U.S. Aquaculture Trade Flash - January 2023

US Imports of Atlantic Salmon Strong while Canadian Exports Plummet

US trade data released this week shows continued strong demand for Atlantic Salmon, the high-protein fish that is a favourite with U.S. consumers. US imports in January rose 7.5% in volume terms, reaching over 36 million kgs (US$ 472 million). 

Atlantic salmon: Fillets and Whole Fish- shares and Canada

Canada is the third largest exporter of Atlantic salmon, a segment that includes whole fish, fillets and meat. The table to the right, shows the value of each Atlantic salmon product category imported by the US in 2022. Fresh farmed fillets account for just over half of all US imports of Atlantic salmon, frozen fillets and whole fish (fresh, farmed) follow with approximately 25% each.

Canada’s primary export product is fresh farmed whole fish, which accounted for 90% of Canadian Atlantic salmon exports to the US last year.

Canada’s exports of farm-raised whole Atlantic Salmon (whole fish) continue to plummet

The US imported over US$ 1.2 billion of fresh farmed Atlantic salmon (whole fish) in 2022. Canada is the top exporter to the US in this segment and has historically accounted for over half of the US imports. Proximity to the massive U.S. market and reputation for product quality are huge competitive advantages enjoyed by Canada, which also has a positive carbon advantage because of shorter distances to market. However, dramatic production cuts, related to the closure of farms in BC’s Discovery Islands has translated into falling exports to the US which are continuing (and worsening) heading into the new year. In January, Canadian exports of farm-raised Atlantic salmon (whole fish) fell 47% from last year’s levels and were down 35% from December’s already-low sales (volume). With the sharp drop in US sales, Canada’s market share has dipped to 30% heading into the new year, with huge gains going to exporters in Norway, Chile and the UK.  

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

Monthly Trade Data ~ December 2022

Canadian sales of fresh farmed oysters to the US surge in 2022

US trade data released last week show strong demand for fresh, farm-raised oysters in 2022. With the December sales data in, the full year data show that US imports jumped 26% in real terms from the previous year- and Canada saw a huge part of the gains. Overall, Canadian shipments to our Southern neighbour soared 56% in volume terms reaching an all- time high of 5, 447 Tonnes, or $US 57.6 million.

Download US Imports Trade Flash - December 2022 (XLS @ 11KB): Explore data for various farmed seafood imports into the US.

There are several oyster products imported into the US- including fresh, canned, frozen and dried. The most popular- by far – is fresh, farmed oysters, which accounted for almost half of all oyster product imports in 2022 (followed in distant second by smoked canned oysters at 24%). Canadian producers are the top exporters globally to the US, with market share for this segment at 66% of volume shipments- and an even higher share of 81% in value terms; Mexico accounts for the balance, taking about 18% of US sales in 2022. Proximity to the massive US market and reputation for quality are huge competitive advantages for Canada.

Fresh, farm-raised Oysters are a significant and growing share of the aquaculture sector’s production and accounted for 10% of the sector (by volume) in 2021. Significant growth potential has been identified for both BC and Atlantic Canada.

OPINION: In defence of Canada’s peer-reviewed science advisory process on salmon farming

Republished from The Globe and Mail. Read the original article here.

Contributed to the Globe and Mail by: TONY FARRELL, TILLMANN J. BENFEY, MARK FAST, KURT GAMPERL, IAN GARDNER, JIM POWELL, CRAWFORD REVIE, SPENCER RUSSELL AND AHMED SIAH

Published: May 27, 2022

Farmed-salmon aquaculture also has a low carbon footprint. This is partially because salmon are neutrally buoyant in water, needing less energy to survive, and the carbon dioxide they produce stays dissolved in seawater. The nutritious aspect of farmed salmon is, in part, a result of farmers looking after fish welfare and ensure the salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Canadians need a reliable, sustainable and secure food system. All food production in Canada is regulated for safety, environmental impact and quality. This includes the rigorous regulatory oversight given to farmed salmon, which is also subject to passionate advocacy on both sides. In this context, responsible political decision making and a legal system to oversee fairness are crucial.

But providing reliable scientific advice to our elected leaders about environmental and food science issues can be a challenge because they are not trained in these areas. The Cohen Commission, for example, examined in great detail the science concerning the risk that salmon aquaculture posed to wild Fraser River sockeye. Specific recommendations were made to DFO, some of which triggered three separate CSAS reports on the risk to the sockeye just from bacteria and virus transfer from salmon farms in B.C.

CSAS co-ordinates for DFO the routine production of peer-reviewed science advice, which can be given to our political leaders to support evidence-based decision making. A CSAS report typically takes over a year to assemble, after a group of world-leading experts begin their work, present and evaluate all relevant literature, especially peer-reviewed science. Their report is first vetted by an external peer-review, which may recommend improvements to the report.

All-in-all, the CSAS reports with which we participated did an excellent job of assembling and evaluating all the relevant scientific facts as a current state-of-affairs of the topics we studied.

First, the Fishing-Related Incidental Mortality for Pacific Salmon report of 2016 assigned salmon mortality percentages to those fish that encounter fishing gear (for example, hooks and nets) but are not actually caught, an alarmingly high number in some instances.

Second, the 2008 Closed Containment Salmon Aquaculture report of 2008 noted a major concern with the need for a high electrical usage in production, a problem that is still not fully resolved today.

Third, the 2019 report on Piscine orthoreovirus heard about experiments that deliberately injected the virus into sockeye salmon to infect them. The infected salmon’s ability to take up oxygen, to exercise and to withstand hypoxic water was not significantly harmed.

Consensus opinions were reported in the CSAS reports. While scientific facts are invariant, opinions on these facts can understandably differ. Dissenting voices are also noted in the process. So, should Canadians trust the CSAS process and their reports? Having collectively participated in many CSAS reports, our answer is: Yes, we should.

While the CSAS process is about as good as it gets when it comes to assembling available experts and facts, strengthening the process is always possible and its rigid format could be improved upon. In fact, the 2018 report from the Independent Expert Panel on Aquaculture Science chaired by Canada’s Chief Science Advisor recommended improvements to the flow of scientific information to communities and the involvement of international experts. The CSAS framework has made how expert opinion is obtained and incorporated into the reports more transparent.

Consequently, ministers charged with making decisions on the future of salmon aquaculture should trust the scientific facts that were presented in the recent CSAS reports concerning an industrial food sector that offers Canadian food security, and that is increasingly being adopted by First Nations along B.C.’s enormous coastline. The CSAS process does not selectively ignore some of the available science, as a form of bias – which may not be true for other expressed opinions being presented to the fisheries standing committee.

Tony Farrell is a professor and Canada Research Chair for fish physiology, culture and conservation at the University of British Columbia.

Tillmann J. Benfey is a professor of biology and director of animal care at the University of New Brunswick.

Mark Fast is a professor and chair of the department of pathology and microbiology at the Atlantic Veterinary College.

Kurt Gamperl is a professor and associate director of the Department of Ocean Sciences at the Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Ian Gardner is professor emeritus at the University of Prince Edward Island and the University of California, Davis.

Jim Powell is managing director of Fidelis Aquaculture Management Ltd.

Crawford Revie is a professor of epidemiology at the University of Prince Edward Island and chair of data analytics.

Spencer Russell is an associate professor at the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture at Vancouver Island University.

Ahmed Siah is managing director at the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences.