Canadian Aquaculture Update

“A country that cannot feed itself, fuel itself or defend itself has few options…” Prime Minister Mark Carney

The latest trade data show Canadian aquaculture exports to the US, the world’s largest seafood market, in October, totaled USD 55.5 million, down 0.5% from the previous month but up 50% from the same period in 2024. Year to date, aquaculture exports are down 11% compared to the same period last year. 

Sales of Atlantic salmon are driving export growth in both September and October, as shellfish exports weaken. The detailed customs data from the US, show that most of the shipments in September and October were through Seattle Washington, indicating strong harvest months for west coast producers. 

Farm closures in BC have made it difficult for producers to ensure reliable year-round supply of fresh fish. Since the 2023 Discovery Island farm closures, producers in BC have been losing market share in key export markets, including the US, Japan and China, as they have struggled to maintain year-round supply, which is a key requirement of many foreign buyers (link). As recently as 2022, fresh, farm-raised salmon was BC’s largest agri-food export and now, there are months where exports drop to near zero.  

Meanwhile, as the spectre of a ban on salmon farming in BC coastal waters in 2029 continues to hang over the sector, production in Atlantic Canada has, for the first time ever, overtaken that of the west coast. The production data for 2024, released by Statistics Canada late last year, reported that ‘for the first time since reporting began in 1991, the Atlantic provinces combined produced more farmed finfish than British Columbia’. CAIA has released its own analysis of the economic impact of the aquaculture sector in Canada based on the 2024 production data, which can be found here. Here are some of the highlights: 

• 18,074 full-time jobs in the sector, with 9,386 in primary production and 8,688 in processing. Almost three-quarters of total employment is in the farm-raised salmon sector, with 13,242 (FTE’s) in 2024. Labour income was $1.1billion. 

• Total economic output for the sector was $6 billion, which included $3.3 billion in primary production and $2.7 billion in processing.  

• The sector’s contribution to Canada’s GDP was $2.27 billion of which $1.75 billion was from farm-raised salmon.  

We just heard from Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum that “A country that cannot feed itself, fuel itself or defend itself has few options.” Ocean-based farming is one of Canada’s competitive advantages, in a sector that has the most growth potential of any agri-food product. Our country can feed itself and increase trade and attract investment in the aquaculture sector. The government of Canada must support food production by reversing the ban on ocean-based salmon aquaculture in British Columbia and embrace all seafood farming as an integral, and growing part of the food sector in Canada.

Canadian Aquaculture Exports to the US: August 2025 Snapshot

On November 12, the US Congress reached an agreement on the federal budget that brought an end to the longest government shutdown in US history- 43 days. The monthly seafood trade data for the month of August – delayed due to the shutdown-show US imports of farm-raised seafood of US$ 290 million for the month, up just 0.5% from the previous month and down 15% from the year before. For the year-to-date, the US has imported US$ 2.63 billion of farm-raised seafood down 6.2% from the US$ 2.8 billion during the same period last year. Chile and Canada, the two leading exporters to the US for aquaculture products are down 11.5% and 18.1% respectively so far this year, while Norway and the UK are up 13.6% and 34%. The Faroe Islands, which has moved into 4th largest exporter to the US, is down 4.6% on the year.

The Canadian aquaculture sector saw exports to the US decline by 18% in value and 17% in volume for the year-to-date through August. The weakness in Canadian aquaculture exports continues to be broad-based, with almost all species posting negative growth so far in 2025. Fresh Atlantic Salmon – Canada’s largest aquaculture export product- continues to drive the losses, with a decline in volume shipments of 26% through August. Visit CAIA’s trade dashboard to explore product details [link].

Industry Insights: Shellfish in Atlantic Canada and BC Salmon farming

On September 2, 2025, the CFIA declared all waters in Atlantic Canada – including PEI, NB, NS, NL – infected for Dermo and MSX. There is no risk to food safety from this but mortality rates for oysters are high, with some farmers in PEI seeing crop losses of >90% so far this year. These losses – and the devastation to farmers in Atlantic Canada – will be visible in Canada’s trade performance through the later half of the year and next. Volume shipments of fresh Atlantic salmon from BC farms are also expected to decline under the current federal policy of removing farms from BC coastal waters. Overall, the trade story for Canada’s aquaculture sector continues to be dominated by supply-side issues, related to federal policy on the west coast and shellfish disease on the east coast. Meanwhile, demand for seafood from the US and around the world continues to be strong.

