Aquaculture North America

Land-based salmon aquaculture to create 4,000 jobs in BC, report says

April 30, 2019
By Aquaculture North America Staff

VANCOUVER - The Fraser Basin Council recently published a report which confirms significant job creation potential of land-based salmon aquaculture in British Columbia.

The report, titled "RAS Atlantic Salmon Industry on Vancouver Island Financial Model & Economic Impact Analysis," concludes that 4,000 jobs would be created during the construction phase of RAS facilities and an additional 2,685 full time, long-term jobs would be created through the operation and fish processing from land-based aquaculture facilities located on Vancouver Island.

“Innovative aquaculture solutions offer a way to protect the health of our wild salmon and the marine environment and to build a viable and sustainable aquaculture industry in British Columbia,” Joanna Kerr, Tides Canada president and chief executive officer said in a release. “Over the last decade, Tides Canada has been working in close collaboration with governments, industry, environmental organizations, and First Nations to explore and advance the adoption of closed containment production systems as a means to foster protection of the environment and of wild salmon.”

While the report confirms that the economic impacts of a potential RAS Atlantic salmon farming industry on Vancouver Island are significant, it notes that Vancouver Island is not the only potential location for land-based salmon aquaculture development in North America; there are many other locales with a head-start.

Tides Canada said efforts must now be focused on promoting the advantages of locating to B.C.

“We look forward to both the provincial and federal governments taking the actions necessary to support RAS development and allow B.C., to take advantage of the growing opportunities for sustainably produced salmon,” Kerr said.

See the full report and summary here.

Chief Bill Cranmer and Eric Hobson at the 'Namgis First Nation’s Kuterra RAS aquaculture project.

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