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Delegates, colleagues, good evening.
Let me begin by saying what a pleasure it is to be here in Trondheim for Aqua Nor 2005.
And what a privilege it is for Canada to be the featured country for this year’s event.
It has been an honour for Canada to have had the opportunity to share our achievements in sustainable aquaculture at the Canada Pavilion and through the Aquaculture Seminar Series. Over the last four days, I also had the chance to visit many of your exhibits and had the pleasure of speaking with many of you. It has been a very impressive showing.
Our aquaculture industries benefit tremendously from events like Aqua Nor, which provide a valuable forum for scientists to showcase their research and discuss ideas and information with international colleagues. It is also a key opportunity to learn first-hand from the experiences and practical application of new research that supports sustainable aquaculture practices around the world.
From what we have seen and heard over the last four days, I think we can all agree that despite ongoing challenges in new environments and with new species, Aquaculture’s future is a bright one. Clearly a strong, sustainable aquaculture industry is alive and well around the world. And I believe that in bringing together delegates from science, industry and government here in Norway we are showing the world that this industry is serious about reaching its full potential.
"Environmental sustainability", this year’s theme, is a crucial element in reaching that potential. It is up to all of us to take the lead on this issue — it is important to consumers, it is important for the planet and it is important for the health of the aquaculture industry over the long term.
In Canada we are fortunate to have tremendous expertise in environmentally sustainable technologies and practices, as well as a wealth of diverse and productive aquatic environments. I am very proud of our reputation for high-quality, safe seafood – something we truly value.
My department, and in fact the Government of Canada, has long recognized the importance of the aquaculture industry and has watched it grow in diversity and productivity. To help protect this productivity, the Government of Canada announced 59 million dollars to be provided for a National Aquatic Animal Health Program earlier this year. This will help enhance our surveillance and health certification program for aquatic species, supporting safe fish and seafood trade, and improving the framework for protection of our fisheries and aquaculture health. Enhanced proactive health management will also help our industry’s economic competitiveness.
We are also working together with industry to develop environmentally friendly techniques and practices through a collaborative research and development program.
I am pleased to say that in Canada, aquaculture is supported across all levels of government. For example, our provincial and territorial fisheries and aquaculture ministries are working together to develop a framework for aquaculture development that will deal with new and emerging issues for our industry – issues like fish health, food safety and business risk management.
As Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, I am very proud to work in an environment where aquaculture is recognized and supported. An environment where government is taking concrete measures to ensure the industry reaches full potential.
This support is key to an industry that has surpassed the $1 billion mark and is directly or indirectly responsible for thousands of jobs in our rural and coastal communities. Simply put, Canada is a great place to be for aquaculture. In fact, it is clear from what we have seen over the last few days that aquaculture worldwide is a force to be reckoned with.
I firmly believe that one of the keys to Canada’s successful aquaculture industry is collaboration at the national level. It is about bringing together the right combination of policy and regulations, science and the interests of our consumers to give the aquaculture industry the tools it needs to strengthen its position as a responsible, productive and successful user of our aquatic resources.
&#While I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have relevant, efficient and responsive regulations and policies to guide us, the success of the industry cannot be sustained or further developed without a continuous effort to strike this fine balance between the social, economic and environmental elements of what we do. Collaboration at an international level is also essential to maintaining this balance. It sounds simple in theory, I know. But it is putting these theories into practice that will determine where the aquaculture industry will go in the future.
I would like to single out one area in particular where international cooperation is crucial – public confidence. An issue each and every one of us faces as consumers, regulators and farmers. We all have a vested interest in clearing up the myths about this industry, and proving to the world that aquaculture products are a safe, high-quality, and environmentally friendly source of food. I know that together we have the ability, experience and expertise to restore confidence in the quality and safety of our products.
With this goal in mind, I am very proud of the work we are doing with the International Working Group on Cold Water Aquaculture. We know it can be done. That public confidence lost to myths and misinformation can be restored. When we conducted focus groups earlier this year we found that the majority of Canadians support the notion of a strong sustainable aquaculture industry. However, they want assurances that aquatic environments are being protected and that aquaculture products are safe, healthy and of the highest quality. This finding would likely hold true for many, if not all, of our nations.
Clearly we have an opportunity here. An opportunity for us to come together to make the rules and regulations governing this industry as efficient as they can be, to help ensure the health and quality of our products and to build consumer confidence in aquaculture products around the world. And through events like Aqua Nor we are taking advantage of that opportunity to the fullest extent.
I know my staff has seen to it that I have taken full advantage of my time here. Over the last four days I have had the chance to spend some time with Minister Ludvigsen discussing aquaculture in relation to both of our countries.
I have had the chance to see the excellent science and technology on the trade show floor and to learn about the research Norway will be conducting at the new SINTEF SEALAB. I have also met with Canada’s First Nations Delegation, whose members are an important and growing part of Canada’s diverse aquaculture industry.
Needless to say, I have been very impressed with what I have seen here this week and I’m certain that the international aquaculture industry looks forward to meeting again in 2007. I would like to say once again, on behalf of the Government of Canada, what a pleasure it has been to participate in Aqua Nor and, from my vantage point, you can certainly declare Aqua Nor 2005 a success.
Thank you very much.
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