and more cohesive federal support. A Memorandum of Understanding developed under the leadership of the Minister of AAFC and engaging DFO, and other federal agencies as needed, would serve to achieve this goal.
Inter-governmental Collaboration– Agriculture is an area of shared jurisdiction in Canada. The Minister of AAFC should formally engage with their provincial and territorial counterparts to ensure strong coordination.
