2018 SUSTAINABILITY PROGRESS REPORT HAS BEEN RELEASED. The BC Salmon Farmers Association has issued its 4th annual Sustainability Progress Report. The report details British Columbia salmon farmers’ environmental stewardship and contributions to communities along the province’s coast, highlighting a range of topics from findings of recent independent research to fish health and sea lice management. The report tells the story of an industry that has evolved considerably over the last 35 years, and continues to evolve with a commitment to drawing upon ongoing research and investing in the latest technology, equipment and processes to ensure it operates responsibly and sustainably. Read the report.
They have been tucked away in the bays and fiords along the vast B.C. marine coastline for almost 30 years. Over time salmon farming, part of B.C.’s aquaculture industry, has quietly become the province's largest agricultural export.
Learn more about the industry that now contributes over $1.5-Billion annually into B.C.’s economy and provides thousands of steady, year-round jobs in coastal communities – which pay 30% more than the average median income in B.C.
B.C. Farm-Raised Salmon is the right choice for sustainability, food security, and our oceans.
Members of the BCSFA have committed to meeting requirements of ‘Gold Standard’ environmental programs by 2020. Creative Salmon is already producing North America’s only Certified Organic Chinook salmon and - for B.C. farmers of Atlantic salmon, who were the first to collectively achieve the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (GAA-BAP) standard - it means working to achieve the standard set by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).
The world is in the midst of a ‘blue revolution’ where demand for farmed seafood is growing alongside the global population. With wild fisheries around the globe already over-fished, farm-raised salmon is a sustainable solution to meet the increasing demand for lean, heart-healthy proteins.
Industry Reports:
SALMON IS ONE OF NATURE’S SUPERFOODS, PACKED WITH THE NUTRIENTS THAT HELP US LIVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE.
B.C. farm-raised salmon is available fresh 365 days a year. Easy to prepare and delicious, B.C. coast fresh salmon packs in protein, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, zinc, iron, copper, manganese and selenium, as well as calcium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium – all of which are vital to a healthy balanced diet.
B.C. farm-raised salmon is a popular and sustainable way to enjoy the cardiovascular benefits of one of the fish recommended by Canada’s Food Guide. Hormones and genetic modifications are never used to enhance growth in B.C.’s farm-raised salmon. Salmon is a lean protein, low in saturated fats, and is an excellent choice for a healthy lifestyle.
B.C. salmon farmers commit to growing B.C.’S coastal economy by creating lasting equitable partnerships with first nations.
As the industry looks to sustainably and responsibly grow, it looks to do so with the support and partnership of the First Nations whose traditional territory they seek to operate in. Currently, B.C. salmon farmers are partnering with coastal First Nations on 20 economic and social partnerships.
The BC Salmon Farmers Association is 53 members strong, including farming companies, processing companies, salmon feed companies and service and supply companies. Thousands of stable jobs result from salmon farming in communities up and down B.C.’s coast and there is potential for many more.
The BC Salmon Farmers Association will continue to lead on projects of major social and scientific value.
B.C. salmon farmers have been leaders in marine research for years, investing to learn more about the environment in which we operate. The Association endorsed the recommendations in the federal government’s Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River, including the call for more research on the marine environment.
Following the Commission’s report, BCSFA initiated a workshop series to engage the top minds in B.C. and Canada to help identify and advance priority research projects. The workshops are engaging scientists, fisheries experts, fish health specialists, academics, conservationists, and government to discuss risk, review research, and identify knowledge gaps.
