CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. –
The BC Salmon Farmers Association has launched an interactive map outlining regional economic impacts on Coastal Vancouver Island.
The map highlights Vancouver Island and surrounding areas where audiences can easily access economic data specific to North Island, Northern Central, Pacific Rim/Alberni, Sunshine Coast/ Metro Vancouver and West Coast – North Island.
“BC Salmon Farmers value transparency and the launch of this map further supports our commitment to that,” says John Paul Fraser, Executive Director of the BC Salmon Farmers Association.
The economic impact data presented on the map includes number of employees, salaries/wages paid annually, number of local vendors supported, and annual spending on local supplies & services. The data also includes estimated total economic impacts from salmon farming in each region which includes, output, GDP, labour income and jobs.
“Users will not only be able to view the economic impacts salmon farming has in various regions, but also the locations of salmon farms,” says Fraser. “The map provides users the capabilities to zoom into regions and see the name and locations of all salmon farm tenures, active and in-active, throughout Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast.”
The newly launched map can be accessed through BCSFA’s new webpage https://www.bcsalmonfarmers.ca/today/, where users can also access further updated information of the BC Salmon Farming Industry.
Quick Facts:
- BC farm-raised salmon is the province’s #1 seafood export, #1 agri-food export contributing $1.6 billion in total economic output.
- BC Salmon Farmers were designated an essential service by Federal and Provincial governments in the early stages of the pandemic.
- Salmon Farmers are immediately investing (2020-2021) $113 million, generating nearly 450 new well-paid jobs, and $5.8 million in near-term annual tax revenue.
- The industry currently supports nearly 6,500 well-paid full-time jobs, most in rural coastal communities on North Vancouver Island, and contributes $89 million in annual federal, provincial, and municipal taxes.
- BC Salmon Farmers have 20 First Nations participation agreements and are committed to DRIPA (Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act).
- BC salmon farmers align with UN sustainable development goal #2: ZERO HUNGER. Salmon farmers have donated more than 120,000lbs of salmon (equivalent to 500,000 meals) to local, provincial and national food banks since the pandemic.
- Salmon Farmers produce 353 million meals of high-quality protein annually: 6.8 million meals each week
- BC salmon farming is a carbon friendly footprint, with the lowest emissions of all animal protein sectors.
For Media inquiries:
Michelle Franze
Manager of Communications, Partnership and Community