Raised in BC: Farm Facts

Get to know salmon farming in British Columbia

Fast Facts

ABOUT THE BCSFA

The BC Salmon Farmers Association represents 70 businesses and organizations throughout the value chain of finfish aquaculture in BC.

About Us

The BC Salmon Farmers Association is a forum for communication and cooperation within the salmon farming sector, and the focal point for liaison between the industry and government.

BCSFA also provides information to the public and stakeholders about salmon farming, and coordinate industry-wide activities, research, and community events.

Our members include both farmed salmon producers, and many of the companies who provide services and supplies to them. The BCSFA was established in 1984 and is based in Campbell River, British Columbia.

Our History

Our Board and Team

Our Projects

Our Members

The AGM

Our Values

As an association, we value transparency, integrity and being proactive in our dealings with our members, the public and other stakeholders.

A Vancouver Island family standing together at a park.

66

Marine finfish BC aquaculture licences according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada

65,800

Tonnes of farmed salmon produced annually

$1.142 billion

In annual economic activity

$447 million

In GDP across Canada

>4,690

Full time jobs

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Fish Health

Salmon farmers and their fish health teams, regulatory agencies, and First Nation Rightsholders keep farm-raised fish healthy by selective breeding, minimizing pathogen entry and spread into hatcheries and marine net pens (e.g., vaccines), fish health monitoring and record keeping, prescribed treatments and being subject to fish health audits by government regulators.

Wild Salmon

Wild Pacific salmon spend a portion of their lives within British Columbian watersheds and nearshore environments. Salmon farmers are uniquely positioned to help with conservation initiatives, given our expertise in salmon and oceanography and year-round presence in coastal BC waters.

Under The Farm

Respecting and protecting this biodiversity is the responsibility of all coastal people, including salmon farmers. Once operational, farms must follow all laws to protect fish, fish habitat and wildlife. This includes monitoring the footprint beneath farms.

Wildlife Interactions

Interactions between wildlife and salmon farms occur in a variety of ways. The majority of these interactions are harmonious, consisting of viewing each other from a safe distance. On occasion, wildlife comes into close proximity to farms. Care must be taken to ensure wildlife, people, and infrastructure stay safe during these events.

Incidental Catch

At a farm, the incidental catch is defined as any wild finfish caught during fish handling events such as sampling, treatments, harvest, fish movement between pens or facilities or during net removal. Over the past ten years, salmon farmers have invested in equipment, farming practices and staff training to minimize interactions with wild fish. These measures have been very effective in reducing incidental catch at farms.

Fish Escapes

In collaboration with First Nation partners, government regulators, and the aquaculture supply chain, BC salmon farmers have reduced fish escapes by 97% since 2010. Additionally, there is no evidence of any self-sustaining Atlantic salmon populations in BC, despite almost 200 purposeful attempts to create them during the past century.

Economic Impact

Salmon farming creates thousands of year-round jobs. This creates a ripple effect that many communities feel, where the first dollar is often generated and spent by salmon farmers and their suppliers and contractors. Collectively, these ripples provide economic stability to small coastal communities.

First Nations

Coastal First Nations have been the stewards of their lands, waters, and elements since time immemorial and are currently advancing their inherent rights to manage their territories while being active participants in Canada’s economy. Resource sectors across British Columbia are evolving in terms of respectful partnerships with the Nations in whose territories they operate, including salmon farming.

Sea Lice

Salmon farmers have invested in state-of-the-art sea lice treatment tools that effectively minimize sea lice on farm-raised salmon, and sea lice levels at most farms have been below the regulated management threshold. To make sure wild salmon are safe, we have engaged researchers and third-party experts for nearly two decades to monitor sea lice on juvenile wild salmon.