New: A National Call to Grow Canada’s Aquaculture Sector
Canada’s seafood farmers have issued a joint letter to federal, provincial, and territorial Ministers calling for aquaculture’s inclusion in the Next Policy Framework.
👉 Read the letter
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.
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.
Canada’s seafood farmers already contribute $2.3 billion in GDP and 18,000 jobs — with significant room to grow.
Our Current Framework Impedes Potential
Get the Brochure: Learn about Canada's aquaculture opportunity
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.
As governments prepare the Next Policy Framework for agriculture, Canada has a timely opportunity to fully integrate aquaculture into its approach to food production and economic growth.
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.
A Timely Opportunity to Grow Canada
As governments prepare the Next Policy Framework for agriculture, Canada has a clear opportunity to unlock the growth potential of aquaculture through coordinated federal-provincial action.
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 must be formally defined in federal legislation as a farming activity, consistent with international definitions.
At present, there is no clear definition of aquaculture in federal law or regulation, creating uncertainty around the sector’s legal status. This gap undermines investment, policy alignment, and long-term growth.
Establishing a clear legal definition would recognize aquaculture as agriculture in practice and in law — providing the foundation needed for a modern, growth-oriented policy framework.
Administrative Certainty – Federal leadership on aquaculture must be clear, coordinated, and aligned with its role as a food production sector.
The expanded role of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) as the lead for aquaculture development should translate into more cohesive federal support. This includes stronger coordination across departments and agencies involved in regulation, science, and sector development.
A formal Memorandum of Understanding, led by AAFC and involving Fisheries and Oceans Canada and other relevant departments, would provide the structure needed to align federal efforts and support sector growth.
Inter-governmental Collaboration– Aquaculture must be fully integrated into federal-provincial-territorial collaboration on agriculture policy.
As a shared jurisdiction, agriculture in Canada depends on strong coordination between federal, provincial, and territorial governments. This coordination must explicitly include aquaculture.
The development of Canada’s Next Policy Framework (NPF) presents a timely opportunity to align governments around a common approach to seafood farming.
In March 2026, Canada’s seafood farmers issued a joint letter to Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries calling for aquaculture’s full inclusion in the NPF, including:
Eligibility for all Federal Strategic Initiatives, including AgriInnovate
Removal from the list of ineligible activities under federal-provincial agreements
A tailored Business Risk Management program for shellfish and freshwater aquaculture
A coordinated, “Grow Canada” approach through the NPF would enable investment, innovation, and sustainable growth — strengthening Canada’s food system and economy.
In the News
The "Aquaculture is Agriculture" message is gaining traction. Here's where the conversation is happening.
-
Canadian aquaculture should be classed as agriculture, industry groups say
By Alexis Kienlen, Country Guide
The federal government should class aquaculture as agriculture so the industry can fulfill its growth potential, sector organizations say.
-
Next Policy Framework: Why NL aquaculture producers should care
"NPF isn't just Ottawa policy talk. It represents access to the same farming partnership tools every other Canadian food producer relies on."
-
'We're farmers, so treat us like that'
By Editorial team, Fishfarmingexpert
Canada's aquaculture sector wants the same access to public sector help as those working the land
-
Aquaculture sector fights for equal footing in Canada’s farm support system
By Fabian Dawson, SeaWestNews
Canada’s seafood farmers are urging federal and provincial agriculture ministers to stop treating aquaculture as an exception in the nation’s farm policy framework as they push to strengthen domestic food production.
-
'Needs to change': Canadian fish farmers push for federal agriculture funding
By Kyle Stucker, IntraFish
Aquaculture shouldn't be excluded from federal funding and other programs available to land farmers, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance argued in an open letter ahead of a major annual government meeting.
With the longest coastline in the world, the youngest agri-food workforce, and cutting-edge technologies, Canada can produce more nutritious fish, shellfish, and seaweed, and grow more jobs in Canada. We must act now to make this happen.
Provincial Factsheets
Seafood farming provides jobs, supports local businesses and contributes to the economic well-being of rural communities across Canada. Explore our series of provincial factsheets to learn about the positive impacts of aquaculture in your region.
