FRESHWATER
There are four main species of freshwater fish currently being raised for commercial and recreational purposes across Canada. They include: Rainbow trout, Brook trout, Arctic char and Tilapia. Freshwater species are raised for commercial or recreational purposes in almost every province in Canada, including the Yukon Territory.
Rainbow trout and Brook trout are the most popular freshwater fish farmed in Canada; 6,488 tonnes in 2003 for a farm-gate value of $3.5 million in 2003. Freshwater farmed fish accounts for roughly four to five per cent of total aquaculture production in Canada.
Freshwater fish that prefer cold-water conditions, like Rainbow trout, can be raised in dug-outs or ponds for smaller-scale operations, or net-cages suspended in lakes for larger-scale, commercial operations. Tilapia, a freshwater warm-water species, is raised using land-based tank systems fed by re-circulation systems
to allow operators to carefully control temperature and water quality.
Like marine aquaculture, the day-to-day management of freshwater aquaculture occurs at the provincial level. DFO's role in fresh water aquaculture is to manage and protect wild fisheries resources and the freshwater environment. DFO scientists also conduct research to learn more about freshwater aquaculture and the interaction it has with wild aquatic resources and their ecosystems.
SPECIES
AQUACULTURE AND …
PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS
KEY ISSUES
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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