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Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms in marine or freshwater. It
implies some form of intervention in the rearing or growing process to
enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding, and/or protection
from predators and disease. It also implies individual or corporate
ownership of the stock or crop being farmed.
The Government of Canada recognises the significant societal benefits
associated with aquaculture. As a result, it has made sustainable
aquaculture development a federal priority.
Aquaculture is a relatively new commercial activity in Canada and in many
other parts of the world, but already it occupies a significant position in
the seafood production sector. Although aquaculture offers tremendous
socio-economic benefits, it has emerged at a time marked by heightened
public awareness of the potential impacts of industrial activity and
increased public scrutiny of industry and government actions to mitigate
such impacts. While Canadians are interested in realising the full potential
of aquaculture, they are also concerned about issues such as escapes of
farmed salmon, food safety, therapeutant use, habitat interactions, water
quality, organic loading, navigational safety, aquatic animal health, and
aesthetics.
Given Canada's close proximity to one of the world's largest markets, a
reputation for high-quality, safe seafood products, excellent biophysical
potential and a highly knowledgeable labour force, Canada is well positioned
to benefit from aquaculture development. Yet strikingly, Canada's share of
the international market for aquaculture products remains very small. In
order to capitalize on our assets, Canada must develop enabling regulatory
and policy frameworks in order to position the sector to compete on a global
basis and create sustainable opportunities for Canadians.
Aquaculture in the Context of Sustainable Development
The Government of Canada has accepted the definition of sustainable
development as first proposed by the World Commission on Environment and
Sustainable Development: "development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs."
It is recognized that governments, private sector organizations, public
interest groups and individual citizens all have a role to play in
achieving sustainable development. Aquaculture in the context of
sustainable development incorporates the following elements:
- maintaining or enhancing the quality of life and the environment
for present and future generations;
- adopting an ecosystem approach and respecting the interests and
values of all resource users and considering those interests and
values in decision-making;
- identifying, planning, developing, operating, harvesting,
processing, and when necessary disposing of aquacultural products in
the most efficient, competitive and environmentally responsible
manner, using best practices;
- respecting constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty
rights;
- creating and sharing knowledge to promote innovation, continuous
learning and efficiency;
- securing the participation of stakeholders, individuals and
communities in decision-making to ensure best use of aquatic space;
and
- making decisions in a fair, transparent and inclusive manner
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