Canada’s seafood farmers launch national youth initiative
December 4, 2018
By Aquaculture North America Staff
The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) has announced the official launch of its National Youth Council.
“Seafood farming is a young and growing sector for Canada. We are delighted to be attracting top-caliber young people to create a strong and sustainable future,” CAIA executive director, Timothy Kennedy stated in a release. “The diversity and strength of these young people is a testament to a bright future for our sector.”
The CAIA established the National Youth Council to connect young professionals in Canada’s aquaculture sector, to propose and develop ideas for the flourishing of the sector, and to be ambassadors for the sector.
“We have brought together a group of 14 young people from across the country – seven women and seven men – to represent the growing presence of youth in this science, sustainability and future-oriented sector,” Kennedy stated. “Representing six provinces, they are excited and eager to share their knowledge and passion for seafood farming. We look forward to their ideas and energy.”
“We hail from across Canada’s thriving seafood farming sector: finfish to shellfish, land-based to net-pens, freshwater to marine, industry to research,” RJ Taylor, inaugural Youth Council chair stated. “And we all share the same passion for advancing this incredibly dynamic and sustainable sector.”
Council members convened their first face-to-face meeting at Canada’s Farmed Seafood Policy Conference 2018 in Ottawa, Ont., on Nov. 27.