Economic Context: Cost of groceries continues to rise

Meanwhile, food inflation persists in Canada, with the latest CPI data from Statistics Canada for October, showing food inflation as the highest of any category. While the year over year, prices for food purchased from stores slowed to 3.4% in October, a decrease from September (+4%), it far outpaced the overall inflation (+2.2%) and was higher than any other category (see chart; source Statistics Canada). As noted by Statistics Canada “though grocery prices decelerated in October, prices remained elevated and have exceeded overall inflation for nine consecutive months.”

As Canadians face ever growing food costs, governments should prioritize domestic food production. The aquaculture sector – globally and in Canada – has one of the greatest opportunities for producing more food in a sustainable way. Let’s grow the Canadian economy and let’s grow more fish and shellfish right here at home.

Canadian Aquaculture Exports to the US: A July 2025 Snapshot

Aquaculture is now the backbone of the global seafood trade, and the United States—the world’s largest seafood importer—relies heavily on farmed products to meet its demand. In July 2025, the US imported US$2.3 million in aquaculture products, a decrease of 4.6% from the previous month, with all major suppliers posting negative growth including: Chile (-6.7%), Norway (-1.9%), Canada (-4.3%) and the UK (-3.3%). In volume terms, US imports were flat (+0.1%), indicating the weakness was on price, not demand.

For the year-to-date (January-July), US imports of farmed seafood reached over US$2.3 billion, down -5% from the same period last year of US$2.46 billion. In volume terms, imports year-to-date are up 0.4%. The headline numbers, however, mask vast differences in the performance of top exporting countries. Canada, one of the top exporters of aquaculture products to the US, has seen a drop in exports of -21% compared to +37% for Norway and +71% for the UK.

The difference in growth rates is particularly stark as aquaculture exports from both Norway and the UK into the US face tariffs, while Canada’s aquaculture exports, which are CUSMA compliant, face no tariffs to the US.

The weakness in Canadian aquaculture exports is broad-based, with almost all species (except Rainbow Trout) posting negative growth so far in 2025. Fresh Atlantic Salmon – Canada’s largest aquaculture export product- is driving the losses, with a decline in volume shipments of 23% through July. Visit CAIA’s trade dashboard to explore product details [link].

Domestic policy, not trade war, key concern for the sector

Canadian aquaculture exports enjoy tariff-free access to the US market, a competitive advantage compared to key competitors, namely Norway –subject to 15% on all US exports – and the UK, with a 10% tariff rate. The sector also welcomed the August 22, 2025 announcement that Canada was removing most of the retaliatory tariffs, which had been temporarily reprieved earlier in the year, and impacted key supply chains, primarily in the feed sector.

Salmon farm closures in British Columbia are the key driver of Canada’s falling production and export profile. For Canadian shellfish farmers, a lack of regulatory capacity is seen as a major constraint in BC and biological challenges are facing growers in Atlantic Canada.

Inflation top concern for Canadians, while grocery prices continue to rise

The rising cost of living is now the most important issue for Canadians (chart below from Abacus data, September 2, 2025). While headline inflation slowed in July, (1.7% y/y down from 1.9% in June), the price of food rose at a faster pace in July (+3.4%) compared with June (+2.8%). According to Statistics Canada, as of July 2025 Canadians are paying 27.1% more for food purchased from stores than they were in July 2020 (source).

Meanwhile, economic conditions are deteriorating. The Canadian economy contracted in the second quarter, with a decline of -0.4% in real GDP. Many of the indicators of household economic conditions also worsened – including falling household savings rates, slow wage growth and rising unemployment (now at 7.1%). With economic conditions deteriorating and food costs accelerating, a renewed focus on supporting domestic food production is needed, now more than ever.    

The Canadian aquaculture sector has the potential to produce more food in a sustainable way. The ‘Canada’ brand is strong – around the world and in Canada: the world wants more Canadian farmed seafood.

June 2025 Increase in Aquaculture Exports to US Driven by a 2.8 % Bump in Atlantic Salmon

Monthly Trade Report- June 2025 (xlsx: 16KB)

Highlights

In June, Canada exported $US 64.9 million of aquaculture products to the United States, an increase of 2.2 % over the previous month and almost double the growth rate of imports from all other countries, which were up 1.2% on the month.  In real terms (volume), Canada’s aquaculture exports were up 2.2% on the month- the same as the nominal increase, indicating that prices were flat and all the growth came from higher volume shipments. 

Despite a boost in June, the year-to-date (January through June) total aquaculture exports to the US were down 24%, in both real and nominal terms, with lower exports of Atlantic Salmon- the sector’s largest export product- driving the losses.  Farmed mussels and rainbow trout were the only subsectors posting positive gains in the first half of 2025.

Industry view

The June increase in aquaculture exports to the US was driven by a bump in Atlantic Salmon (fresh, whole fish) which increased 2.8% over the previous for a total of 6,162 MT; mussels, oysters and rainbow trout also posted positive gains for the month.

Fresh, farm-raised Atlantic salmon is Canada’s largest aquaculture product, accounting for over 80% of exports to the US. Within the segment, fresh whole fish is the primary product, with fillet and other processed meat comprising a small subset. Given the size, growth dynamics for the sector are dominated by performance of Atlantic salmon production.  Thus, the massive decline in year-to-date aquaculture exports is also being driven by Atlantic salmon exports. Demand for salmon is extremely strong- both from US and Canadian retailers. Anecdotally, the ‘buy Canadian’ trend is evident in higher demand from Canadian retailers for grown-in-Canada salmon.  It is supply-side constrains that are dragging down the overall export value, as farm closures in BC continue to curtain production. Meanwhile, the UK and Norway have seen large gains – 77% and 92% respectively – in US-bound exports of Atlantic Salmon in the first half of 2025 (see graph).

While the ‘trade war’ dominates the headlines, salmon farm closures in BC will continue to be the largest headwind facing Canada’s aquaculture sector in the coming months. Continued strong consumer demand and biological challenges in PEI, could impact the trade data in the coming months.

OPINION: Take science skeptics with a grain of salt, says B.C. fish doctor

Republished from The Hill Times. Read the original article here.

CONTRIBUTED TO THE HILL TIMES BY: GARY D. MARTY, SENIOR FISH PATHOLOGY CONSULTANT, ABBOTSFORD, B.C.

Published: June 5, 2024

Republished from The Hill Times. Read the original article here.

Re: “Will Canada gamble Pacific salmon on DFO Science?” (The Hill Times, May 27) 

Regarding the question about marine net-pen salmon aquaculture in British Columbia, Tony Allard recommends, “our elected officials should treat the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s advice with skepticism and caution.” 

Based on my 20 years of experience as a board-certified veterinary pathologist diagnosing fish diseases in British Columbia, I agree that advice related to major decisions should be treated with skepticism and caution. Indeed, Allard's opinions should be treated with skepticism and caution. 

Allard melodramatically describes how “endangered wild Pacific salmon migrate through plumes of pathogens and parasites that enter the water from industrial feedlots of Atlantic salmon.” And yet, among the B.C.-farmed Atlantic salmon exposed 24/7 to these "plumes of pathogens and parasites,” only about three per cent die each year from infectious disease. In contrast, migrating wild Fraser River sockeye salmon in B.C. are exposed to salmon farms only a few hours during their entire lives. 

Despite the potential of salmon farm threats- known and unknown-average annual adult returns of Fraser River sockeye salmon did not decline from the years before salmon farming began (6.8 million fish per year, from 1962-1989) to the years when salmon farms were active (eight million per year, from 1990-2022). 

In relation to salmon farms, Allard cites "a bibliography of 59 independent peer-reviewed papers confirming the harm they caused." However, many of these scientific papers support the conclusion of minimal harm, e.g., "In general, our data suggest that [infectious] agent distributions may not have substantially changed because of the salmon aquaculture industry.” 

Finally, Allard accuses DFO of relying on "rigged ‘science’” to claim that the virus “PRV doesn't cause harm to wild fish.” Rigged or not, DFO's conclusion of minim al risk is essentially identical to independent assessment by American fish health professionals that Piscine orthoreovirus is low risk to Pacific salmon (source: Pacific Northwest Fish Health Protection Committee). 

All animal populations must deal with infectious disease. Medical science guides people to manage infectious disease and protect human populations. Likewise, fisheries and veterinary sciences provide strong evidence that salmon farm diseases have no more than minimal effect on wild salmon populations.

Gary D. Marty

Senior fish pathology consultant

Abbotsford, B.C.

Canadian Exports of Farm-raised Atlantic Salmon: A Tale of Two Coasts

April was a good month for Canadian farm-raised seafood exports to the US, with sales jumping 21% in volume terms (+17% in value) over March levels; however, this boost still leaves Canadian exports down 27% year-to-date (Jan-April) over the same period last year.  Atlantic salmon (fresh, whole fish) is the largest product category for the sector, historically accounting for almost 80% of aquaculture exports. The US trade data reports a jump in imports of Canadian farm-raised salmon, up almost 25% over March levels, while year-to-date (Jan-April) remains 32% lower than import volumes over the same period last year. Canada’s primary export product is fresh farmed whole fish, which accounted for 90% of Canadian Atlantic salmon exports to the US last year.

In the first four month of 2023, there has been strong growth in US exports through Portland ME (+17%) and Detroit (+29%)%) however Canadian exports through Seattle have plummeted 65% so far this year.

To better understand the trade profile, and the strength in US sales of Canadian-grown Atlantic salmon, it is helpful to look at the data by port-of entry. Canadian exports of Atlantic salmon enter the US through three ports of entry: Seattle WA (~60%, historically), Portland ME (~35%) and Detroit MI (~5%). In the first four month of 2023, there has been strong growth in US exports through Portland ME (+17%) and Detroit (+29%); Canadian exports through Seattle have plummeted 65% so far this year. This is the lowest volume of exports of Atlantic salmon from the West Coast since the late 1990’s. Up until last year, Atlantic salmon was British Columbia’s top agri-food export product and the tenth largest export category overall. It now does not make the list of top 25.   

Please visit our website to see CAIA’s trade flash dashboard where you can view more details on Canada’s exports to the US by specific farmed product.

First Quarter Soft for US Imports of Seafood

The US trade data released last week show the US imported $2.1 billion of seafood products in March, a healthy 12% boost in imports in nominal terms (m/m). However, import volumes and values in the first quarter of 2023 are significantly weaker than last year, down 18% in value terms and 10% by volume.

Driving the weakness were sharp drops in imported shrimp and crab, the latter of which Canada is a major supplier to the US market. Meanwhile, US demand for Atlantic salmon remains extremely robust, and strong growth in the fresh fillet and frozen fillet segments (7.3% and 25.9% respectively) more than offsetting weakness in whole fish (-2.6%).

In 2022, Canada was the largest exporter of seafood to the US ($US 4.1 billion) followed by Chile ($US 3.4 billion) and India ($US 3.0 billion). In the first three months of 2023, Canada’s seafood sales to the US have fallen 6.9% pushing Canada into second place, behind Chile which has seen its share of the US seafood market jump 7.7%. The other notable gainers are Norway which has grown 17% in the first three months of the year. Both Chile and Norway are gaining US market share in the lucrative Atlantic salmon segment. Strong sales of Atlantic salmon into the US market is what is supporting growth in Chile and Norwegian export performance.

Looking at Canada trade performance, overall seafood sales to the US dropped 6.9% in Q1. Of the top Canadian seafood products exported to the US, three are farm-raised: Atlantic salmon fillets, Atlantic salmon whole fish and oysters. All three of these segments posted declines in the first quarter of the year with very sharp drops in Atlantic salmon (whole fish), down 40% over last year and fillets down 50%. These sharp drops in sales are due to the closure of farms in BC’s Discovery Islands, with production declines now taking effect.